Episode 465: Angela Davies

The Gosford racing precinct has never had a better ambassador than Angela Davies. The amiable trainer was born and reared in a cottage opposite the racecourse float entrance and hasn’t strayed far since. This is the story of a young girl who was pestering local trainers at five or six years of age, and has never wanted to do anything else but train racehorses.  Angela had just returned from the Randwick trials when we called, and was pretty excited about one of her twelve horse team. She talks fondly of Our Kobison with whom she’s won five recent races. The story behind this talented four year old is an inspiration to racing’s smaller players. Angela takes us back to childhood days when she’d be out of bed in the dark to watch Gosford trackwork. Mum had one firm rule before she’d allow her daughter to leave the house. She talks about her father Bruce, a former on course bookie who found an alternative way to service customers. Bruce vehemently discouraged her from becoming a jockey. Angela reflects on the days when a stranger would climb onto the roof of the family home on Gosford race days. The trainer takes us back to her early days in the show ring and the little business venture she started on gaining her first job. She’s never forgotten the first horse she trained in her own right- a $1000 filly purchased straight out of a paddock. Angela remembers her first yearling sale purchase- the $1250 dollar colt who was destined to become her first winner. He had a few quirks. The devoted horsewoman started to buy cheap yearlings from low key sales. She looks back on some of the early winners to bring her talents under notice. She talks of Clipper who was in foal when she came into the stable. She didn’t have much time but managed to win at Scone and Randwick with the expectant mum. Angela talks of She’s A Stalker who won two in town and a Wyong 3YO Magic Millions. She fondly remembers the talented Waitandwatch. Angela acknowledges a few other horses  to play a part in bringing her name to potential owners. She talks of the little property at nearby Narara from which she’s been training her horses for almost three decades. Angela takes us through the background story of the Wanted colt she hoped to buy for $5000. She was stressed when she had to go to $7500. She takes us through the wonderful journey that led Through The Cracks to his win in the Provincial Championship Final, a dream result for his ten excited owners. The trainer speaks fondly of Salina Dreaming who showed great talent despite several niggling issues. Angela talks of her three year respite from racing in the late 1990’s to join the motherhood ranks. She pays tribute to daughter Georgia and son Jarred. She’s both surprised and delighted to regularly hear from potential owners seeking shares in modestly priced horses.  This is a lovely yarn with a trainer whose effervescent personality shows through from go to whoa!