They were a formidable force at their peak, winning features with Naturo, Lovetrista, Fiscal Madness and Ruud Van Slaats, to name just a few.
But Waddell, battling weight and maturity issues, had driven a rift between them with his behaviour.
"I wasn't letting him down in races, just off the track," said Waddell, who also won aboard Travino and the aptly-named Savour The Moment on Saturday.
"Not turning up for trackwork a couple of years ago and turning up to the races overweight a few times; those sort of things.
"So just to get back on his team and win another big race for Sarge was quite emotional.
"He's been a fantastic supporter for me and been a big help for my career since I came back from Singapore."
Waddell doesn't like talking about the meth charge that turned his career upside down in May last year.
"I did the crime and I did the time and just want to move on with my life now."
But he did concede that the perspective-adjusting racing break, in which he spent much of the time travelling overseas, has finally allowed him to get his weight under control and more importantly his attitude.
"I went to Singapore at 19 and was champion apprentice, and then I came back to New Zealand and won three group ones within four months.
"I've always been humble but you start to think that you're a little bit untouchable, really, until something like that happens.
"Once you get put out you realise racing still goes on without you and everyone still does their jobs and you get left behind.
"I'm a different person now; I've matured a lot - I'm 25 now so it had to happen sooner or later."
Waddell says mentors Bruce and Maureen Harvey, of Ascot Farm, have been a huge help to his new outlook on life, as has his new Swedish partner Anna Berg.
Along with new manager Darryl Anderson, the former Trackside presenter, his support team has helped him realise that talent only gets you so far - you still have to put in the hard yards.
"I sat down with Darryl at the start of the season and decided the main focus this season was to get my weight down to a good level and get the associations back with all trainers I used to ride for.
"The big races have always been my main aim. I think I'm known as a big race rider and that's what I like to live up to."
After a frustrating run of minor seconds during the week, Waddell had a hunch that cup bridesmaid Dawn Ghost would turn his luck around when it counted.
He knew she was at peak fitness after a winning track gallop on Tuesday.
All that was needed was a change in riding tactics for last year's Waikato Cup runner-up to go one better.
"We'd sort of been riding her a bit closer to the pace. But with the one barrier draw I said to Sarge that I'd like to ride her a little bit further back and just put her to sleep for half the race.
"Then I can spend the rest of the half getting her off the fence and giving her one clear run down the outside. I thought she could win doing that.
"I had a lot of confidence going into the race. I just had to get her off fence; she doesn't like coming between horses."
The dilemma for her camp now is whether to back-up in the $100,000 City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on January 1, or keep her ticking over for the $200,000 Wellington Cup at Trentham on January 28.
"I have no concern about riding her right-handed - she ran third at weight-for-age that way round - but I think she's got a better turn of foot left-handed," said Waddell.
He is also looking forward to partnering the Peter McKay-trained Travino in all the remaining 2-year-old features after the pair's listed win in the Wentwood Grange Stakes on Saturday.
It was their third success from just five appearances and Waddell is confident there is plenty more in store.
"I really love this horse - he's never raced the same way twice, yet takes bad luck out of the equation.
"He can sit off the speed or on; he's turning into a real workmanlike, full-proof horse."
Waddell capped the red-letter day with another copybook ride aboard emerging miler Savour The Moment to win the final event for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh.
But he said he's unlikely to be able to make the weight for the horse's next target, the group two Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on January 1.
His mount in that race is likely to be All In Tempo who impressed Waddell with his late-closing fourth to Mydiamond Bracelet in the listed AG and Turf Sprint Handicap (1400m).
"That was a fantastic race - second-up over 1400m was a little bit short for him.
"It was also a little bit hard to make ground but he came home really well and ran fourth so he's going to be a really good ride over Christmas time."
