'Times change' - Michael Owen excited by major expansion after Dascombe split

Michael Owen has spoken about ending his long-standing partnership with trainer Tom Dascombe as he maps out plans for a major expansion of his Manor House Stables operation in Cheshire.

The football legend surprised racing when announcing the departure of Dascombe in December and has since appointed Hugo Palmer as the replacement for the new Flat season.

Owen revealed he has bought out his Manor House business partner Andrew Black, the Betfair founder whose own relationship with Dascombe had become difficult with disagreements over the management of horses one of the key factors in the falling out.

"Me and Tom are big mates and always will be. We had 12 and a half years together and I absolutely loved it, but times change," said Owen.

"I agreed to buy Andrew out before me and Tom parted and we continued with the buyout even though the situation with Tom then started developing as well.

"Chasemore Farm [in Surrey] has grown into his passion and this is mine. I'm back where I was, it's always been my baby and I'm happy with that. Me and Bert [Andrew Black] are as close as we can be and he's still got Brad The Brief here and has said he's going to support us with more now."

The former Liverpool and England star admitted to feeling rejuvenated by the arrival of Palmer from Newmarket, with the two sets of horses forging to create a team of close to 150 and plans to build new barns to accommodate the influx.

Michael Owen at Manor House Stables in CheshireCredit: Andrew Dietz

"I've never been so up for it. I'm getting in early every morning and I'm loving it," Owen said. "The quickest way to try to expand is to find a trainer with an existing string of horses, so it was always preferable. We're constantly talking, planning and upgrading facilities – every day there's something to do.

"I set up here 18 years ago and racing has always been my passion – I was owning horses with John Gosden when I was 18 – and the business side of things drives me on as well. My passion is to win the big races and Manor House has proven it can train at the top level as we've won a Group 1 Classic. You need to have top horses to show big owners you can do it here."

Dubawi Legend – a horse Palmer brought up from Newmarket – is primed for Saturday's Qipco 2,000 Guineas and Cazoo Derby entry Mr McCann – a three-time winner for Manor House last year – is lined up for the Dee Stakes at next week's May meeting at Chester.

Mr McCann, who earned a wild-card entry into the Derby by winning at Epsom last September, is owned by Liverpool players Jordan Henderson, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as former Anfield star Adam Lallana.

"If he goes and runs well at Chester and goes to the Derby, I can't think of a better story in racing," added Owen. "You've got six professional footballers and the best team in the world at the minute. The Liverpool lads are all excited by it. He was their first ever horse, a £65,000 buy at the breeze-ups, and has already won three and is going to the Dee Stakes. It would be a huge story if he was to go to the Derby."

The close proximity of Liverpool's Champions League semi-final second leg at Villarreal on Tuesday week to Thursday's Listed Dee Stakes means the high-profile owners will not be in attendance, but the Chester-born Owen will be making sure he is back on Wednesday for the start of the meeting.

"The Liverpool players are doing so well it's ruining their social life," said Owen, who works as a pundit for BT Sport. "Obviously they won't make it, but I'm hot-footing it back. I'm glad the match is on Tuesday rather than Wednesday, I've never watched a fixture list announcement so carefully in my life."

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