John Tapp Racing

Andrew Gluyas had a huge pair of shoes to fill in July of 2023 when he took over the running of French Cotton Lodge at  Morphettville. The stables had been home base to legendary trainer Leon Macdonald for more than four decades. Andrew had been married to Leon’s daughter for five years when he went to work for his father-in-law in 2002.

Seven years later he was delighted to formulate a partnership with the veteran which would generate 560 wins up to the time of Leon’s retirement. Andrew got away to the best possible start as a trainer in his own right, when he won the Victoria Derby with Goldrush Guru the following year. The winners have continued to flow. Delighted to have him on the podcast this week.
Andrew begins by explaining the origins of his unusual surname. 

He looks back on his father-in-law’s retirement in 2023, and recalls the freak accident at Morphettville trackwork when Leon was bowled over by a spooky horse.

Andrew talks of the 21 year association with Leon that shaped his future. 

Gluyas looks back on his previous life as an electrical fitter.

He speaks of his good fortune in being able to co-train some outstanding horses in partnership with Leon.

Andrew pays tribute to astute owner/breeder Harry Perks whose continued support of his stable has been overwhelming.

He acknowledges the talents of Dilly Dally and Go Indy Go, two other very good horses he got to work with.

Andrew speaks glowingly of Goldrush Guru, the horse to kick start his solo training career. He takes us through that exciting Victoria Derby win not long after taking over the operation of French Cotton Lodge.

He speaks highly of the talents of Watchme Win, already the winner of six races. 

He gives punters a good pointer to the future prospects of lightly raced 3YO filly Bassett Babe. 

Andrew pays tribute to his three sons and to Sue, his wife of 29 years. 

The 55 year old trainer endorses the talents of his stable apprentice Taylor Johnston.

While on the subject of jockeys, Andrew expresses his admiration for two former Macdonald apprentices who went on to great acclaim. One of them is still going strongly.

He looks back on a freakish fall in 2019 which ended the career of brilliant young stable apprentice Raquel Clark.

Andrew says he’s delighted to be occupying prominent spots on both the SA and Adelaide trainer’s premiership ladders.

The trainer acknowledges  the achievements of Terry McAuliffe, his brother-in-law by marriage. Terry was a top Adelaide race caller before switching career direction to become Adelaide racing correspondent for Racing.Com.

We couldn’t let Andrew go without some reference to his former passion for the game of baseball. Those who knew him early days remember his achievements for the Glenelg Club.

A lovely chat with a man who learned from a master, and is heading in the same direction.

Please forgive my deviation from our usual interview format but the discovery of some very old broadcast tapes has set me upon a sentimental journey and rekindled memories I’d like to share with you. The centuries old proverb “handsome is as handsome does” has never been better exemplified than it was by the celebrated racehorse Tobin Bronze. 

He ticked every box as a thoroughbred type and endeared himself to racing fans in four magnificent seasons on Australian tracks. His few disappointing performances always came with a legitimate excuse. His finest moments are still revered by those who were around in the days of the horse they called the “Bronze Bullet”. We’ll get back to our usual podcast format next week, but for now I’d like to invite you to join me on a trip down memory lane as we look at the racing life of a deep chestnut stallion who captivated Australia’s thoroughbred lovers in the 1960’s. 
Sincere thanks to Melbourne historian Dennis Najin who made available Bill Collins’ graphic calls of Tobin Bronze’s wins in the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate of 1967.

I was thrilled to meet David Taggart for the first time at the recent Sydney premiere of the “J.Mac Story”. Like many Aussie racing fans I was well acquainted with his story. The story of a distinguished riding career being abruptly halted in 2007 by a freakish fall at Stony Creek- a career which had brought him more than 800 wins including 48 black type races. Included in that impressive tally are six Gr 1’s. “Tags” as he’s affectionately known, suffered years of post accident trauma before a stroke of good fortune changed his future direction. He’s still battling a few issues but occupies his mind with the task of preparing and presenting four weekly segments on Melbourne’s SEN Track. I quickly pinned him down to a podcast and we got the job done this week. David begins his inspirational story by talking about his current immobility problems and the way he overcomes them.

He talks about the lucky break that led him to a radio career.

David pays tribute to his SEN sidekick Gareth Hall.

The former successful jockey takes us back to the freakish Stony Creek fall that ended his career.

He talks about the injuries, the rehabilitation and the emotional aftermath.

Dave looks back on his apprenticeship to legendary trainer Frank King, the man described as Melbourne’s answer to Theo Green.

He remembers Frank’s undying devotion to his apprentices.

“Tags” remembers the thrill of his first winning ride.

He talks of the overwhelming experience of being engaged for a Gr 1 ride by none other than Bart Cummings. The 52 year old shares recollections of a very special day.

David speaks glowingly of Greg Mance, the trainer who supplied his second Gr 1 winner. He enjoyed great success for the Mance stable over a lengthy period of time.

His Stony Creek accident was bad enough but he looks back on another freak mishap at Moonee Valley that put him out for eight months.

