Jamie Kah, a premiership-winning jockey in Melbourne, is considered by many to be the most influential woman in Australian racing. On Saturday, Kah will ride In Secret in the Newmarket race at Flemington, where the Godolphin filly was a favourite.
While Waterhouse, another influential woman in the sport, was voted 18th in The Herald’s “Fifty Most Influential Women in Australian Sport” poll published this week to coincide with International Women’s Day. Kah didn’t make the list but has been dominating the Melbourne premiership this season.
Waterhouse has been a dynamic figure in racing and has done much to advance gender equality in the male-dominated sport. Meanwhile, Kah has earned her reputation as a jockey by competing against men in what is considered one of the most dangerous sports.
This was exemplified in a recent incident at Randwick, when fellow jockey Amy McLucas came close to falling off her horse after James McDonald, an exceptional horseman, made an error.
Waterhouse’s business acumen and expertise in selecting and developing horses have allowed her to overcome many challenges in the industry.
Kah, on the other hand, carries a significant amount of punter support, particularly on In Secret, who she rode to victory in the group 1 Lightning on Coolangatta last start.
Waterhouse is not competing in the major events of the day, the Newmarket and the Coolmore Classic for fillies and mares, at Rosehill Gardens, but she remains in top form.
In partnership with Adrian Bott, they are at the forefront of the Golden Slipper betting with Red Resistance and Platinum Jubilee, as well as being significant contributors to the Pago Pago and Magic Night two-year-old events at Rosehill.
The Newmarket race is expected to be challenging, with In Secret and I Wish I Win vying for the top spot. While In Secret’s last race was a narrow defeat in the Surround Stakes at Randwick on February 25, Jockey Hugh Bowman is optimistic about the horse’s chances.
I Wish I Win is also expected to perform well in the race, with the horse’s “whoosh” finish in the Lightning indicating that the metric six furlongs of the Newmarket will suit him. Moody also has Chain Of Lightning in the race, with Linda Meech, a comparatively new mum, in the saddle.
Over the last half-century, fillies and mares have gained an enhanced reputation in racing, with events like the Coolmore Classic, which began in 1973 and was won by Miss Personality, highlighting the trend.
»Jamie Kah vs. Gai Waterhouse: The Battle for Most Influential Woman in Australian Racing«
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