SIXTY SECONDS WITH WINNO: CLAIRE FARROW

By Darren Winningham with Claire Farrow | Friday, August 17, 2018

CLAIRE FARROW – Strapper ‘Extraordinaire.’

WINNO set out to find out more about the “big mare” - as I call her - Claire Farrow, the strapper that is always cheeky and always smiling at the track.

When you set out with a set of questions, you know you have spent some quality time with a person when you throw the sheet away and just start rambling about any subject that pops up.

This is one of those special times!

I knew that Claire had moved to Australia, that she is engaged to the shy Mitchell Speers (well at least I think he gives himself that tag) and that she is due to be married in late 2019.

I found Claire to be very well spoken and educated – yes, I know, even for a Pommy! Someone who is loyal to her friends and someone who deeply appreciates and misses her family.

I could not even attempt to understand the angst or feelings one would have – leaving your country or birth and coming to another land. Sure, we all speak English and sure she has made a wonderful network of friends since being in Australia but I am not sure I could do it to be honest – but then again she has that “X” factor – “LOVE”.

I stood with Claire at the stables at Doomben between races where she was preparing some horses for the Edmonds Racing team. I really enjoyed these ‘60 seconds’ I spent with her.

Oh yes – apologies in advance Mitchell – I was only joking when I mentioned you … but remember, the door is always open for you to do your own 'Sixty Seconds with Winno.'

Please take the time to enjoy this one everyone.I did – and thank you so much Claire!

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Where were you born?

Scarborough.

Not on the Redcliffe peninsula?

No. North Yorkshire – England - but also close to the sea though!

Should I ask how old you are (I know I shouldn’t ask a lady her age)?

I am 33 – but I am sure people will say I do not look it!

Like I was going to say you look like 21!

Why thanks WINNO – so nice of you!

Have you a nickname?

Well that is difficult. I have a few!

Okay I am in no rush – let’s go!

Wheelie. This is because of Mitchell. He thought farrow is like a barrow is like a wheelie bin!

What else?

Donna Edmonds calls me “FAZ.” That is short for Farrow.

I know there is another one!

Yes – Clarence – due to my first name. See I have quite a few! Hold on there is one more – a special one! Me and my sister have a special name for each other. We call each other “Moy.”

How long have you been involved in racing – plus in a WINNO exclusive I hear that you have been involved in show jumping as well!

I got involved with a jumps trainer when I was only 16 back in England. Then I moved into the flat racing and then I thought I would come to Australia for the great weather.

So how long have you been in Australia?

Five years on 21 August 2018. I originally came for 12 months on a working holiday and I have never left!

Now I am armed with this information I should call the Immigration Department and dob you in!

No – don’t bother. I have gone through all the right channels and I am legit now!

Now I know you work and strap for Toby Edmonds. Is he a good boss?

He is very good to me and all the staff – a great boss!

Okay – what about Trent Edmonds?

Well to be honest he doesn’t do a whole lot.

Actually – can you help me – what about his hair? It seems to have grown and got longer lately. I think he may have had some work done – maybe some hair plugs. Do you have any comment?

Well, I hope not. I think that he is going bald and he should just shave the rest of it all off!

What do you do in the Industry?

I am a strapper and I work as a track rider as well. I strap for Edmonds Racing and I work as a track rider for Liam Birchley Racing.

Fondest memories of working for Toby so far?

Well I am not sure – maybe last year’s Xmas Party was pretty good!

Let’s go back to when you were in the UK?

I was with trainer Mark Johnston who is based in Middleham. He has had runners over here in the Melbourne Cup. I had a horse there that I absolutely adored – he was called Level Best. He was an absolute lunatic of a horse.

Mark had some very good horses. Horses like Jukebox Jury (raced in the 2011 Melbourne Cup) and Shamardal (2004 European 2-Year-Old Champion). He also trained Hartnell and It’s Somewhat. I used to ride It’s Somewhat as a two-year-old and then they came out Australia to Godolphin and they are both scored Group 1 victories! He has had a lot of good horses over the years and still does have now!

What is the best thing you like about your work?

The people you meet!

So, at track work – I know that you and Mitchell still ride work?

No I am the only one that rides now – Mitchell is too heavy!

