THE TINKLER INTERVIEW: THIS IS WHAT WAS SAID
By Graham Potter | Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Wayne Wilson interviewed Nathan Tinkler on BRC TV at Doomben on Saturday.
The Patinack principle readily made himself available and certainly appeared relaxed enough when fielding a series of questions on the future of the Patinack Farm operation. Some thought Tinkler was lashing out at the industry with some of his comments. Others thought his responses were well measured as he put forward his view from his experience, a place where few of us have been.
You be the judge. This is what was said.
Question: “The whole racing world is asking the question … where are we at (with Patinack Farm)?”
Tinkler: “A lot of people are interested in buying Patinack Farm. Probably got a whole lot of people that can be more hands on than I have been.
“There is a great team there (at Patinack) and a nice bunch of horses … so, with a lot of people interested, I think we’ll finalise something in the next couple of weeks.”
Question: “Are we talking Australian or are we talking International?”
Tinkler: “It is probably too hard to say, but there are a couple of bids there that are pretty serious.”
Question:” Is this going to hurt your heart having to surrender Patinack Farm?”
Tinkler: “There is no doubt about that. Yeah. I didn’t see it going like this, but it’s the right thing to do. There is a great team there and a lovely bunch of horses so someone else will have a lot of fun with it."
Question: “Do you think you will come back into the racing industry? Without wanting to patronise you, we need people like you in this industry of ours. If Patinack’s colours pull out of this game it will be a big setback for Australian racing."
Tinkler: “Look, I don’t think so. You know the racing industry has cast many owners on the scrap-heap in the past and I’m joining them, but there’s always plenty more.
“You know, you can have a lot of fun in this industry and that sort of stuff … but you can’t do that without the support of the industry.
“I’ve got a great team. I’ve always said if I couldn’t make it work with John Thompson, I couldn’t make it work.
“He is not just a great trainer, he is a dear friend. We’ve brought a lot of good people. You know Lofty (Queensland stable foreman Brett Killion) and these guys do a great job up here.
“The sad part for me is sort of losing that relationship. That probably hurts more than watching twenty runners on a Saturday."
Question: "Just cottoning on to one little phrase you used there. ‘Without the support of the industry’, you can’t do it. What do you mean by that?"
Tinkler: “That’s too big a topic to go into at the moment. Lets’ just say there is bad luck and there is Patinack luck. So, we’ll put it down to that!"
Question: “You didn’t answer the other part of my question … will we see you back in the racing industry some time down the track?"
Tinkler: “I think I need a break from it at the moment. You never say never. I love the sport dearly. I’m sure I’ll be back one day."
Question: “These offers that are on the table … is it for the whole Patinack operation in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne?
Tinkler: “Yeah, that’s right."
Question: “Stud farms and everything?"
Tinkler: “Everything."
“There are people out there interested in that sort of thing. It’s a pretty exciting venture to have a racing and breeding operation.
"The stallions are going well. We’ve got one of the best broodmare bands in the world. You know … great trainers and a great team.
“Trust me, it has taken a lot of hard work over the last five to seven years to find those sort of people that can run that operation and put it together.
“It’s all just coming together but, sadly for me, ultimately it is best placed for somebody else now."
Question: “If the deal came to fruition, would it encompass staff as well?"
Tinkler: “The main aim is to find somebody who will keep them all employed and continue to make the business thrive, so that’s what it is about.”
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