Sydney’s first lady of racing Gai Waterhouse has followed a tried and true formula when selecting what she hopes will be her next staying star.
Just Horse Racing has learned that Waterhouse has welcomed four year old gelding Bone of Contention into her stable.
Bone of Contention, a gelding by Handsome Ransom, has had 15 starts for three wins and four minor placings.
He has progressed steadily through the grades as he has matured.
It has now become racing folklore that Waterhouse turned to husband Robbie one night and bemoaned about the lack of stayers in her stable.
When she first received her licence in 1992, stayers were at the forefront of her stable, but in time her focus shifted towards the sprinter-milers.
As a result, Robbie Waterhouse bought a number of New Zealand stayers in the hope of winning a Melbourne Cup.
She came close last year with her former Kiwi stayers, winning the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) with Herculian Prince and the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with Descarado.
However, a Melbourne Cup still eludes her.
She will be hoping that Bone of Contention can help her to achieve a victory in Australia’s greatest race.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
