Godolphin retains UK Champion Owner title

Godolphin was presented with the Champion Owner award for a 17th time on British Champions Day, the finale of the UK Flat championship at Ascot on Saturday, 18 October.

A superb season for the royal blue silks included a double in the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas as Ruling Court and Desert Flower annexed the Newmarket Classics. The duo formed part of an outstanding weekend for Godolphin worldwide, with Sovereignty delivering a first Kentucky Derby success and Good Cheer winning the Kentucky Oaks.

Godolphin runners continued to impress at Royal Ascot, with Ombudsman storming to victory in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Trawlerman dominating the Gold Cup. Rebel’s Romance proved a hugely popular winner at the meeting, with Arabian Story providing Saeed bin Suroor with a 40th Royal Ascot success.

Newmarket’s July Festival provided another landmark victory as Cinderella’s Dream registered Godolphin’s 450th global G1 win in the Falmouth Stakes. Eight royal blue wins at the meeting also included major victories for El Cordobes, Saba Desert and Opera Ballo.

Ombudsman and Trawlerman continued to lead the way at York’s Ebor Festival. Having narrowly been denied in the Eclipse Stakes, Ombudsman confirmed his status as the best middle-distance horse in the world as he decisively beat a top field in the Juddmonte International. Trawlerman again demonstrated his superiority in the stayers’ division with victory in the Lonsdale Cup.

The focus shifted towards the younger generation going into the autumn, with Wise Approach announcing himself as a potential future champion sprinter with a scintillating win in the Middle Park Stakes. Distant Storm, Words Of Truth and Beckford’s Folly also enjoyed Group-race victories, while a raft of maiden and novice winners look set for bright three-year-old campaigns.

Hugh Anderson, Managing Director at Godolphin (UK and Dubai), said: “Everyone at Godolphin is extremely proud to receive the UK Champion Owner trophy again.

“It has been a remarkable season right from the start, with Ruling Court and Desert Flower completing a Guineas double as part of an unprecedented weekend that saw four Classic winners for Godolphin here and in the United States.

"Royal Ascot proved another high point, and it was wonderful to see several of our top horses produce their best at the sport's jewel in the crown. Ombudsman was sensational in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, while Trawlerman put up a remarkable display when breaking the track record in the Gold Cup. It was particularly pleasing to see one of our all-time greats, Rebel's Romance, win at the meeting.

"We have enjoyed a huge amount of success throughout the season and all of our trainers have done an outstanding job in conditioning and preparing our runners. I hope we have much to look forward to next year, with Wise Approach and Distant Storm among a strong group of two-year-olds heading into the winter.

"Thank you to every single Godolphin employee, all of whom have contributed to this achievement. Our greatest thanks must go to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who continues to inspire us all with his passion for the sport."