About
Hickmott is both a successful racehorse trainer and now a retired Australian rules footballer. After leaving Wangaratta Rovers Football Club Robert quit football and moved to Murray Bridge, South Australia, to join his father John in training horses. From there, he returned to Victoria to work under Colin Little and later worked with Tony Vasil and Alan Bailey. Working with racehorse owner Lloyd Williams, Hickmott was heavily involved in the training of 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient. Following this he was appointed head trainer at Williams Macedon Lodge stables in 2009 and subsequently trained his first Group 1 winner, Zipping who won the Australian Cup in 2010. With a passion for horses, Hickmott is regarded as the ‘Invisible Trainer’, steering well clear of the limelight and publicity, the private trainer has had a number of notable wins. His work with Irish stallion Green Moon saw the steed victorious in the 2012 Melbourne Cup and also the Turnbull Stakes that same year. One of the most intriguing sides to Williams’ racing enterprise, swearing he doesn’t crave personal recognition, Hickmott regards when Fawkner won the 2013 BMW Caulfield Cup on his sons 11th birthday one of his career highlights.