Tinkler: Mistakes, and no more footy

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NATHAN Tinker has tipped the bucket on his old home town of Newcastle and the Knights as he prepares to off-load his entire racehorse empire and A-League side the Jets.

Businessman Gerry Harvey has called in his debt and will sell off Tinkler's Patinack Farm racing and breeding operation at an unreserved auction inext month.

In an explosive interview, Tinkler talks about his decision to sever all ties with Australian sport.

That includes walking away from his dream of becoming Australian racing's most powerful owner, his decision to relinquish his stake in the Newcastle Knights and plans to sell off the Jets.

"I said recently that there will be no racing stables or football teams in my future and I stand by that,'' Tinkler said. "I got a bit sick of funding other people's playthings and being blamed when they didn't work out.''

Nathan Tinkler has finally spoken about the implosion of his sporting ambitions. Source: News Corp Australia

The Patinack empire is said to contain more than $50 million in property and some 600 thoroughbred racing and breeding stock, including champion stallions like American sensation Lope de Vega, Trusting, Murtajill and Monaco Consul.

Harvey holds a caveat over all Patinack horse breeding and racing assets and they will go under the hammer at Magic Millions in the last week of September.

In May, it was announced Patinack Farm would be sold to Dubai-based firm, Cibola Capital, and sources close to Tinkler suggested he would receive more than $130 million from the sale, but the deal fell through.

Tinkler was reluctant to talk about the money he owes Harvey except to say that it is "a bit less" than the $40 million reported.

BUDERUS TO ASSIST STONE AT KNIGHTS

ASADA: KNIGHTS IN THE FIRING LINE

MATA'UTIA BROTHERS AND BREAD WINNERS

Tinkler meets with Knights coach Wanye Bennett when everything looked rosy in 2012. Source: News Limited

NO MORE KNIGHTS

Tinkler was once a lower-grade player at the Knights and the club remains close to his heart.

But the billionaire miner has been embittered by his NRL experience and concedes he doesn't miss his time as the club's owner.

"I've been very good to Newcastle,'' Tinkler said. "But that place hasn't done anything but shit on me.

"I was disappointed with the way the team (Knights) went this year, the same as everyone was, Wayne (Bennett) was.

"But I didn't manage that team, I didn't choose who to recruit, and I got sick of being blamed for it to tell you the truth and that became the catalyst for me to drop that.

"The Newcastle Jets are for sale, as well, I can't wait to get them out the door, too.''

Tinkler's Patinack Farm and thoroughbred stock are all for sale. Source: News Limited

PACKING UP PATINACK

Tinkler said he has been keen to sell off his thoroughbred racing and breeding empire for 18 months.

"I thought I had the place sold twice,'' Tinkler said.

"I was pretty fair to both buyers, giving them time to perform and they haven't.

"When it became obvious this last guy wasn't going to perform my view hadn't changed, I wanted it sold. So I sat down and worked it out with Gerry to get this done.

"I haven't hidden the fact I wanted to get out and Gerry knows I'm back in Australia only about twice a year.

"He knows it makes no sense for me to keep it. This is one of those decisions you make and you move on."

HARVEY CALLS TIME ON TINKLER DEBT

Tinkler with Tom Waterhouse at the Cox Plate preview at Moonee Valley. Source: News Limited

DUBAI BID DUPE

When Daniel Kelly and Cibola Capital made their multi-million dollar offer to buy Patinack, Tinkler was relieved. He would finally have the cash flow to pay off Harvey and get out of Australian racing.

But the alarm bells starting ringing when it became difficult to track down the Dubai-based bidders who ended up duping Tinkler.

"They approached us early days,'' Tinkler recalled. "But we went down the path with another guy in Queensland.

"He paid a deposit for Patinack but didn't turn up with the money.

"So we went back to the guys in Dubai, who were the underbidders if you like, and we signed up with them.

"But it is fair to say we weren't the only ones duped.

"They purchased a couple of stallions in France about the same time, which made us think they were very serious players. It's fair to say Daniel Kenny and Cibola Capital are not my favourite people.''

Tinkler won't be watching the Knights again anytime soon. Source: News Limited

HORSING AROUND

Tinkler can be a polarising figure and he certainly has his detractors in horse racing circles, but he maintains he still enjoys the sport.

"It was a lot of fun, especially in the early days,'' Tinkler said.

"But I haven't lived in Australia for three years now and my interest has been waning. I used to study the nominations and acceptances but now I pick up the paper on a Saturday morning to see if I have a runner.

"There was a time that I would make four calls a day to (trainer) John Thompson, but now it is once a week or once a fortnight.''

Damien Oliver salutes after winning on Casino Prince at Royal Randwick. Source: News Limited

MISTAKES MADE

Tinkler was criticised from day one for trying to get too big too fast in horse racing. In hindsight, Tinkler wished he had listened.

"Looking back, I don't there is much doubt about that,'' he said.

"I should have gone down the breeding side slower, I should have done everything slower.

"Racing is a very hard market to break into and even though it is tough we still have so much success. No one will acknowledge or talk about our success, but that's fine, I don't care. Not too many people can say they picked out a horse (Casino Prince) before it won a Group 1, won a Group 1 race with him and then turned him into a champion sire.

"Not too many people can say they bred a horse (All Too Hard) out of that sire and then sold him as a sire.

"And for somebody who supposedly turned over huge numbers of staff I'm very proud of the fact John Thompson had more than 500 winners with me.''

Tinkler says he's ready to move on and build his life outside Australia. Source: News Corp Australia

RACING REGRETS

Tinkler said he is not one to harbour regrets and prefers not to dwell on his period in horse racing and sports club ownership.

"I've had a lot of great times in racing, I would be a fool to say otherwise," Tinkler said.

"But a lot of things change in your life as you get older.

"I was young then and I thought it was all fun but I have a different view of the industry now. I walked in eyes wide open and consequently got hit fair between the eyes.

"It is time to move on now. I don't live in Australia anymore and my life is very different now."

Tinkler will also relinquish ownership of the Newcastle Jets. Source: Getty Images

THE FUTURE

Mining remains Tinkler's core business and he will concentrate on that side of his empire in the years to come.

"Singapore is my main residence now but I do spend a lot of time in the United States and Europe," he said.

"I'm looking forward to simplifying my life greatly.

"There will definitely be no more involvement with footy teams. But horses don't talk anywhere near as much as people.

"I'm sure I can still enjoy racing again one day but on a much smaller scale."

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