Latest news with #GaiWaterhouse
The Age
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
A right royalty battle: Why some actors get repeatedly shafted
Training thoroughbreds proved a lucrative vocation for Gai Waterhouse, but she'd be hard-pressed to find a pony that can deliver as enduring a return as her 1978 appearance on cult UK TV series Doctor Who. For nearly half a century, Waterhouse has received an annual royalty payment from Doctor Who 's owner, the BBC. Last month, it was $225.57. 'In another lifetime, I acted in London,' she explains. 'I'm still receiving royalties. Isn't it incredible?' At 23, she starred as an animal pelt-wearing hunter named Presta, opposite the fourth doctor, Tom Baker. Last year, the BBC estimated the show made £100 million annually in licensing, merchandising deals and broadcast sales. However, Waterhouse is a rarity; back then, 'residuals' weren't common for actors. From 1968 to 1970, Sydney actor Tony Bonner, now 81, played the dashing helicopter pilot Jerry King on Skippy, another hugely successful TV series that screened in more than 100 countries. Bonner launched an ambitious court case in 2008 for a share of royalties, suing the production company, Fauna, for $750,000 in the NSW Supreme Court. But Bonner's claim failed after Justice Ian Gzell found Bonner had been paid $140 a week in accordance with his contract and was not entitled to any further share of Skippy 's profits, having assigned all rights to Fauna. 'While my case wasn't a success, I do feel it helped other actors coming through,' Bonner tells me. 'Knowledge is power.' TV historian Andrew Mercado says up until the 1980s, only a few actors 'had the foresight to demand a contract that would pay them for repeats past the initial two runs … they didn't think of VHS and box sets, let alone streaming.' In 2017, Rowena Wallace, once one of the highest-paid actors in the country for her role as 'Pat the rat' in the '80s soap Sons and Daughters, revealed on national TV that she was so poor she couldn't feed herself after paying for her pet's dog food. Her co-star, the late Leila Hayes, waged a lengthy but unsuccessful battle with the show's producer, the late multimillionaire media mogul Reg Grundy, over residuals. Loading In 2013, Colette Mann, who played inmate Doreen in Grundy's Prisoner and was also the actors' union rep on set, revealed she went to court to get a residuals deal for the cast, which only came into effect after Prisoner had ended; it resulted in modest payments. But Val Lehman, who played Bea Smith and was one of the show's top stars, negotiated her own contract that included ongoing royalties, including DVD sales. Like Gai Waterhouse's Presta, Queen Bea's life of crime is still reaping dividends, it seems.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
A right royalty battle: Why some actors get repeatedly shafted
Training thoroughbreds proved a lucrative vocation for Gai Waterhouse, but she'd be hard-pressed to find a pony that can deliver as enduring a return as her 1978 appearance on cult UK TV series Doctor Who. For nearly half a century, Waterhouse has received an annual royalty payment from Doctor Who 's owner, the BBC. Last month, it was $225.57. 'In another lifetime, I acted in London,' she explains. 'I'm still receiving royalties. Isn't it incredible?' At 23, she starred as an animal pelt-wearing hunter named Presta, opposite the fourth doctor, Tom Baker. Last year, the BBC estimated the show made £100 million annually in licensing, merchandising deals and broadcast sales. However, Waterhouse is a rarity; back then, 'residuals' weren't common for actors. From 1968 to 1970, Sydney actor Tony Bonner, now 81, played the dashing helicopter pilot Jerry King on Skippy, another hugely successful TV series that screened in more than 100 countries. Bonner launched an ambitious court case in 2008 for a share of royalties, suing the production company, Fauna, for $750,000 in the NSW Supreme Court. But Bonner's claim failed after Justice Ian Gzell found Bonner had been paid $140 a week in accordance with his contract and was not entitled to any further share of Skippy 's profits, having assigned all rights to Fauna. 'While my case wasn't a success, I do feel it helped other actors coming through,' Bonner tells me. 