John Tapp Racing

We welcome leading Queensland trainer Kelly Schweida who’s enjoying a terrific 2018/19 season. Getting close to 50 winners on all tracks and 30 in town. Kelly started as an apprentice jockey in Townsville and enjoyed great success, even though his progress was hindered by a serious car accident. After winning a Townsville trainer’s premiership, he decided to move to the big smoke twenty five years ago. With the support of a dedicated family, Kelly has established himself as one of Queensland’s best.

In Part 2 the immensely talented heavyweight jockey looks back on his association with some high profile trainers and the good horses he got to ride. He pays tribute to Scenic Blast, the west Aussie horse who took him to Royal Ascot, and to So You Think, almost certainly the best he ever rode. He closes with the story of his last hurrah in Mauritius, where he won a premiership. We also find out what he’s up to today.

In Part 1 of this week’s podcast Steven Arnold talks about his early days in Alice Springs and his family’s heavy involvement in racing. He recalls his move to Adelaide and riding stints in Malaysia and Macau. Steve reflects on his first Melbourne experience as stable jockey for Russell Cameron and a couple of his early Group 1 successes.

In Part 2 Lindsay talks about his great passion for racing, and the jockeys and trainers for whom he’s had respect over the years. He talks about his all time favourite horses, and the riding career of his son Patrick. Young Murphy rode 400 winners before increasing weight caught up. Lindsay’s many friends will enjoy his trip down memory lane.  

Great to catch up with Lindsay Murphy on the eve of his retirement after 42 years in the Sydney racing industry.   Lindsay left his job with the Sydney County Council in 1977 when he heard the Sydney Turf Club were looking for a junior office boy. He later grabbed the opportunity to understudy two racecourse managers, before taking over the maintenance of the Canterbury track. In Part 1 Lindsay talks about his early days in the STC office and his transition to track maintenance under the tutelage of John Jeffs and Lindsay Davies. He remembers the trainers and one respected jockey from the days when Canterbury was a busy little training centre.  

Darren Hancock joined an elite club when he won at his very first race drive. He was just 16, and drove a horse called Sportsman Talk at Bankstown. His win tally as a race driver now stands at 1895 with an astonishing 2630 placings. His training wins total 1287, with 1848 placings. He’s a laid back, laconic character and you’ll enjoy a trip down memory lane with a member of a legendary Australian harness racing family.

In Part 2 Kris talks about more of his favourite horses, his association with successful syndication companies and family life. At 48, Kris Lees has his best years ahead.

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.  

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In part 2 Tony talks of his heyday at Mornington, when he was training a team of 100 horses. He reflects on the wonderful horses who’ve shaped his career, and the great jockeys with whom he’s had a winning association. Tony Noonan is a good listen.

In part 1 Tony Noonan talks about childhood days with his mother’s family who whet his appetite for racing. He talks of his early working days as a Marist Bros teacher, all the while just wanting to be a horse trainer. He talks of the old friend who taught him the basics of the training caper. He remembers the devastation left in the wake of his biggest owner walking out with thirty horses.

Sydney harness racing fans are familiar with Todd McCarthy’s meteoric rise in a few short years. He has had to step out of the shadow of his high achieving father and brothers, and make his own way in a tough game. Todd has succeeded in a spectacular way. He talks about his early days, the influence of his family, and the horses who’ve shaped his career. He pays special tribute to the amazing Tiger Tara.