Legendary Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse has jokingly played down a row with horse owner John Singleton as, “a lover’s tiff.”

Singleton was unhappy with the barrier choice for his mare, More Joyous, in the Cox Plate.

Jacqueline Allen reports.

TRANSCRIPT

More Joyous was the first name picked, so trainer Gai Waterhouse could have chosen any barrier.

But she opted for the mare to run from barrier 11, a move, the horse’s owner – John Singleton – described as “madness” and “suicidal”.

Waterhouse laughed off the critcism, joking she’d heard it all before.

Gai Waterhouse, More Joyous trainer: “It was a lover’s tiff that’s all.(reporter) He said it’s madness, it’s suicide. (Gai again) Did he? he might have said the same before the Doncaster.”

The Sydney trainer defended the barrier selection, saying she didn’t want the brilliant mare cluttered up early in the race.

Only five previous winners have started the Cox Plate from barrier 11.

Waterhouse maintains her relationship with Singleton is intact, but on Saturday, that might depend on the race result.

Jacqueline Allen, QUT News.