John Sadler's off to see the world after splitting with the Lloyd Williams stable. JS says: 'Nothing lasts forever and I decided it was time to move on from Lloyd's and do some other things...There is no animosity between us...I sat down with Lloyd this morning (Monday) and we had a long chat...I've made my decision, and we shook hands and walked away from it as good friends..I've wanted to travel around the world a bit more for pleasure rather than work...I've got a son getting married in New Y
John Sadler's off to see the world after splitting with the Lloyd Williams stable. JS says: 'Nothing lasts forever and I decided it was time to move on from Lloyd's and do some other things...There is no animosity between us...I sat down with Lloyd this morning (Monday) and we had a long chat...I've made my decision, and we shook hands and walked away from it as good friends..I've wanted to travel around the world a bit more for pleasure rather than work...I've got a son getting married in New York soon and I will base my plans around that...I have no idea how long I'll be away but once I get back I'll pull the boots back on for sure.' As expected, Robert Hickmott is the new 'trainer' for LW.
Aiming for next year's spring carnival...An Aussie syndicate has bought the classy Sadler's Wells 4YO Doctor Fremantle, who won the recent Grp 2Royal Ascot Princess of Wales Stakes , Grp 3 Chester Huxley Stakes and Grp 3 Newbury Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial. Plans are for Lee Freedman to train him. Badgers Bloodstock's Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon brokered the deal and say the horse will target the 2010 Melbourne Carnival.
Crowds were down but it was a success...This is the wacky reasoning of the VRC for this year's spring carnival. It is beating its chest about the 'success' of the 2009 Melbourne Cup carnival despite crowds falling by almost 30,000 over the four days. Total attendance at Flemington was 368,416, down from last year's 395,470. At least there were fewer drunks being arrested.
Land of the Long White Dream...New Zealand trainer Wayne Hillis plans to return with Sterling Prince for next year's Melbourne Cup following the gelding's easy win in the Grp 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. Hillis says he hopes the 6YO can follow in the mighty footsteps of Makybe Diva, who won the 2002 Queen Elizabeth before notching the first of three Melbourne Cups in 2003.