David Loder, the man entrusted with the responsibility of training hundreds of blue-blooded two-year-olds for the Maktoum family’s Godolphin stable, is to retire at the end of 2003.
Rumours had been circulating during the summer that Loder, 38, was considering a change of direction. Confirmation finally appeared on the Godolphin website on Friday.
The Newmarket-based handler cited “waning enthusiasm”.
Loder started training in 1992 and quickly asserted himself as the brightest and most ambitious young buck in the business, sending out a stream of big race winners, including Desert Prince, world champion miler of 1998.
He also saddled the flying two-year-olds Blue Duster, Lujain, Starborough and, of course the ill-fated Dubai Millennium, arguably the most talented racehorse of the modern era.
Loder has trained the Godolphin two-year-olds for four years, which included an unsuccessful spell at Evry racecourse in France.
He says he plans to remain in racing in the bloodstock world.
