Annetta Robertson keeping family traditions alive at Tower Hill

By Jordan Gerrans

Dubbed the “Gai Waterhouse of the West”, Annetta Robertson is keeping her family tradition alive at the annual Tower Hill Picnic Amateur Race Club with her prolific gelding Craiglea Altise.

The amateur trainer is a fifth generation participant and administrator at the popular bush meeting, which is held on a property called "Hillview", that is based 40 kms from Muttaburra.

Raced across Friday and Saturday of last week, Robertson’s veteran galloper has taken Tower Hill by storm since relocating to the west of the Sunshine State.  

Craiglea Altise’s record around the Tower Hill circuit is just remarkable.

The old sprinter is undefeated in eight trips to the track, winning across both days of action in his four attempts, dating back to 2017.

Tower Hill has not raced every year since 2017 due to COVID cancellations and restrictions.

Tower Hill was unable to race in May this year due to COVID restrictions and volunteer numbers and they were able to replace the meeting this month.

Speaking on Monday morning following Craiglea Altise’s eighth straight triumph at the track that holds a special place in her heart, Robertson explains that the undefeated galloper has a fan club at every Tower Hill meeting.

He is only small compared to the rest of the horses who race at the annual meeting but “Al”, as he is best known in the Robertson stable, is as honest as they come and he always puts in a big effort.

“He is pretty incredible,” Robertson said.

“He is a fit and healthy horse, we love him, he is so beautiful and kind.

“He is not a spectacularly fast animal; he is just honest and will give you everything he can.

“I am sure he will get beaten again at some point, but right now, we are enjoying what we have got.”

When Al got on a run with his winning streak, Robertson was referred to as the “Gai Waterhouse of the West” and the moniker has stuck in some quarters since.

While Al’s achievements are significant enough in their own right, they are even more valuable when you consider Robertson’s family history in the area.

The race Craiglea Altise won on Saturday is named the Kate Wedgwood Memorial Open Trophy Race, which is named after Robertson’s great, great grandmother.

And, the jockey that rode Al on Saturday – Longreach’s Mark Oates – once rode for Robertson’s grandfather, when he was a teenager.

“It is important to me,” she said.

“My family history with Tower Hill goes back many generations and they have all been presidents and life members, including my dad, who taught me how to train race horses.

“It was very important to me to have won that race on Saturday.

“I am really keen to keep it in the family, it means a lot to Mark and it does to me, as well.”

Robertson does not get to sit back and revel in her popular gallopers achievements on race day.

She is the clerk of the course for the club, which she says helps with the nerves of watching her treasured horse go around as she can just focus on her job and not think about the result.

Oates – a top bush trainer in his own right out of Longreach – reported to Robertson that he was feeling nervous to ride the Tower Hill specialist this year, such is the pressure of keeping his unblemished record alive.

“The other jockeys were giving him lots of chat in the jockeys room about the horse being unbeaten and he came out all nervous before the race,” the trainer said with a laugh.

“There is a bit more pressure these days than there was before.”

Respected bush caller Andrew Watts was behind the microphone at Tower Hill over the weekend and marvelled at Craiglea Altise’s feats.

“Tower Hill and Kooroorinya are two of the last registered grass fed meetings in Queensland, with around 80 horses trained for these meetings,” Watts said.

“They are just massive events for the local communities.

“Altise was ridden in his first few starts by club president Amy Owens, who hasn't ridden for a few seasons due to having kids, and Oatesy picked up the rides from there.”

It is not just Tower Hill where Craiglea Altise has performed well.

He is nine from ten on the picnic circuit after being beaten at Kooroorinya earlier this year.

Craiglea Altise started his career with regional racing stalwart Stan Johnston and went through the hands of a few different trainers before he ended up with Robertson.

Initially, he was heading to the Central West of the Sunshine State to be a pony for Robertson’s son, while also doing some stock work and polo crosse.

He won a few races on the provincial circuit for the Johnston’s before relocating to the bush and while the plan was not for him to return to the races, he eventually got back there.

The Johnson family donated horses – including Al - to drought stricken families in the area.

“They were donated to help people through the drought and to give them to kids, so they have a nice horse to get them through,” Robertson said.

“I got asked by former Longreach Jockey Club president Rob Luck to take one as he mentioned that I had done a bit of racing and he might even get raced again at the grass feds.

“Eventually I thought we would have a go with him at Tower Hill and with a lot of assistance with my dad Angus Deane, he taught me how to get him ready.

“Al being able to be a horse again and just on grass, I think that brought out the better side of him and I was just very lucky that he has now gone on with it and won a number of races.”

Al will be back again in 2023 as he aims to push his winning sequence into double digits at Tower Hill.

Country spotlight will be a regular feature that shines a light on the unique and individual racing clubs and participants across Queensland.