John ‘Crewy’ Brady has been a part of Tulloch Lodge since 1952

John Brady is a legend at Tulloch Lodge – but most racing fans have never heard of him.

He was there when Tommy Smith was starting, known Gai Waterhouse all her life and is still helping out now she is training in partnership with Adrian Bott.

Brady has seen all the champions come through the stable including greats Tulloch and Kingston Town, Redcraze, Gunsynd, Imagele, Toy Show, Mighty Kingdom, Red Anchor, Juggler, All Our Mob, Grand Armee, More Joyous and Pierro; and many more.

He’s also had a fair bit to do with the winners of nearly 400 Group 1 races including 13 Golden Slippers, 14 Doncasters, three Melbourne Cups, seven Cox Plates, 14 Epsoms, 15 The Metropolitans — but who is he?

Waterhouse is fond of telling the story about the time when she was working in the office at Tulloch Lodge back in the 1970s and a letter arrived addressed to John Brady.

“I didn’t know who he was so I walked out to the stables and asked ‘Crewy’ if he knew a John Brady,’’ Waterhouse says.

“He said, ‘yeah, that’s me’.’’

Waterhouse had only ever known him as ‘Crewy’, a nickname given to Brady by her father when he started at Tulloch Lodge in 1952.

A youthful Brady, sporting a crew cut that was fashionable at the time, walked into the stables for his first day on the job, took off his hat and introduced himself to Smith.

“TJ took one look at me and said OK ‘Crewy’, you can start with this horse,’’ Brady says.

More than seven decades later, they still call him ‘Crewy’ and he’s still working at Tulloch Lodge. He’s 85 and has no plans to retire, either.

“I will keep going because, if I’m working, I’m earning money,’’ he says.

“I like being around the horses and the stable staff so while I have my health, there is no reason to stop.’’

Gai Waterhouse and her father TJ Smith at Randwick in 1996.Source:News Limited

Legend has it that Brady doesn’t like taking days off, either.

There was the time when he was involved in a car accident and broke his arm. When he had the arm put into a plaster cast, he turned up for work.

“TJ looked at me and said, ‘what are you doing here, your arm is broken’,’’ Brady recalls. “But I said ‘I still have the other arm’ and went to work.’’

Brady’s day starts at 3am. It’s been like that for years. The one-time trackwork rider goes to the stables every day, mucking out boxes, making up the horses’ feed and attending to the daily chores.

“We can rely on ‘Crewy’ to get the job done,’’ Bott says.

“He enjoys his job and rarely takes holidays. We have to force him to take a day off.

“He sets a great example for the younger staff because of his immaculate work attire and respect for the stable. It’s a throwback to the TJ days but a great tradition to uphold.

“His knowledge is amazing. If we are thinking about how TJ might have done something, ‘Crewy’ can rattle it off very clearly.’’

When Brady teamed up with Smith, the trainer was about to win his first Sydney premiership in 1952-53, the start of a famous run of 33 consecutive titles.

“They were great years,’’ Brady says.

“I didn’t look after Tulloch or Kingston Town but I had some good ones. I think I strapped seven Derby winners.’’

Brady rates Tulloch the best horse he’s seen.Source:News Limited

Brady didn’t hesitate when asked the best horse he has seen.

“Tulloch, I’ve got no doubt,’’ he says.

“When the horse got very sick, no one thought he’d make it but TJ never gave up on him.

“The day Tulloch made his comeback a couple of years later and beat Lord at Flemington is one of my favourite memories.’’

Brady maintains Smith was great to work for. “If you did the right thing by TJ, he would do the right thing by you,’’ he says.

“I remember the day Aquidity won the Queen’s Cup (1992) and the Queen and Duke were at Randwick. When TJ was presented with the trophy, he made a speech and mentioned me.

“I didn’t get to talk to the Queen but TJ introduced me to the Duke and said, ‘this is Crewy’!’’

Smith passed away in 1998 but Waterhouse had already taken over at Tulloch Lodge — and ‘Crewy’ wasn’t going anywhere.

“Gai’s like her father, she gets things done, she’s a very determined lady; and she has always looked after me,’’ Brady says.

“I get on well with Adrian, too. He’s doing a good job.’’

Waterhouse and Bott are preparing for the new season and, as usual, Tulloch Lodge has a number of highly promising horses including boom three-year-olds Converge and Silent Impact and there is a sense of optimism and excitement for the spring carnival.

But horses come and go, the seasons change, but ‘Crewy’ is still there. Some things stay the same at Tulloch Lodge.

“I’ve never wanted to leave, I’m happy working here,’’ Brady says.

Originally published as‘Crewy’ a legend of Tulloch Lodge

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