26-05-2025
Group 1-winning trainer David Brideoake to step back from training at the end of the season
Triple Group 1 -winning trainer David Brideoake will hand in his trainer's licence at the end of the Victorian racing season.
Brideoake, who started his training career in 1986 while also competing with success on the international showjumping circuit, said the perfect time had arrived to step back from running his own training business.
Brideoake said he would stay in racing, working with his daughter Kate and soon to be son-in-law Matt Laurie, assisting with their booming training operation.
'Matt Laurie and Kate, my daughter, we're in a good position for some sort of an amalgamation,' Brideoake said.
'That's what we're approaching.
'I don't believe there will be any need for me to renew my trainer's licence.
'I'll be in the background there somewhere.
'My daughter is front and centre and Matt is front and centre and they're going along really well.
'Matt and Kate are getting married pretty soon, in about three weeks.
'It's a bit of a family transition and a step forward for them.'
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Laurie's stable has won four Group 1 races this season with star filly Treasurethe Moment winning three top-level races while two-year-old Vinrock won the ATC Sires Produce Stakes in Sydney.
Brideoake said his decision was simply a result of the passage of time.
'I've been doing it for quite a long time and it's just normal progress,' Brideoake said.
'I turned 70 the other day.
'It's just really a bit of a succession plan where I get a chance to look from the outside a little bit more.
'I think the timing is pretty good.'
While Brideoake will cease training in his own name on July 31, the Mornington -based horseman said he was still excited about the remaining months of the season.
Brideoake said the team he prepared in partnership with current training partner Matt Jenkins was as strong as it had been for some time with the likes of recent two-year-old winners Prestige Ole and Prestige Forever indicating they were set for strong spring campaigns.
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He said the transition would not change things for his team of horses and staff, who would switch to the new business on August 1 without moving stables.
'I reckon I've got some damn good stock at the moment and I think it would just roll along,' Brideoake said.
'It will be a combination of Matt's place and my place so there won't be any horse movement and that will be under their banner.
'I've probably got as nice a bunch of horses that I've had for ages.
'I've also still got a few unraced bits and pieces that I like so it is an exciting time.'
Brideoake said Jenkins was in discussion with Laurie about his future plans.
