TINDALL’S TIPS
THE FORMER ENGLISH RUGBY PLAYER MOVED
FROM PITCHES TO PADDOCKS, AND LEARNED
A FEW LESSONS ALONG THE WAY.
GQ: How did you get
into horse-racing?
Mike Tindall: Before
I met [wife] Zara, I’d
never been to a
horse race, but she’s
massively passionate
about it. Then it’s like
any sport, you meet a
couple of jockeys and
try to understand
what they’re doing
to win. Next thing
you know, you
accidentally buy
a horse and then...
GQ: How do you
accidentally buy
a horse?
MT: I was just trying
to be involved [at an
auction] so I could
say, ‘Oh yeah, I bid on
a horse’. The night
had been going on
and everything had
gone for $25,000
plus. They brought
out a new horse. I’ve
got my hand up just
to start it off basically
and someone got
there before me and
the auctioneer’s
going, ‘10, 12,’ and
then it was literally
like the room was
empty. I was looking
at the auctioneer
going, ‘I do not wantthis horse’. He’s
saying, ‘Well we’ve
got an unenthusiastic
bidder. Is anyone
going to help him
out?’ Everyone went,
‘Oh no’. Then when
we finally got
Monbeg Dude on
the track, he did
really well for us.
GQ: What do you
like most about the
Magic Millions
carnival?
MT: I just like the way
they’re doing it in
terms of only Magic
Millions horses that
are bought at the
Magic Millions sale
can race in it.
GQ: Is horse
ownership more
accessible now?
MT: I think they’re
finding more and
more affordable
ways of making
syndicates that won’t
break the bank. Then
you’re gonna get to
be at some really
special days and
have some fun and
then make money.
GQ: Do you have to
back your own horse?
MT: You have to.
It’s an unwritten rule.WORDS: DAVID SMIEDT. PHOTOGRAPHY: JEN WILDING; KEN BUTTI; GETTY IMAGES. STYLING: VANESSA COYLE. GROOMING: RACHEL SINGER-CLARK.
nine barrier draws offered prizes
in excess of $1m. Throw in strategic
partnerships with the likes of Moët and one
of the nation’s more cutting-edge fashions on
the field, and you have an event that melds
moments of luxury to the fast-paced allure
of racing and auctions.
Another product added to the brand last
year by owners Harvey and Page was polo.
It kicked off the 12-day event, drew 2000
spectators to the Gold Coast Spit and sold
out VIP marquees – tickets for which went
for $350 a head.
Knowing a thing or three about marketing,
the Harveys were canny enough to realise
that nothing bestows instant cred on a new
event like the presence of royalty. And so it
was that Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth’s
grand-daughter, saddled up for a chukka,
watched by her husband, former England
rugby player Mike Tindall (who we tapped
for some horsey investment insights).
Of course, if you have the cash to splash
you can still simply head for the Queensland
coast to go in with a bunch of mates to buy
a share in the next Winx (purchased at the
Magic Millions in 2013 for $230,000 –
and boasts a current ROI of 165.4 per cent).CLOCKWISE
F R O M T O P :
LUKE NOLEN
WINS THE MAGIC
MILLIONS 2YO
CLOCKWISE
C L A S S I C , 2 0 1 6 ;
ZARA PHILLIPS
IN ACTION; MAGIC
MILLIONS SALE DAY.This year’s Magic Millions is out of the
gates on January 7 – and in terms of strategic
expansion, there are few stronger runners in
Australia. Because if sustained commercial
growth results in your brand evolving to
mean different things to different markets
and demographics, it’s safe to say you’re
not merely disrupting, but leading the
field by several lengths. magicmillions.com.auWin Tickets
Woodford Reserve, the
official bourbon sponsor
of the Magic Millions, is
giving you and a friend
the chance to win a
money-can’t-buy
experience to attend the
2018 MM Polo, worth
over $7000. Enter by
going to GQ.com.au/win.Tindall wears cardigan, approx. $245,
by Levi’s Vintage at Mr Porter; jeans, $825,
by Saint Laurent at Harrolds; and T-shirt, $59,
by Polo Ralph Lauren at Myer.MEN OF THE YEAR 2017 GQ.COM.AU 129