John Singleton dumps Gai Waterhouse in public spat Owner John Singleton and trainer Gai Waterhouse exchange angry words before Singleton alleges she gave inside info to bookmaker son Tom Waterhouse. Owner John Singleton and trainer Gai Waterhouse leave the stewards inquiry at Randwick after More Joyous' was unplaced in the All Aged Stakes Picture: Jermey Piper Source: News Limited THE 40-year friendship between racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse and advertising guru John Singleton is in tatters tonight. A very nasty public spat played out on national television at Randwick this afternoon aftert the running of the $400,000 All Aged Stakes on the closing day of the autumn carnival. The source of discontent between the pair and not for the first time, was the champion mare More Joyous, owned by Singleton and trained by Waterhouse. Singleton told the TVN racing audience that More Joyous would leave the Waterhouse stable if she didn't win. More Joyous missed a place in the All Aged Stakes, won by All Too Hard - owned by Singo's mate Gerry Harvey's Vinery Stud. Friendly banter between Harvey and Singleton post-race quickly changed gear when 7TWO interviewer Peter Donegan asked if More Joyous would be retired. Singleton sacked the trainer and cited "a conflict of interest" involving her son, bookmaker Tom Waterhouse. Singleton had intended to wager $100,000 on his mare, who eased in betting markets after opening favourite, but baulked after hearing third hand about fitness concerns. "When Gai's son knows last night exactly the result today, the conflict of interest becomes personal," Singleton said. When her own son, who is a bookmaker, is saying she's got problems I didn't know about ... well you have to ask the racing officials, you have to ask Gai, you have to ask Tommy. All I'm saying as an owner is there is too much conflict of interest. She (More Joyous) won't be running again with Gai Waterhouse as trainer. All my horses are leaving Gai's tomorrow. In a further development online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au refunding all bets on More Joyous in the race. "From comments post-race, it appears the mare should never have taken her place in the field," sportsbet.com.au's Haydn Lane said. In our opinion More Joyous never stood a chance, and as such we're more than happy to refund punters' bets as they would have been dealt an injustice otherwise. He said more than $150,000 has been refunded to punters. Prior to jockeys mounting up, Singleton and Waterhouse clashed in the parade ring and jockey Nash Rawiller looked uncomfortable as Watethouse gave him his riding instructions. Tom Waterhouse, who was doing betting updates during the afternoon on 7TWO, immediately pleaded ignorance and defended his mother. I never said that it had problems. I never knew that it had problems. Mum wouldn't have started it if it had problems," Waterhouse said. It's the best result out of any of the three favourites. I've done (lost) $250,000 on the race on the race. More Joyous was the best result by far. "He says that kind of stuff just to cause a bit of controversy and always has a fight, tiff with mum regularly but they always kiss and make up the next day," the young bookie said. Hopefully they will tomorrow. Waterhouse said he backed More Joyous and All Too Hard was "a strip out." Singleton's vet John Peatfield examined More Joyous this morning and passed her fit to go to the races. Gai Waterhouse was later called before the stewards and revealed there had been a problem with More Joyous's neck. Chief steward Ray Murrihy asked Waterhouse why she didn't report the issue to stewards. Waterhouse replied "I didn't think was an issue." Bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse, Gai's husband, exchanged words with Singleton outside the stewards' room Racing NSW Stewards will re-open inquiry next Friday. Last spring, it appeared Singleton and the trainer would sever ties after she hand-picked barrier 11 for More Joyous in the Cox Plate when she could have selected an inside draw, confounding the owner and observers. More Joyous was never closer than three-wide during the race and finished 11th. Singleton and Waterhouse argued after that race. Singleton's racing manager Duncan Grimley said at the time it was "more than a storm in a tea cup but it was a pretty good storm." Singleton had the last word saying at least in this divorce he wouldn't lose half this time.