Annette Sharp: Has John Singleton put his racing manager out to pasture?

First came reports John Singleton had split from his girlfriend, now comes a whisper he has also broken up with another long-term partner, writes Annette Sharp.

Is it possible John Singleton is having a bit of a clean-out?

Following word he and his latest girlfriend Kim Dennis split before Christmas comes a whisper he has also broken up with his racing manager of two decades Duncan Grimley.

In January, Grimley addressed media on the topic of Singleton’s horse More Joyous’s retirement from racing.

“She has nothing left to prove on the track,” Grimley said, on Singleton’s behalf.

“She has been a great mare for us and we don’t want to go over the top with her.”

On Friday, neither Singleton nor Grimley would come to the phone to discuss the rumoured end of their 20-year professional relationship.

John Singleton at Royal Randwick. Picture Chris Pavlich

Duncan Grimley (right) with jockey Nash Rawiller.

While those close to Singleton were quick to suggest the horse’s retirement may have served as a tidy bookend to the men’s long association, others hinted at a possible falling out at Magic Millions on the Gold Coast last month.

During her career, 16-year-old More Joyous has given Singleton more joy than most of the horses he’s owned during his racing career.

She was also famously the catalyst for at least one good and public row between Singleton and the horse’s trainer Gai Waterhouse.

In December, Singleton announced he was sacking Waterhouse after a spectacular race-day blow-up between the pair.

The horse finished seventh.

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