Is that because he loves a meat pie?

Yes – well he does love his meat pies.

Sauce or no sauce?

He is a sauce man – he must have sauce on his pies!

Does he eat sausage rolls as well?

No – just pies.

Do you drive a car?

We have two cars and we share them. A Mitsubishi Lancer and a Hyundai.

What do you think about when you are alone in your car?

That is a very strange question WINNO. Well, I am normally singing along to the radio. Can I rephrase that – trying to sing!

What do you do when you cannot sleep?

I read a book – I love to read books.

(At this point we were interrupted by Darren Wilson and a mate who had a bet that Claire would not give him a kiss on the cheek for $50 We paused whilst big Darren Wilson (well not so big any more) collected a kiss and an easy $50).

What are you reading now?

When She Danced. I love my iBook’s. I get them all the time.

What time do you get up and what time do you start work?

I start at 3.45am each morning.

How do you prefer to be woken in the morning?

My alarm – but I like to have two snoozes before I get up. I am very specific they must be 5-minute snoozes.

What about Mitchell. He doesn’t kick you and tell you to get up?

Well he doesn’t often move. He may just turn over but that is about it. He is not very energetic at that time of the morning.

What was the turning point of your career?

It would have to be moving to Australia. I did really enjoy the racing in England, but I got sick of the long winters. It gets very cold there. So, coming to Australia was lovely and it was very different. I have learnt so much since I have been here – riding track work here is extremely different.

Around the track who is the biggest pest?

Glen O’Sullivan and Brad Richardson. (He works for Kelly Schweida).

The biggest Joker?

Those two as well - Glen O’Sullivan and Brad Richardson.

What are you always late for?

I am not normally late. I am usually on time. I am pretty much a good time keeper.

If you were not doing your current work what do you think you would do for a job?

Well I am actually currently studying Early Childcare. It is not something I thought that I would ever do, but, I am studying it.

It is that because when you and Mitchell finally get married next September that you are going to have children?

Yeah – well I thought I had better get some practice in to train me what to do!

What is your favourite music?

I like anything that is in the charts.

What is the most embarrassing song on you IPOD of IPHONE?

I actually do not have any music on my iPhone.

What about Mitchell does he have any bad songs on his phone?

He has heaps of them actually – a few clubbing tracks as he still thinks he is 18! They are really old clubbing songs that he still thinks that can dance to. He is not a very good dancer WINNO!

Can you cook?

I am actually a good cook. I cook every evening.

What can you cook – like you favourite dish?

I like to do a good roast – roast beef and roast chicken are my favourites. Roast vegetables with it and roast gravy. I love to add Yorkshire Puddings with roast beef which is a traditional thing we have back in England.

Now Mitchell Speers - your partner – can he cook?

The truth is he couldn’t cook at all but recently I have been on placement with my studies (Early Childcare) and so he is designated cook two days per week. He has discovered the slow cooker and is making some nice meals.

Okay – here we go you are giving him a wrap. What does he cook well in the slow cooker – I mean you cannot cook pies in a slow cooker Claire!

He is doing a good vegetable and chicken soup.

How do you rate Mitchell’s cooking out of 10?

Well I would have said zero – up until recently. So, I had better give him a little bit of a wrap and I will give him a 6 out of 10!

Okay – what do you reckon he would rate your cooking out of 10?

He would not dare rate it less than 100!

Do you spoil Mitchell?

I think just being with me is being spoilt enough isn’t it?

So, when you are in trouble (with Mitchell) or want to redeem yourself what do you do?

Nothing – I just tell him how it is!

What gifts do you buy for Mitchell?

Well normally I buy him clothes! If I go shopping I will see a top or a jacket or a pair of pants I like, and I will buy them for him. Now WINNO let’s get this straight the word there is, “THAT I LIKE THEM.”

Does he wear them?

Yes of course!

What would you choose as your last meal?

Steak medium rare – mushroom sauce – chips and salad.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world who would it be?

I would love to have dinner with my sister (Kim), my niece Olivia and my mum and dad as I miss my family a lot.

Name three things you could not live without?

1. My Sister – Moy or Kim. 2. I probably should say Mitchell (well you don’t have to says WINNO). 3. My family.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing my family.

