Darryl Hodgson has brought the curtain down on a training career spanning more than 40 years and has become racing manager for his boss Hassen Adams.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dan Katz, Hodgson’s assistant for the past eight years, has taken over Adams’ private stable at Milnerton. He trained for a time in the 1990s and has his first runners in his new role at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Hodgson, 67, said yesterday: “I’ve had lots of highs and lows as a trainer, the highpoints being the Met with Past Master (2011) and the Queen’s Plate with I’m Taking It 20 years earlier. But there have been many others including the Guineas with State Control, two Fillies Guineas and Vesta who won three Group 1s as well as finishing second in both the colts Guineas and the Derby.

“My new job is to alleviate a lot of the equine work from Hassen’s load, as he is such a busy man, both on the racing front and on the stud sorting out horses for the various sales.”

Last year’s Durban July winner The Conglomerate has recovered well from the operation he had to remove a chip from his near-fore joint but it would appear that he is not certain to race again.

Joey Ramsden said: “He will be out for quite a while and I will speak to Derek Brugman about him but everyone, including Markus Jooste, is keen for him to retire sound.”

By Michael Clower