'Our lives have been terrible' - huge emotion as trainer ends eight-year drought

Trainer Jeff Sadik experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on Saturday and said he was feeling “overjoyed and relieved” after Bawaader provided him with his first winner in over eight years.

Sadik, who has spent the majority of his life working as a nurse for the NHS, had his most recent winner in a 2m1½f handicap chase at Bangor on July 22, 2014 – 3,091 days ago

It had been almost 13 years since he had tasted success on the Flat, when Highland River landed a 1m3f handicap on the all-weather at Southwell on January 21, 2010.

It has been a long time coming for the Worcestershire-based trainer, with many of his battles coming off the track in recent years.

He said: "A lot of people have been knocking me for not winning races because it's been a long time. What they don’t know is that I lost a son as he took his own life.

"Three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder and I’ve been receiving treatment for that. I’ve had Covid and been to hospital, where I nearly died, and my lungs are damaged because of it all. I’ve been in a bad way, so this win all makes it right for me and it’s a big shot in the arm.

"I've had about 50 winners in my career and this is by far the most emotional one because me and my family have gone through some rough times."

He continued: "I’ve been carrying on because the horses have been my therapy. I always get out of bed because I have something to look forward to.

"In regards to all the medication I’ve taken over the years, horses are doing a far better job on me. I have my wife, but apart from her the horses are the only other thing really."

Jeff Sadik: 'The horses have been my therapy'Credit: David Dew

Bawaader started 7-2 second favourite for the mile classified stakes under Josephine Gordon and ran out an easy seven-length winner. It was his sixth run for Sadik, having previously been with David Thompson.

"David sold Bawaader to me and said he’d win a race," said Sadik. "I trusted him 100 per cent, and I've become great friends with him over the last few years.

"Bawaader has been knocking on the door on his last few runs and hadn't had any luck in running. The time before at Southwell he was beaten a length and a half – he tried to get through a gap but it closed and he couldn’t get through. Tonight, everything went right."

If one horse sums up the trainer's pluckiness it is 70-race maiden Sussex Road, retired in 2021 as an 11-year-old and who often started at three-figure odds.

Sussex Road ran 65 times for Sadik after three point-to-point runs and two under rules for Eddie Harty.

Sadik said: "People were laughing at me for running him in good races, but he was a good jumper and always tried his best even if he wasn’t able to win.

"Sussex Road won me about £23,000 in placed prize-money, so I didn’t mind people taking the mickey because he was entitled to run in the races he did. I paid the fees and the jockeys, so it was up to me where he ran.

"When he was 11, I had a call from the British Racing School in Newmarket. They asked if they could have him for the school, and I was delighted I could donate him for free because he’s enjoying life there.

Jeff Sadik was emotional after his Kempton successCredit: David Dew

"When they run, they run for me as I own them all. I had a lot of criticism about Sussex Road, but I’ve had the last laugh because I won prize-money and he’s living a life of luxury in Newmarket."

Before being diagnosed with cancer, Sadik left the NHS and turned his attention to nursing homes, buying three, before selling them and retiring at the age of 75.

However, retirement didn’t bring relaxation and Sadik has been receiving treatment ever since.

He said: "I've come through it and am clear, but I have a check-up every three months.

"It’s so far so good, but our lives have been terrible for the last few years. However, after winning at Kempton I'm over the moon and up in the clouds."

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