Liam Howley, who in November was granted a licence to take over the training duties at Lloyd Williams's Macedon Lodge in Victoria, looks set to have his first runner next week.
According to racing.com, Williams has confirmed that the former Aidan O'Brien trainee The Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–a full-brother to Group 1 winners Gleneagles (Ire), Marvellous (Ire) and Happily (Ire)–will be his stable's first runner since former assistant trainer Howley succeeded Robert Hickmott as trainer.
A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start course, Howley has also worked with trainers Lee Freedman, Robbie Griffiths and Robert Smerdon. Among a host of well-bred imports at Macedon Lodge, he currently has under his care the 2017 G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who, along with five of his stable-mates, holds an entry for the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington on Mar. 10. Rekindling is likely to remain in Australia to contest the G1 Sydney Cup before returning to Joseph O'Brien's Irish stable.
The Taj Mahal, winner of the G2 Zipping Classic on his most recent start on Nov. 18, is set to reappear in next Saturday's G2 Peter Young S. at Caulfield.
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