'Knowledge is power.' TV historian Andrew Mercado says up until the 1980s, only a few actors 'had the foresight to demand a contract that would pay them for repeats past the initial two runs … they didn't think of VHS and box sets, let alone streaming.' In 2017, Rowena Wallace, once one of the highest-paid actors in the country for her role as 'Pat the rat' in the '80s soap Sons and Daughters, revealed on national TV that she was so poor she couldn't feed herself after paying for her pet's dog food. Her co-star, the late Leila Hayes, waged a lengthy but unsuccessful battle with the show's producer, the late multimillionaire media mogul Reg Grundy, over residuals. Loading In 2013, Colette Mann, who played inmate Doreen in Grundy's Prisoner and was also the actors' union rep on set, revealed she went to court to get a residuals deal for the cast, which only came into effect after Prisoner had ended; it resulted in modest payments. But Val Lehman, who played Bea Smith and was one of the show's top stars, negotiated her own contract that included ongoing royalties, including DVD sales. Like Gai Waterhouse's Presta, Queen Bea's life of crime is still reaping dividends, it seems.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
How young Queensland jockey Angela Jones wowed Gai Waterhouse in Winx Guineas victory
After 161 Group 1 wins and an extraordinary career in racing, it takes a lot to take Gai Waterhouse 's breath away. But young Queensland jockey Angela Jones has done it. 'Your ride on 300 took my breath away. Just loved it Angela,' Waterhouse texted, complete with an accompanying emoji, after Jones scored the Winx Guineas on Waterhouse galloper The Three Hundred. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Jones returns from suspension at Doomben on Wednesday, leading the Brisbane riding premiership race by two from Emily Lang who has now also copped time from stewards. One way or other, history will be made at the end of the month when one of the duo becomes the first female rider to take out the Brisbane premiership. Racing's first lady is a huge fan of Jones, the jockey from the Queensland bush who is well placed to claim the riding title. You sense that high praise from Waterhouse is likely to mean more to Jones than many of her 416 career winners. 'I could not be more impressed with Angela Jones,' Waterhouse told Racenet. 'I thought her ride the other day on The Three Hundred was right up there with Group 1 jockeys who I have dealt with through the years. 'I love jockeys who can show initiative and I love jockeys who can ride on the speed and who can get a horse to lift to another level. 'She did all that on The Three Hundred. 'I wrote to her, I said 'you literally were magical'. 'I don't often write that to jockeys. 'She is a very exciting young rider and is right up there with the top class jockeys in Australia.' Waterhouse said it's probably no surprise an increasing number of young female jockeys are making their mark. The legendary Hall of Fame trainer scratches her head when she says young girls now appear to be more likely to want to become jockeys than young boys. 'It's remarkable that two female jockeys are fighting out the premiership in Brisbane,' Waterhouse said. 'There are so few boys these days coming into the profession as riders. 'The number of boys are so inferior to the number of girls who are joining the (riding) ranks. 'I can't quite work it out. 'Maybe the boys are having more trouble with their weight these days than the girls.' Waterhouse has recently returned from a working holiday overseas with husband Robbie. She said the clear highlight of her travels was her experience at the famous Kentucky Derby. Waterhouse has seen everything in racing, but nothing quite like the spectacle at Churchill Downs. 'It was the most incredible experience I've ever had on a racetrack,' Waterhouse said. 'It was so wet on the day that we in Australia would have called it off, but the Americans just ran it. 'The emotion that pours out, it was something very special. 'The hospitality and all the big famous names are there, it was just great. 'It was a bit like in England, but I think the Americans are a little bit warmer than the English trainers. 'They (American trainers) are a lot like us, I found.'
