Robert Hickmott’s tenure as head trainer for Lloyd Williams’ Macedon Lodge ended with a Group 2 quinella on Saturday as Irish import The Taj Mahal outgunned 2016 Melbourne Cup hero Almandin in the Zipping Classic (2400m) at Ladbrokes Park.
It was confirmed on Thursday that Liam Howley would replace the dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer at the helm of Macedon Lodge, with Hickmott set to pursue a freelance training career after eight years in charge.
Nick Williams praised Hickmott’s service and said it was fitting for him to depart with victory in the race named after the stable’s one-time pin-up horse Zipping, who provided the trainer with his first win in the 2009 edition of the race.
“Rob has done a fantastic job for us, he’s been with us for 15 or 16 years and he’s been head trainer since 2000. In fact the first race he won was here with Zipping,” Williams said.
“We’ve parted on very good terms. Rob is a great man and he wants to have a go on his own so he leaves with our absolute blessing.”
Having been prepared for the spring from the Werribee International Horse Centre, The Taj Mahal was transferred from Aidan O’Brien’s care into that of Hickmott after his encouraging performance in theEmirates Stakes (2000m) last Saturday.
In a bold staying performance, the four-year-old raced outside 100-1 bolter Dandy Gent for the first half of the race before being asked to quicken by jockey Ben Melham passing the 1000m.
The son of Galileo put two lengths on his rivals within a furlong and maintained the strong gallop over the final three furlongs to run out a three length winner over Almandin, with Big Duke a length away in third place.
Williams was buoyed by the strength of the performance and suggested the Australian Cup (2000m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and The BMW (2400m) could be Group 1 options for the colt in the autumn.
“We were keen to run him today just to learn a bit more about him, it’s his first go at the mile-and-a-half and he’s done a good job,” he said.
“He’s a colt with probably the best pedigree in the world so we’ve probably got to try to win some of these good mile-and-a-quarter races.
“I would’ve thought Australian Cups and Ranvets would be his go and maybe we’ll stretch him out to The BMW.”
Ben Melham, placed aboard another Williams-owned import Johannes Vermeer in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, said he was delighted to land another feature win for the stable aboard a progressive galloper.
“He can sustain a good, solid turn of foot for 1000m so what he lacks in class, he makes up for it with that,” Melham said.
“He was still strong a furlong after the post, he’s an incredible horse really.”
– racing.com
