John Tapp Racing

Episode 83: Kris Lees (Part 1)

When champion trainer Max Lees died suddenly in 2003, his son Kris was left with 60 horses, and some bewildered owners.

Today many of those owners are still with Chris, who has doubled the size of his team.

Kris Lees has trained some 1800 winners since taking over the operation, with 15 Group 1’s thrown in.

In Part 1 he talks about early days under the tuition of his father, and the good horses he grew up with.

 

Episode 82: Rod Craig (Part 2)

In Part 2 Rod talks about the horse he stumbled upon in a paddock at Scone. He decided to put the chestnut into work and his judgment prove correct in a spectacular way.

Episode 81: Rod Craig (Part 1)

Rod Craig enjoyed the respect of all sections of the racing industry during four decades as a horse trainer in Sydney. He got an early Group 1 with Lady Eclipse in the 1983 Champagne Stakes, and trained a host of handy horses over the next ten years.

Rod’s career took a spectacular turn in the mid nineties, when he came across an Integra colt on a property at Scone. That colt was named Intergaze, and he took his trainer to dizzy heights over the next four and a half years winning eight Group 1 races.

In the podcast Rod talks about the health issue that forced him out of racing a year ago. He  takes us back to his early days in pony club, his life in racing and the people he’s met along the way.

Enjoy a two part interview with a true gentleman of the turf.

Episode 80: Anthony Darmanin

“Who’s the bloke on Mystic Journey?” has been a commonly asked question since the Tasmanian filly emerged as a potential Group 1 contender.

The bloke on Mystic Journey is thirty six year old Anthony Darmanin, who’s been a jockey for many years earning the bulk of his livelihood as a track work rider for Lloyd Williams, at the famous Macedon Lodge training property.

A few years ago Anthony decided to fly to the regular Sunday race meetings in Tasmania, and it wasn’t long before his talents were recognised.

One of his supporters was trainer Adam Trinder who had no hesitation in putting Anthony on his star filly, and the rest is history.

You’ll enjoy Anthony’s story.

Episode 79: Jason Coyle

At 41 years of age Jason Coyle is embarking on the most exciting phase of his career.

His future looked rosy a few years ago when invited to train horses for Nathan Tinkler who had launched a massive racing initiative under the Patinack banner.

Jason was left high and dry when the Patinack empire fell over, and had to start all over again.

It’s been a long, hard road but the winners are flowing again, and so is the support of loyal owners. Jason Coyle is emerging as one serious horse trainer.

Episode 78: Michael Clarke (Part 2)

In part 2 Michael pays tribute to two great horses sent to Australia by Sheikh Hamdan.

He reflects on his association with At Talaq- a Melbourne Cup winner who could sprint like an Everest horse. He recalls the brilliant but unsound Almaarad, one of his two Cox Plate winners.

Michael remembers his idol, the late Roy Higgins who was always willing to give younger riders a helping hand.

I hope you enjoy a long overdue chat with a jockey who left an indelible mark on Australian racing.

Episode 77: Michael Clarke (Part 1)

I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve queried the whereabouts of Michael Clarke over the last decade. Michael retired in 2002, but actually rode the last 6 or 7 years of his career overseas. It’s a quarter of a century since M.Clarke’s name appeared in race books and form guides in Australia.

Old friends have been delighted to see him back at the races lately, to monitor the progress of his son, brilliant apprentice Michael Poy.

I’m thrilled to have Michael on the podcast this week. He talks about his son’s career, and reflects on his own wonderful years he in racing.

In part 1 Michael goes back to his accidental meeting with Colin Hayes, and his association with the master trainer. He comprehensively traces his partnership with the great horse Better Loosen Up, and highlights some of his best performances.

Hope you enjoy a trip down memory lane with Michael Clarke.

Episode 76: David Pfieffer

It takes a brave and passionate man to venture into the field of professional horse training in Sydney. The big stables totally dominate the scene- the smaller ones have to battle for the leftovers.

At 38 years of age, David Pfieffer has already been training in his own right for close to a decade, posting 300 winners to date. He has a loyal owner base, a dedicated staff and a team of 35 horses in his Warwick Farm stable. 

David’s had a healthy number of stakes winners, and although he doesn’t want to be typecast,  it’s no coincidence that he has a great strike rate with fillies and mares.

Have a listen to his story.

Episode 75: Darren McAullay

Perth’s Darren McAullay is the best promoter Western Australian racing has ever had. His distinctive style, and his unbridled passion for the sport has endeared him to racing audiences all over Australia.

Here is a bloke who was born and reared at Kalgoorlie, and has been mad about racing from an early age. At age 10 he stationed himself in front of the starting gates with a flag, just in case there was a false start.

There was no false start in life for Darren McAullay. He “flew the lids”, and hasn’t looked back. You’ll love his story.

Episode 74: Ross Stitt

In keeping with our policy of introducing country trainers on the podcast, it’s a delight to chat with Ross Stitt who’s been churning out the winners from his Taree stable for more than four decades.

One of 9 kids from a dairy farming family, young Ross started his working life doing a milk run around town.

His fascination with horses led him to a full time career as a trainer. His results on northern NSW tracks have been spectacular, and he’s got a healthy strike rate in the big smoke too.