John Tapp Racing

You don’t see too many $61.00 “pops” generating ovations like the one Rothfire and Brad Rawiller got after the recent Doomben $10,000. The horse all but written off when he broke down almost six years ago, and the tough-as-teak veteran jockey served up a fairy tale story in winning the famous sprint after a very wide run. 

It was Gr 1 number 26 for the hard working Rawiller who hadn’t won at the elite level since scoring on  Elite Street in Perth’s Winterbottom Stakes five and a half years ago. Brad, who makes a habit of “walking racetracks” when track conditions are suspect, went out with a set plan. He answers all of the questions that people have pondered in this week’s podcast. He begins by explaining how he secured the ride from a stable he hasn’t ridden for previously.

The jockey takes us through the tactics he employed in the big sprint.

He talks of Rothfire’s unlucky seventh in the Kingsford Smith Cup
two weeks later. 

Brad pays tribute to his remarkable dad Keith, a versatile horseman who enjoyed success as a jockey both on the flat and over the jumps. Rawiller Snr also made his mark as a trainer and driver of harness horses. 

The jockey gives a shout out to his mum Elaine who closely monitors the progress of brothers Nash and Brad.

Brad makes special mention of brother Todd and sister Stacey, both highly efficient horse people in their own right.  

He makes no secret of the fact that brother Nash is his primary inspiration.

Brad goes back to his initial apprenticeship to Alan Bowell at Bendigo and a later transfer to Tony Noonan at Mornington. In his final year with Noonan he won the Victorian country jockey’s premiership. 

He’s never forgotten his win as a 19 year old in an Apprentice’s Cup at Belmont in WA. He formed an instant attachment to Perth racing.

Brad was thrilled to win his first Gr 1 in Perth for high profile trainer David Hayes.

He looks back on a national jockey’s title in the 2007/2008 season. His win tally was extraordinary.

Brad recalls the unfortunate circumstances that brought him a Golden Slipper win on Phelan Ready in 2009. 

He looks back on a brief association with the grand stayer Viewed. He enjoyed a freak run to win the Caulfield Cup on the handsome stallion.

Brad reminisces about his exciting journey with the talented galloper Weekend Hussler. He won 11 races on the gelding including 7 Gr 1’s.

Only one other horse even gets close to Weekend Hussler in the jockey’s affections. He pays homage to the remarkable Black Heart Bart, a horse he partnered in 6 Gr 1 wins. The last of those wins triggered high emotion.

Brad looks back on his snap decision in 2020 to try his luck on a permanent basis in Perth. There were several highs and one devastating low. 

The 47 year old is greatly inspired by older  brother Nash but there are two other Victorian jockeys for whom he had special admiration. 


Brad makes special mention of daughter Cleo (14) and son Lucas (11).

A nice chat with one of Australia’s hardest working jockeys who hopes to enjoy similar longevity to brother Nash.

Simon Price hasn’t ridden in a race for five years but still spends plenty of time in the saddle. He’s at Morphettville trackwork three mornings a week, and has a regular presence at the barrier trials and jumpouts. With sons Will and Ben both forging successful riding careers in Adelaide, Price Snr is content to take a back seat these days. Simon’s CV credits him with close to 2000 winners including a host of black type features. At the height of his career he had regular support from many leading stables and a strong public following. In response to several requests for an interview with the talented horseman I’m pleased to say job’s done! Simon joins us on this week’s podcast to look back on his very rewarding career. 

He talks about his Morphettville trackwork involvement three times a week for some discerning trainers.

Simon says he also works a “day job” at a prominent landscaping business owned by an old friend.

He looks back on a snap decision in 2020 to relocate to NSW at the request of former South Australian horseman Sam Kavanagh.

Simon recalls going all the way to Mudgee to ride his first winner for Kavanagh.

The veteran says a Tamworth success on More Sundays for Kavanagh was his last winning ride.

Simon pays tribute to Sam Kavanagh who died after a short illness 18 months ago.

He looks back on childhood days in Adelaide and pays tribute to his parents.

Simon recalls the unlikely circumstances that would trigger his introduction to horses.

He talks of early tuition from George Davison and a subsequent apprenticeship to Peter Hayes at Oakbank. 

Simon says Peter Hayes was a thoughtful boss who encouraged him to ride for other trainers.

He clearly remembers his first race ride at Cheltenham and his first win at a now defunct racecourse close to the Victorian border.

The fifty five year old remembers the support he received from some prominent Adelaide trainers.

He looks back on a “loan-out” to Cranbourne trainer Colin Alderson.

During this time Peter Hayes sent a horse to Melbourne to run in the inaugural C.S Hayes Stakes at Moonee Valley. Young Simon gained the ride and it was a dream result.

We randomly reminisce with Price about some of his favourite horses
beginning with the Russell Cameron trained Shavano Miss- an unpleasant mare with great ability.

