Thunderously good night for Godolphin as they land four gongs at TBA Flat Awards

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association announced on Thursday night the winners of ten awards in a virtual edition of the annual Flat Breeders’ Awards Evening, hosted online and sponsored by Weatherbys.

The event celebrated the success of the British thoroughbred breeding industry from the 2019 Flat season and included awards for stallions, mares, breeders and stud employees.

Pre-recorded interviews with award winners were premiered on YouTube from 7pm, with highlights shown on TBA social media channels.

Godolphin won a total of four awards, including the three previously announced statistical based prizes; the Queen’s Silver Cup for leading British-based breeder by prize-money, the BBA Silver Cigar Box for leading British-based stallion by prize-money (Dubawi), and the Barleythrope Stud Silver Cup for leading British-based stallion by individual winners (Dubawi).

Sheikh Mohammed’s thoroughbred breeding operation also collected the inaugural British European Breeders’ Fund Stallion Special Merit Award for Night Of Thunder’s impressive results from his first crop of two-year-olds in 2019.

Darley's Sam Bullard with the Special Merit award, courtesy of Night Of ThunderCredit: Tba

The British EBF introduced the award to recognise significant success by a stallion standing in Britain during the 2019 Flat season. The Stallion of the Month features in the European Bloodstock News formed the long list of nominees, while the shortlist and winner were decided by an independent panel of judges.

European Breeders’ Fund marketing communications manager Rachael Gowland said: "Night Of Thunder stood in Great Britain for two seasons and a significant portion of his winners and stakes horses have been in Great Britain.

"As a mid-price-range stallion, he caught breeders' attention with a significant winners to runners percentage driven by talented offspring rather than sheer weight of numbers in 2019.

"The award is in its infancy and still developing, but ultimately its purpose is to help showcase high-achieving stallions, irrespective of book size and nomination fee."

Highclere Stud’s stallion Cable Bay took the honours as first-crop sire by prize-money in Britain and Ireland in 2019, awarding the Tattersalls Silver Salver to the Warren family.

Cable Bay earned the Warren family the Tattersalls Silver SalverCredit: Tba

Jacques Prinsloo was recognised for his dedication and achievement in his role at Whitsbury Manor Stud when awarded with the annual Stud Employee Award sponsored by New England Stud. South African-born Prinsloo, who moved to the UK more than 14 years ago, was presented with a perpetual Charlie Langton bronze, keepsake memento and a £2,000 cash prize.

Stud Employee of the Year award winner Jacques Prinsloo and familyCredit: Tba

The shortlisted candidates for the Stud Employee of the Year included Di Best (Cobhall Court Stud), Tom Hughes (Hazelwood Bloodstock), Robert McKellar (Cheveley Park Stud), Keith Warburton (Shade Oak Stud) and Sophie Watmuff (Chasemore Farm). They each received £250 in recognition of their work.

Dar Re Mi recorded back-to-back wins in the Flat Broodmare of the Year category. The Watership Down Stud resident retained the H.J. Joel Silver Salver, becoming the only mare since the award’s launch in 1982 to record multiple wins.

Flat Breeder of the Year (TBA Silver Rose Bowl) was won by Newsells Park Stud, who had a notable year on the racecourse in 2019 culminating in the victory of Waldgeist in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Husband and wife team Mick and Fiona Denniff (Denniff Farms), were awarded the TBA Silver Salver for Special Merit, recognising their significant achievements as breeders of Beat The Bank and Kachy.

The accolade of Small Flat Breeder of the Year (Langham Cup), was awarded to Bearstone Stud, whose flagbearing filly Glass Slippers capped her 2019 season with a win in the Prix de l’Abbaye. The stud was also recognised this week in the Racing Post as Breeder of the Week for the same filly's recent triumph in the Flying Five Stakes.

TBA chairman Julian Richmond-Watson said: “Although we have been unable to host our usual event, we are delighted to be able to recognise the achievements of British breeders from the 2019 Flat racing season.

"My congratulations go to all of the nominees, winners and their supporting teams, who have demonstrated such dedication to our industry. I would also like to thank all of our event supporters and sponsors this year for continuing their contribution to the British breeding industry.”

Weatherbys chairman Johnny Weatherby said: “We are absolutely delighted to support the TBA’s Flat Breeders’ Awards, and as a small breeder myself I am fully aware of the challenges that we all face, particularly in the current climate, and I wholeheartedly congratulate this evening’s winners.”

TBA FLAT AWARDS 2019

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