Underused Macedon Lodge behind Team Williams’ change of tack
Leviathan owners Nick and Lloyd Williams say taking advantage of their Mount Macedon property while it’s still in their ownership led to the decision to return their horses from Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien.
King Of Leogrance, Orderofthegarter and Saracean Knight are among the horses that will be trained by Robert Hickmott out of Macedon Lodge, effectively immediately, as will the likes of Cox Plate runner Buckhurst.
Lloyd Williams (pictured) will reunite with trainer Robert Hickmott.Credit:Justin McManus
The world-class facility in Melbourne’s north, which has produced numerous Melbourne Cup winners including Almandin, has been on the market for 12 months, but COVID has impacted on Team Williams’ ability to sell the property.
After Hickmott asked the pair in the spring whether he could train stayers Schabau and Django Freeman out of Macedon Lodge, Nick said it led to a change of thinking from his Australian Racing Hall of Fame father.
“This time last year we were in pretty detailed discussions to sell the property,” Nick Williams told RSN on Thursday morning.
“We had been through a process. About this time last year we actually had six groups that had made us representations that were probably capable of being accepted, but then the world as we knew it at that point changed significantly.
“What had happened in the spring, of course, is that Rob approached us about taking his stayers up there – Schabau and Django Freeman – because he realised it was far and away the most superior training facility he could use for that type of horse.
“That had us thinking at the end of the spring ‘if we’ve still got it we may as well be using it’ and try and put our horses to advantage by having them in the best environment in the best facility in the country, rather than letting it sitting there empty.”
However, not all of Team Williams’ navy blue brigade will be returning home.
“Homesman’s staying down there with Anthony [Freedman]. There are a couple down with Symon Wilde and they’ll stay there because they’re in the middle of their preparations,” Williams said.
“But everything else we’ve got, we’ve decided the best thing to do is have them at Macedon Lodge.”
The 120-hectare estate remains on the market. Meanwhile, Racing Victoria continues to investigate issues at its quarantine facility in Werribee.
Williams said he was open to discussions about Macedon Lodge becoming the new headquarters for the internationals.
"Macedon Lodge would solve all the problems but there’s obviously a cost associated with it, they’ve got Werribee there and I would imagine if they think they can fix Werribee to solve all the problems that would be their first port of call," he said.
“In previous times when we were looking at having a quarantine set-up there ourselves, certainly I think the property is capable of passing the test. The quarantine test revolves around horse populations within an undefined distance, to be frank, from the property, and the great thing about Macedon Lodge is there is no horse population around it.”
But while Williams has been consulted as part of Racing Victoria’s broader review into deaths at Werribee and in the Melbourne Cup over the past decade, he said no discussions have centred on Mount Macedon replacing Werribee.
Damien Ractliffe is the Chief Racing Reporter for The Age.