Would you ever go skydiving or bungee jumping?

I have already done a sky-dive – but not a bungee jump. I would give bungee jumping a go actually!

If you won Lotto – what would be the first thing you would do with the money?

I would book a flight home and not tell my sister or family and surprise them. Head straight to the airport!

Where do you like to travel to for holidays etc?

I would love to go to USA and see a Xmas in New York.

Do you watch much TV?

I don’t watch much TV to be honest.

Do you have a favourite show on TV?

I used to love watching Hollyoaks - a UK soap opera that used to focus on a group of students at a local college and their families. I used to love it, but they don’t show it out here!

As a child what was your favourite TV show?

I didn’t really watch TV as a child. My sister and I had ponies before we could walk – we used to always be out with them.

Are you sure you didn’t watch the Teletubbies when you were a child in England – like they would remind you of Mitchell right?

(At this point there is a large amount of laughter)

He is going to kill you!

Okay – but I must ask what Teletubbie do you think Mitchell looks the most like?

Po – the Red Teletubbie!

(More laughter … and then more laughter until we both compose ourselves. WINNO thinks he really might be in trouble now).

Winter sports are here. NRL /AFL?

I don’t follow either of them- don’t really understand them.

State of Origin – NSW or QLD?

NSW – as Mitchell is from NSW.

Politics – Labor/Liberal/One Nation?

I would not have a clue here in Australia. In England it was never Labor – my dad always said never follow Labor!

If you could ask one question to our PM Malcolm Turnbull what would it be?

That is easy – “what is it that you actually do for your job?”

If you could ask one question to Donald Trump what would it be?

“How the hell did you pull that woman that you have got on your arm?”

Should I ask Mitchell the same question?

WINNO you are going to be in trouble – but why not!

Who do you speak to most often on the phone?

Definitely my sister.

Who is your man crush?

David Beckham.

Who is your female crush?

Heidi Whalley. A second one is Mila Kunis – she is hot as well!

Do you have a favourite fragrance?

J’Adore by Dior.

Does Mitchell have one?

My sister bought him Hugo Boss for Xmas last year and he is still using it.

What are you grateful for everyday?

Being healthy – my family and my friends.

What inspires you?

To be a loyal person. To always have my friends backs and to be a person that people can trust and rely on.

What item or landmark symbolises Australia?

The stars tattoo that I have on my ribs.

What symbolises England for you?

The small little towns with their country pubs where everyone know everyone.

Sandwiches – what do you put on them?

Well I normally have wraps – as bread is not good for you! Chicken or ham salad on a wholemeal wrap.

Pizzas – do you like them?

Yes – but I don’t eat them very often obviously.

So, are you saying Mitchell makes you eat them?

He loves his pizzas – ham and pineapple.

What is your favourite drink. They tell me you drink lots, so this should not be a difficult question!

Champagne and Gin – but not mixed together!

How do you define success?

I think success is when you succeed in something you set out to achieve. Your success may not be the same as someone else’s success but when you set a goal and you achieve it – you have succeeded in my opinion!

Tell us something that might surprise us about you that not many people know?

That I am studying Early Child Care and that in a couple of weeks (fingers crossed) that I will be fully qualified. This was about doing something just in case. I had a friend that had a bad fall when they were riding track work and they couldn’t go back to it and it got me thinking what if that was me?

So, I wanted to have something to fall back on and obviously as you get older you cannot always ride track work forever.

Do you have any pets?

No pets here in Australia. I used to have a jack Russell back home in England. His name was “Rocky” he was my pride and joy. He passed just over a year ago – he was my baby!

If Rocky could speak what do you think they would say about you?

She is the best mum in the world!

You are down to your last $10 – what would you spend it on?

Probably a glass of champagne!

Now that is tough – I mean you would not go and buy Mitchell a pie?

No way! He doesn’t need anymore!

With the wedding being planned who has been in the gym the most – you or him?

I have to say definitely him. He is good with gym. He goes every morning – I must give him another wrap!

The ring – he has finally put one on your finger? (I managed to get a photo of it earlier).

He really did a great job with it – it was actually a real surprise. It was a lovely surprise!

Thanks for spending 60 seconds with WINNO

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