Friendship floats away as famous partnership disappears into darkness Owner John Singleton and trainer Gai Waterhouse. THEY were taken away before sunrise - symbolic of a dark chapter in Sydney racing. Before 6am yesterday, owner John Singleton's horse float arrived at trainer Gai Waterhouse's Tulloch Lodge stables at Randwick to collect the six thoroughbreds. As the float left for Singleton's Strawberry Hill Farm on the Central Coast, it signalled the end of one of the most famous partnerships in Australian racing. Singleton and Waterhouse have been friends for nearly 40 years and the trainer has prepared 26 Group 1 winners for her larrikin owner. But their sometimes tempestuous relationship seems fractured forever after the events of Sydney Cup Day at Royal Randwick where Singleton accused the trainer's son, bookie Tom Waterhouse, of informing "friends of mine" that More Joyous could not win the All Aged Stakes. John Singleton's Mt White property Strawberry Hill Stud where More Joyous is now situated. Singleton made the claim before the race and his champion mare then produced the worst run of her career to finish a struggling seventh behind All Too Hard. The rift between Singleton and the Waterhouse family grew wider yesterday as: TOM Waterhouse consulted his lawyers and is considering defamation action against Singleton. MORE Joyous has returned to Singleton's private stud farm where a decision will be made on her future. SINGLETON has still to determine a new trainer. NRL legend Andrew John denies reports he relayed any information about More Joyous to Singleton. FORMER champion jockey Malcolm Johnston said he has no involvement in the affair. THE potentially explosive Racing NSW stewards inquiry resumes on Friday where Singleton, Gai Waterhouse and her bookmaker husband Robbie, and their son Tom are required to appear. After stewards adjourned the inquiry on Saturday evening, Singleton was clearly livid. "This used to be fun - it's not fun anymore," he told The Daily Telegraph. Singleton was not making any further comment yesterday but will be under pressure to substantiate his allegations when racing stewards continue their inquiry. Keeping their distance: Gai Waterhouse walks away from John Singleton after More Joyous' unplaced run in the All Aged Stakes. His racing manager Duncan Grimley said last night the owner would co-operate with the stewards inquiry after initially refusing to reveal the identities of those who had told him More Joyous could not win. "As John said to stewards he would prefer not to name those he had spoken to but legally if he has to that would change the situation," Grimley said. He didn't know what his rights were at that stage. He's upset about what happened, he's upset about the way it happened, but I suppose it is a scenario that wasn't getting any better over a period of time. It certainly didn't need to blow up the way it did. There has been angst between Singleton and Waterhouse since the trainer drew an outside barrier for More Joyous before the Cox Plate last year. More Joyous ran unplaced after being trapped wide most of the race. More Joyous has failed to win in three starts this autumn and the tension between two of Sydney's most recognisable personalities boiled over after the All Aged Stakes. More Joyous will undergo a veterinary examination this week before any determination is made on whether she continues racing. "The vets will go over her and we will see how she is," Grimley said. Mixed fortunes: Owners John Singleton (right) and Jerry Harvey after the All Aged Stakes Picture: Simon Bullard Source: The Sunday Telegraph