NewsBite

Godolphin Australia to move horses to nine different stables as public training model switch looms

The racing and breeding powerhouse will move to a public training model from August 1, with their biggest stars to be moved to top stables around the nation.

Godolphin Australia has confirmed an all-star line-up of nine leading stables, including Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, will be given horses when the racing powerhouse moves to a public training model next season.

Sydney trainers Bjorn Baker, Gary Portelli, Joe Pride and Michael Freedman will all receive horses as well as Victorian-based stables of Tony and Calvin McEvoy and Ben, JD and Will Hayes.

PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Anthony and Sam Freedman, who have had Group 1 success with Godolphin in recent years, will continue to train for the “Blue Army”.

“We were delighted with the interest shown, the trainers we did meet with, and ultimately the trainers we have engaged,” Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv said.

“It certainly wasn’t an easy decision, and it doesn’t preclude opportunities for others in the future.”

The Freedmans will take over the training duties of All-Star Mile winner Tom Kitten, joining star colt Tentyris in the father-son team’s barn.

Maher will now put the polish on one of Australia’s most exciting young fillies in the form of Golden Slipper placegetter and Group 2 Percy Sykes winner Tempted.

Group 1-winning staying mare Zardozi will also join the national premiership winning trainer.

Smart colt Beiwacht, winner of the Group 2 Silver Slipper, will take his place at Waller’s Rosehill Gardens stable along with classy mare Commemorative.

Other notable moves see Pride receive Golden Mile and Pericles moves to Baker.

Godolphin announced in late April their decision to move away from a private training base, which was overseen by James Cummings for the past eight years.

Cummings was expected to continue training several of their elite talent until his shock move to Hong Kong for the 2026/27 season was revealed.

His tenure in charge at Godolphin delivered 50 Group 1s with stars including Anamoe, Broadsiding, Cascadian and Avilius.

Makiv said Godolphin was still determining where all its horses would end up.

Godolphin’s Andy Makiv.
Godolphin’s Andy Makiv.

MARKET MOVERS: Runner backed from $14 into $6 in quaddie closer

“There is a lot of horses that need to find new homes so we are mindful that the new trainers need notice and mindful of the fact that James and his team are still training horses with some assignments,” he said.

“We’ve still got three stables operating at the moment so we are very respectful and mindful of that.

“You can’t move 150 horses in one day so you have to give new trainers an opportunity to understand roughly what they are getting so they can make room for horses in their system.”

Godolphin will saddle up a pair of runners at Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting with Celerity ($5) aiming to put together consecutive victories in the Petaluma Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) with Rachel King aboard.

King will also attempt to help Razors ($14) snare his first win in more than 18 months when the four-year-old sprinter contests the TAB Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m).

The stable can claim a late season stakes success with Kallos ($6) and Kin ($10) both among the chances in the Group 3 $200,000 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Originally published as Godolphin Australia to move horses to nine different stables as public training model switch looms

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/racing/godolphin-australia-to-move-horses-to-nine-different-stables-as-public-training-model-switch-looms/news-story/2e94df85db5307fa6d55293461ac0216