Waikato Business News | January 12, 2024

JANUARY 2024
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In the space of two hours, she rattles off the
price of straps, feed, hay and medications;
she pays all the bills herself.
“$65 for that, can you believe it,” she says
pointing to a velcro leg strap she is about to
put on a horse’s lower leg.
Chilcott reached both 500 milestones
in Auckland - the driving one behind
Windinherhair in 2012 and the training one
last year with Phoebe Majestic, which she
also drove.
Her career stake earnings, at the end of last
year, as a trainer were $4.363 million; as a
driver $5.155 million.
She tends to get cast offs and average
horses to her stables, and she is renowned at
getting the best out of them for the owners
who will not hear a bad word said about her.
A contact in the South Island often finds
under-performing horses for her; some of
which come north for a spot of Chilcott’s
innovative training.
Her sole group one winner was Disprove,
driven by David Butcher, in the 2001 Easter
Cup at Addington.
“I got a phone call out of the blue from a
guy in the South Island who said his horse
had been naughty and he thought he might
try a female trainer.
“I took him to the beach, he fitted into
our routine.” But Disprove was a handful so
Butcher drove him and “did a great job,” says
Chilcott.
A driver gets $100 for each drive. Then if
they secure a win or a place, it’s five per cent
of the winnings and another 10 per cent for
the trainer. The owner gets the rest.
Chilcott doesn’t go hunting drives now,
she only drives those she trains. She also has
stable foreman and junior driver Leah Hibell
who has had success on Chilcott-trained
horses, including her first on Del Shannon in
October last year.
“I’ve had my trials and tribulations through
the years,” Chilcott tells The News as she
drives three horses back from their work out.
The worst came 10 years ago when she was
depicted as a drugs cheat for importing a
prohibited substance.
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS 7
It was a mistake – she was not importing
the agricultural compound to cheat, just to
save money. She was discharged without
penalty and admits she lost some horses but
found out who her real friends were. It is
clear the experience still hurts though.
Chilcott hoses down Spice (KD Creation).
“My horses are spoilt; this is hot water. It’s
like World War 3 here if the water runs out,
they’re not happy.”
Chilcott has never had children, the horses
are her babies, and she frets about them.
“Sometimes I go home and lie in bed at
night wondering about them.”
When we speak mid last month, she’d
had a few sleepless nights about Milly
(Sacred Mountain), then a five-year-old
eight-time winner and former New Zealand
record holder over 2200m for mares from a
standing start. She came back from a spell,
trained well, trialled “unreal” and then raced
“terrible” at her first start back in November
at Cambridge.
Two nights later Milly – a starter in
the Thames Members Handicap Trot at
Alexandra Park - was again on her worst
behaviour and copped a warning for her
barrier manner when she stood on the mark
as the barriers were released.
The horse behind was unable to avoid her
and both drivers were thrown from their
sulkies. Chilcott was uninjured.
“She’s got me a bit baffled to be honest.”
And despite her bad behaviour, Chilcott
did not give up on her attempts to solve the
mystery of Milly.
On Christmas Eve at Cambridge Raceway,
Sacred Mountain took out the Cambridge
Xmas Handicap Trot by one and a quarter
lengths in the hands of driver Andre Poutama.
And Chilcott had the best view finishing in
fourth on KD Royalty.
In the lead up to the race, Matamata
vet Barbara Hunter recommended ulcer
medication and the trotter was a different
horse.
Punters, keep your eye on Milly, because
Chilcott does not give up on her horses.
That’s why they call her harness racing’s
winningest woman.
Nicky Chilcott early in the morning at White Star Stables with three-year-old filly Spice (KD
Creation).
Nicky Chilcott washes down three-year-old Spice (KD Creation) after the filly’s workout.
Elizabeth Hussain, Senior Associate
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Grayson Clements Senior
Associate helps clients solve
complex legal challenges and
protect their legacy
With a career
spanning two
continents
and a diverse range
of legal disciplines,
Grayson Clements Senior
Associate Elizabeth
Hussain is known for
her ability to navigate
complex legal issues
and foster strong client
relationships.
Elizabeth began her
legal career in London
where she was a partner
in a city law firm. In
the United Kingdom,
Elizabeth’s career was
focused on large scale
property development
and transactions and
acting for institutional
developers and social
landlords who replaced
councils in providing
affordable housing.
“One property
transaction I worked
on in the UK was
$156 million. I also
worked advising on
board governance and
compliance, so I have that
background too.” says
Elizabeth.
She immigrated to New
Zealand with her family in
2013, looking for a change
of pace, and further
requalified as a Barrister
and Solicitor of the High
Court of New Zealand in
2019.
At Grayson Clements she
has quickly established
herself as a trusted legal
advisor with an innate
ability to find practical
solutions to complex
legal issues ranging from
commercial and property
law to private wealth and
family law.
“I enjoy the problem
solving involved in
helping my clients.
Understanding their
immediate needs and
long-term aspirations
allows us to collaborate
and deliver tailored and
adaptable solutions,” says
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth began her
New Zealand career in
property law, dealing
with conveyancing,
wills, restructuring, and
succession planning.
She says she has really
found her perfect
fit advising Grayson
Clements’ private clients
on wealth management
and succession planning
and working closely
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issues related to trust
structures, corporate
entities, and familyowned
businesses.
“For many of these
individuals, success
has been the product
of a lifetime of hard
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to safeguard that for
future generations,” says
Elizabeth.
She also handles
complex family law cases,
including relationship
property division.
“We have some amazing
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friends to me. There is a
line, however, when you
represent someone over
a long period of time you
do become friends. It’s a
consequence of the trust
and confidence your
clients place in you,” says
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth also enjoys
long-standing business
relationships with several
Māori Incorporation and
Trust Board clients who
appreciate her measured
approach when
negotiating contracts and
her unflinching resolve to
secure the best possible
outcomes.
Many of Elizabeth’s
clients have joined her
Grayson Clements – Design, Deliver, Protect
Grayson Clements was established in 2008 by lawyers Michael Grayson and
Andrew Clements, who both had a desire to grow a firm that focused on designing
solutions, delivering results and protecting people. Their work and reputation have
gained traction and their client base has grown organically to a point where they
now have a team of 28 staff across a range of practice areas.
at Grayson Clements
after personal
recommendations from
their peers.
“My client following
is principally word of
mouth. I think my clients
appreciate my ability
to find a way through
difficult situations and
negotiate settlements
that are always geared
towards my clients’
outcomes,” says
Elizabeth.
Outside of her legal
career, Elizabeth has a
busy family life with her
partner of 20 years and
14-year-old daughter.