Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Gai Waterhouse is the most celebrated female trainer in Australian racing history — and honestly, one of the most successful trainers of any gender the sport has ever seen. Operating in partnership with Adrian Bott since 2017, the Randwick-based stable continues to be a genuine force at the highest level of Australian thoroughbred racing. Waterhouse’s charisma, competitive drive, and deep understanding of the thoroughbred have made her an absolute icon of the Australian sporting landscape.

Training Legacy

Gai Waterhouse was born into racing — literally. Her father, the legendary Tommy “TJ” Smith, trained 33 consecutive Sydney trainers’ premierships and remains the most successful trainer in Australian racing history by number of winners. Gai took out her own licence in 1992 after a protracted legal battle to become the first woman to hold a metropolitan trainer’s licence in New South Wales, and she immediately started rewriting the record books. Her first Melbourne Cup victory came with Fiorente in 2013, and the stable has produced winners of virtually every Group 1 race in Australia.

The partnership with Adrian Bott, who had been Waterhouse’s stable foreman, was formalised in 2017 and brought fresh energy and modern training methods to an already formidable operation. Bott’s attention to detail and expertise in equine science has complemented Waterhouse’s legendary instinct and eye for a horse beautifully. Together, they’ve continued to dominate the Sydney training scene and remain perennial threats at the Melbourne Spring Carnival and across all major carnivals.

Trainer Profile

Tulloch Lodge

The stable operates from the historic Tulloch Lodge complex at Randwick — a facility steeped in racing history that was once the base for TJ Smith himself. There’s something poetic about that. The location provides direct access to Randwick racecourse’s training facilities, including the recently upgraded synthetic and turf tracks. The stable’s proximity to Royal Randwick and satellite arrangements at other Sydney tracks ensure optimal preparation for their large team of horses across all stages of development.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com