Dave pays tribute to Seascay, a high quality horse who gave him two wins and several placings at the elite level.

He looks back on another Gr 1 win in the famous Goodwood Hcp at Morphettville for legendary trainer George Hanlon. He shares memories of a special day.

David looks back on a successful stint in Macau. He originally planned on a three month term which stretched to four years.

He elaborates on the Hollow Bullet story- the $10,000 filly who gave him his sixth Gr 1 victory in the historic Oaks at Flemington. 
He shares several great stories surrounding the filly and the running of the 2004 Crown Oaks.

Dave pays tribute to his 25 year old daughter Grace. He’s already introduced her to the AFL and to his favourite team. 

This is an inspiring interview with a personable little bloke who’s learned to blend the good with the bad in life. Keen racing people will find him very entertaining as he looks back on the highs and lows.

The first bloke to give me a wrap for the talents of Justin Sheehan was John O’Shea. It was 2000 and John’s solo training career had just begun at Warwick Farm. Sheehan was then 28 and although struggling with weight issues, was quickly establishing himself with some very discerning trainers. O’Shea described him as an “innately talented rider.” Just eight years later Justin’s career was all over as the ravages of the sweat box began to affect his health. In his relatively short time as a professional jockey he stamped himself as one of the best in the land. The 54 year old Queensland born horseman joins us on the podcast this week to look back on the highs and lows of an amazing twenty one year career as a professional jockey. Justin begins by talking about some recent health issues.

He looks back on fifteen years as an in demand trackwork rider at Warwick Farm.

Justin has clear recollections of his final day at the races- two unplaced rides at Rosehill in 2008. His final win at Kembla Grange remains near and dear to his heart.

He takes us back to childhood and memories of the equine skills of his late father.

The former jockey recalls the family’s move from Charleville to Dalby and an early introduction to thoroughbreds, albeit at an illegal age.

He looks back on his first race ride, his first win and the experience gained riding on some dry and dusty tracks in the Northern Territory.

Sheehan remembers his excitement when awarded a life changing NT Government Apprentice Grant which took him to Adelaide for a three month stint with trainer Danny Callaghan.

He looks back on a freak run of success and the opportunity to partner a marvellous old sprinter in nine wins.

Justin remembers his transfer to Kembla Grange trainer Bernie Howlett.

He recalls being very impressed with the talents of John O’Shea when the former Queenslander first began his training career at Warwick Farm.

Justin talks of his two race rides on budding champion Saintly.

He talks of his engagement to Ann Maree and the beginning of an association with top filly Kenbelle, then trained by his future father-in-law Kevin Robinson. Justin takes us through his 1996 Oaks win on Kenbelle.

Justin remembers two race rides on “champion in waiting” Tie The Knot. To this day he wonders what might have been, had things worked out a little differently.

The former ace jockey remembers with sadness the horrific Ipswich race fall in which eight horses crashed in the backstraight.

On a brighter note he looks back on his sudden engagement for genuine sprinter Adam and a Gr 1 win first up. This was the horse at the centre of his first overseas trip.

We devote ample time to Justin’s review of his exciting involvement with Universal Prince- four Gr 1 wins and one freakish fall in Singapore. 

He pays tribute to three other talented horses he got to ride for different trainers.

Justin’s unrelenting weight struggles were well known to racing people. He looks back on the horrors of constant wasting. 

Justin and Ann Maree are the proud parents of 23 year old Darby Sheehan. Dad says Darby hasn’t inherited the racing genes.

This is an interesting chat with a former jockey who left an indelible mark in a brief but brilliant career.

Col Hodges’ absence from western districts race meetings of late has been a talking point among his legion of friends. It’s taken  a nasty fall and a fractured hip socket to keep him away from the races after fifty six years behind the binoculars. He’s not feeling quite well enough to handle an interview at this early stage of his rehabilitation, but has given me the green light to replay a podcast recorded in May 2020, almost six years ago. Col was in a reminiscent mood on the day and began by taking us back to his very first professional race call. 

He talks of a happy childhood at Bogan Gate and school days at Gunning Gap, a push bike ride from home. 

Col remembers his fascination with the ABC race callers of the 1950’s.

He looks back on his admiration for the shearing contractors who visited his family property, and the three decades he’d later  spend in central western shearing sheds.

Col recalls the lucky break that would shape his destiny.

He’s never forgotten the day he was recruited by prominent race caller Bob Gunn to fill in at a small picnic meeting at Fifield, between Trundle and Tullamore.

The Forbes based caller looks back on an early involvement with harness and greyhound racing. He highlights some top class pacers of the era.

Col acknowledges his two favourite race meetings.

He reflects on the early careers of some talented bush gallopers who went on to much bigger things.

Col pays tribute to some ageless country gallopers who became legends in the bush.

Col Hodges has always been an entertaining storyteller and was happy to share a few of his favourite yarns on the podcast. Reminisce with a legendary country broadcaster and racing writer.