Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted, who reached the pinnacle of racing thanks to Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James, will go their separate ways with their training partnership to be dissolved after four seasons.
Hoysted will take control of the stables, with O’Dea, who trained under his own name from 2005 until 2020, to step away from training to focus on bloodstock.
“I’ve been training for 19 years and feel now is the right time for a change of lifestyle whilst still being involved in racing,” O’Dea said.
“I’m extremely proud of what Matt and I have been able to achieve together, with the obvious highlight being our first Group 1 when Uncommon james won the Oakleigh Plate.
“We have a great team behind us that will ensure the stable has continued success.”
The pair had 287 winners in their four seasons in partnership, including 13 stakes wins. They progressed from 53 wins in their first season to 93 in their second and then 85 in their third. This season has been harder work with 56 wins and no stakes successes, although they will be looking to break that duck when Party for Two contests the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Hoysted, who has access to 56 boxes at Eagle Farm, will retain the stable’s biggest client Proven Thoroughbreds, while O’Dea will also assist in yearling selection.
The stable will be rebadged Matt Hoysted Racing, continuing the remarkable Australian legacy of the Hoysted family.
They are not the only training partnership to be dissolved in recent times with father-son team Peter and Paul Snowden confirming they would split two weeks ago.
Warwick Barr
