| There is no
more powerful feeling than a race fit thoroughbred beneath you on the way to the barriers.
Their shoulders like that of a weightlifter rise and drop with every stride gathering
momentum. Behind the gates you glance over the opposition, pick out a pacemaker to follow
& check your gear. Adrenaline pumps in anticipation of the starters signal and the
words “Thank you riders” as the gates crash
open……………….. Oh sorry
daydreaming again, it happens every now and then in a quiet moment but reality steps in
and says, “Look forward not back.”
To give you a brief my story is this: As Gaye Mullins
1975: Won the Jean Ryan Challenge Shield at pony
club….I think they felt sorry for the 9-year-old girl on her 17hh trotter
1979: After writing letters to the VRC from 8 years old
onwards finally they relented (to shut me up) and I became the first girl apprentice
jockey in Australia to be granted a license to ride as a professional against the men.
1980: won my first premiership for Victorian apprentices
1982:Started working with Leo Schemnitz, John Adams, John
Alducci in a new office at the Victorian Racing Club that is now the Australian Trainers
Association. Mixed with riding I learnt to type, use computers, make decisions and not to
swear so much.
1983: Became assistant to trainer Angus Armanasco at
Caulfield
1984: Completed my time finishing with 890 race rides for
86 winners and a new ambition.
Married and became Gaye Gauci
1985-90: Lived in Mauritius where I trained racehorses on
the beach for various stables.
1990-98: Became a trainer based at Wangaratta training 160
winners throughout country Victoria, Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney.
1994: Had 2 years of treatment for bone cancer (Chemo,
radio, you name it they zapped me.) Knew I wouldn’t die I was in too much debt (as
you get with horses) I wouldn’t have been so lucky I thought at the time. Went into
remission late 1995.
Dec 1995: Took a team to Adelaide and was thrown and
dragged down Semaphore beach (OK I was wearing runners while riding tsk tsk) resulting in
2 broken legs and a broken arm but worst hurt was my pride. Oh yeah after that a bout of
golden staph just to keep me on my toes.
1998: Had a Life review (There’s gotta be a better
way) – so job accepted in Singapore as assistant trainer in a stable of 120 horses
and that was a great experience.
2001: Back home with a new lease of life and new plans
which leads us to today…………………………
I have been through as you can see above about every aspect
of racing and the thing that has always intrigued me is there is no structure to the
selling on and placement of thoroughbreds, yet they are the heartbeat of the industry. So
many don’t realize that there are other disciplines that could give these horses a
new career as eventers, jumpers, polo, dressage, campdrafting, mares to crosbreed, or even
as an uncle for the weanling paddock and so on.
Horses have been my life and very good to me if I can make
a difference for them then I would be complete.
Together with the Virtual Sale Yard on Cyberhorse I hope to
make a viewing pen for what’s available for sale “off the track”. Some I
will go and look at and give you an honest opinion of what I think it’s like and
suitable for.
Also I’ll cover a few race meetings but be aware if
I’m a bit biased with jockey Ernie Marchant it’s because he’s my partner of
12 years and it helps me score brownie points!
So, that’s me I look forward to any suggestions you
have, my email is gaigauci@hotmail.com |