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Paul Shailer hits back at criticism to scratch Winx Guineas favourite Mister Bianco
Paul Shailer has hit back at criticism of his decision to scratch Mister Bianco from last weekend's Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m), with the Gold Coast trainer insisting there were no suitable jockeys to ride the temperamental gelding. Shailer refuted suggestions that there were senior riders available to steer Mister Bianco in the Winx Guineas following a back injury to Ryan Maloney in an earlier race at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday, adding that he was 'comfortable' with the decision. in an industry that relied heavily on wagering turnover. However, Shailer insisted he had no option but to scratch Mister Bianco given the lack of experienced jockeys available on the day. The gelding's regular riders Michael Rodd (broken hand) and Andrew Mallyon (holidays) were unavailable to ride a horse that needed a jockey with 'quiet hands'. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained The Three Hundred ended up taking out the Winx Guineas, thanks to a superb ride from in-form hoop Angela Jones. 'He was the favourite in a $300,000 race so obviously we had every intention of running the horse,' Shailer said. After learning of Maloney's injury, Shailer approached stewards, who told him there were only three jockeys available to ride Mister Bianco – apprentice Corey Sutherland, Adam Sewell and Scott Sheargold. Three hundred reasons to cheer! 🥳 The Three Hundred leads all the way in the G3 Winx Guineas at @SCTurfClub! Ange Jones with a winning double. @GaiWaterhouse1 @TrilogyRacing1 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025 'Corey has ridden for me before and I've got no problem with him,' Shailer said. 'He's an apprentice who's just been granted his metropolitan licence so I certainly didn't think he'd be a suitable replacement. 'I say this with the utmost respect but these are the facts – Adam Sewell hasn't ridden a winner in his last 50 rides and he's only had one metropolitan ride in his last 50 rides. 'Scott has ridden two winners in his last 50 rides – one at Dalby and one at Kilcoy. 'He's had one metropolitan ride in his last 50, being at the Sunshine Coast on a Saturday on a horse that was 200-1. 'I've got nothing against these jockeys, I'm sure they're great human beings. 'But when they've got 100 rides between them and they've ridden two winners and they're riding the favourite in a $300,000 race on a horse that's been a work in progress and has its vices, I felt it wouldn't be fair to the punters or my connections that the horse goes around. 'My connections and myself were all in agreement that it was best for the horse's welfare and benefit that we scratch and save him for another day. 'Whether that's our right or not, people have their views on it and they're entitled to that, but we're entitled to our views on it.' Kyle Wilson-Taylor Doomben, before going for a spell.
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
1937 2YOs entered for the 2026 Golden Slipper
Almost 2000 yearlings have been entered for next year's 70th running of Australia's most significant breed-shaping race, the Group 1 $5m Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 21. The 2026 Golden Slipper nominations are made up by 953 colts and geldings and 984 fillies, totalling 1937 juvenile entries. Australian breeding and racing's newest superpower Yulong Investments has a 5.93 per cent chance of claiming their first Golden Slipper win, having the most horses entered with 115 juveniles nominated. Eight-time Golden Slipper winner Gai Waterhouse and her two-time winning training partner Adrian Bott sit behind Yulong with 107 entries. Other operations with big entry numbers are Godolphin (95), Chris Waller Racing (94) and Ciaron Maher Racing (91). Last year's winning trainer Michael Freedman has 60 entries, 32 colts and 28 fillies, four of those yearlings are by the ill-fated Snitzel, the sire of the 2025 Golden Slipper winner Marhoona. 'The Golden Slipper is iconic in world racing and plays such a pivotal role for the Australian racing and breeding industry,' Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said. 'We are delighted to see such an emerging organisation such as Yulong nominating so many horses along with the biggest stables across Australia.' Leading the sires list for the 2026 Golden Slipper is former champion stallion I Am Invincible with 90 entries, while another former champion stallion Snitzel has 72 entries in his second last crop while this season's soon to be crowned champion Australian stallion Zoustar has 61 of his yearlings nominated for the world's richest two-year-old race. Highly regarded first season stallions in 2025/26 are also represented. Home Affairs has 75 entries while the 2021 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside has 66 of his crop nominated. Entries for other stallions of note include Wooton Bassett (57), Too Darn Hot (56), Written Tycoon (51), 2020 Golden Slipper winner Farnan (45) and this season's leading first season sire Ole Kirk (40).
