Denise Martin and trainer Gai Waterhouse celebrate at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. Source: News Limited
IT was over a cup of coffee yesterday morning when the one of the most successful trainer-owner partnerships in Australian racing history came to an end.
Denise Martin, owner of Star Thoroughbreds, met with Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse and told her that all yearlings she buys this year will be sent to the stables of Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller.
This is an owner's prerogative and hardly a rare occurrence in racing - except when it involves two such famous and successful women.
Then within a couple of hours of the shock Star Thoroughbreds announcement, there was a further twist to the tale when Bruce Slade's Round Table Racing business revealed it is now the main syndicator for the Waterhouse stable.
Social media lit up last night with all sorts of conjecture about the Star Thoroughbreds-Waterhouse split but Martin maintains it is "purely a business decision.''
All this on the eve of the Magic Millions Yearling Sales which start on the Gold Coast this week, and the lucrative Magic Millions raceday on Saturday.
Ironically, Martin and Waterhouse could dominate Saturday's feature meeting as they team up with Echo Gal in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic, Tamariz (Stayers), King Cobia (Cup) and Whittington (Sprint).
Martin and Waterhouse established their business partnership in 1994 and have seemingly been joined at the hip ever since.
Martin set up her Star Thoroughbreds office block next door to famous Tulloch Lodge near Randwick racecourse and the two women became an irresistible winning combination.
Their enduring partnership has enjoyed extraordinary success with Group 1 winners like Golden Slipper hero Sebring, former champion Theseo, Danglissa and Magic Millions winner Driefontein.
Racehorse stud farm owner Denise Martin (l) holding horse Danglissa with trainer Gai Waterhouse (r) at Randwick in 1999. Source: News Limited
But after confirming Waller will now train for Star Thoroughbreds, Martin also revealed she has already moved her offices to an inner-city location.
Waterhouse only just returned from an overseas holiday on Saturday night to prepare for this week's Magic Millions when Martin arranged to meet with the trainer yesterday morning.
"I met with Gai and Rob for coffee and they were charming,'' Martin said.
"This is purely a business decision and Chris Waller will train the yearlings we purchase this year. Gai and I still have an excellent personal relationship - she is a special person.''
Martin said all the Star Thoroughbreds-owned gallopers currently at Tulloch Lodge remain with Waterhouse.
"Gai is one of the world's greatest ever racehorse trainers and her record breaking achievements are legendary,'' Martin said.
"She is greatly admired for her impact on Australian racing and her success at the highest level of racing is remarkable.
"I have an excellent personal relationship with Gai and her team and I look forward to continued success with the large number of horses Gai currently trains for our Star owners.
"My decision is purely business based and I'm looking forward to the next challenge in the life of Star Thoroughbreds.''
2008, Golden Slipper, Rosehill Gardens - Gai Waterhouse with Sebring Source: News Limited
It was Waterhouse that lured Martin from a successful career in the hospitality industry 20 years ago to establish the Star Thoroughbreds syndication business.
Waterhouse had been Martin exclusive trainer for two decades and prepared many outstanding gallopers carrying Star Thoroughbreds famous racing colours of purple and white stars including most notably Sebring, the champion juvenile and winner of the 2008 Golden Slipper who was later syndicated to stud for $28 million, and "warhorse" Theseo, winner of five Group 1 races and more than $3.2 million prizemoney.
Waterhouse did not return calls to The Daily Telegraph yesterday but a statement released by Slade confirmed he will be syndicating horses for the trainer.
"I so admire Gai,'' Slade said. "Gai is the best horse trainer. She has carried racing forward through her skill and enthusiasm.
"Syndication is a great way for people to become involved with precocious two-year-olds who are ready to race quickly and there is nobody better than Gai when it comes to producing horses to run fast and early.
"Racing is about fun and excitement, involvement and success. Nobody does that better than Gai Waterhouse, especially success.''
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