Simon looks back on a surprise phone call from the Waterhouse stable and the offer of a Doncaster ride. He thought someone was “pulling his leg.” 

He looks back on a brief association with the Leon Corstens trained Cherontessa which led to a win in the Gr 1 South Australian Oaks.

Simon couldn’t believe his luck when history repeated itself the following year. WA owner Bob Peters sent Miss Margaret to Peter Hayes for a three race campaign. Simon got the ride and won the Gr 3 Auraria, ran second in the Australasian Oaks before winning the Gr 1 South Australian Oaks. 

The jockey enjoyed several successful stints in Singapore including one twelve month stay. He was delighted to win the 1998 Gr 1 Singapore Gold Cup on the Malcolm Thwaites trained Three Crowns.
It was the last Cup to be staged at the Bukit Timah track.

Six weeks later Simon rode Three Crowns in the Melbourne Cup, and was deeply saddened when the genuine gelding broke down at the top of the straight.

Simon had little hesitation in declaring Fields Of Omagh to be the best horse he rode in a race. The jockey was on board for three of the gelding’s South Australian wins. One of those wins was at Cheltenham the other two at Victoria Park. Both tracks have subsequently been closed.

Price had a big opinion of the brilliant but unsound mare La Baraka. He won two Group 3 races on the daughter of Euclase and hasn’t forgotten her glaring conformation faults.

Most Adelaide jockeys greatly value wins in the Goodwood Hcp and the Adelaide Cup. He regrets not being able to win either. He ran second in both races to horses ridden by the same top Victorian jockey.

Simon says a busy work routine has helped him deal with a difficult time since the passing of his wife Belinda.

He pays tribute to sons Will and Ben and daughter Abby who has in turn given him two adored grandsons.

The elder Price reviews the careers so far of sons Will and Ben. Both young jockeys are currently settled in Adelaide where they’re getting good support from prominent stables. 

I remember the days in the broadcast box when I’d watch Adelaide races in between Sydney events. Simon Price won a huge number of those races. Great to welcome him as a podcast guest.

The girls have had an extraordinary impact on Australian racing in recent years. A current emerging talent is twenty five year old Coriah Keatings who just recently won her first race at black type level. Coriah, apprenticed to Nick Olive at Canberra has a very impressive 135 wins on  the board after just four years of race riding. 

Born and reared on her family’s farm just outside Albury, Coriah was in the saddle at a very early age and went on to become highly successful in many equestrian pursuits. Her entry into the racing industry happened almost by accident.This is an absorbing chat with a country girl who would have excelled in any one of several sports, but her innate love of horses influenced her decision to become a jockey. Coriah says she’s still on cloud nine after winning her first stakes race on Spicy Lu at Eagle Farm.

The young jockey explains the origins of her intriguing given name. 

Coriah says her early passion for horses was encouraged by mother Kerrin, herself an avid horse lover.

She says her father Craig had little interest in racing, but has become one of her staunchest fans.

Coriah joined pony club at four years of age and was still heavily involved into her late teens.

The 25 year old says she had little difficulty with academic studies but much preferred school sporting activities.

The young jockey was all set to enrol for a university course when Covid got in the way. She earned some pocket money at a Zambrero Restaurant in Albury.

At the suggestion of a friend Coriah made enquiries about a job with former successful jockey Jodi Bohr who was training horses in Albury at the time. 

She openly admits to being all at sea when she began riding trackwork.

Coriah looks back on two other jobs she undertook, one in hospitality the other in retail.  At one stage she was working both jobs at the same time.

She recalls an invitation from leading Albury trainer Ron Stubbs to join his team.

Coriah says Ron wasn’t in the position to offer her an apprenticeship, but knew of another trainer who was.

She looks back on a very happy stint with Donna Scott who became a valued tutor and friend.

Coriah looks back on her first race ride. She finished second but believes she should have won. She got the shock of her life after passing the post.

She was delighted to win her first race on a horse trained by Donna Scott.

Coriah looks back on a relocation to Canberra and the transfer of her indentures to her current boss Nick Olive.

The jockey talks of her partner Matthew Kelly, a young Canberra trainer who’s beginning to make his mark.

Coriah pays tribute to some of the horses who’ve kick started her riding career with special mention of the Nick Olive trained mare she regards as her favourite to this point in time.

She says there’s one member of the Olive team she’s “busting” to win a race on. 

Coriah speaks fondly of talented mare All Adore and makes mention of two other metropolitan winners she’s ridden for Canberra trainers. 

She talks of her versatility in being able to use the whip in either hand.

Coriah agrees she’s on the tall side as jockeys go, but appreciates the luxury of being able to ride on the limit weight.

She clearly remembers two occasions when she came away from the races with winning trebles, one at Cowra and the other at Canberra.

It’s a nice chat with one of the rising stars of the female riding ranks.

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.