'It's a beautiful story' - inspiring bond between Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman to be made into a film

The bond between dual Breeders' Cup champion Cody's Wish and teenager Cody Dorman which captured the hearts of racing is set to hit the big screen after it was announced a film will be made about the inspiring story.

The production will be named after the horse and will showcase how the relationship between the Godolphin star and Dorman blossomed into one of the sport's most popular tales in the US and across the world.

Dorman, who suffered from a rare genetic disease called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome from birth, first met Cody's Wish as a foal during a Make A Wish visit to Gainsborough Farm in Kentucky in 2018. The colt was then named in his honour ahead of his racing career.

He became the horse's number one fan and was regularly seen at some of his biggest triumphs, including when winning back-to-back runnings of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in 2022 and 2023. Dorman died the day after last year's emotional success at the age of 17.

Cody Dorman was presented with the winning wreath after Cody's Wish won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in 2022Credit: Dylan Buell

His father Kelly Dorman said: "As the story of Cody's Wish grew, everyone we told about it would say 'this will be a movie someday'.

"We're incredibly grateful to Enliven Content for agreeing to share the remarkable connection between our son Cody and his best friend, Cody's Wish."

The film will be directed by Jeff Celentano, who alongside producer Warren Ostergard has launched film and TV production company Enliven Content to create it. Casting will begin in the upcoming months.

Celentano said: "The extraordinary bond shared between Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman transcends racing, transcends sport, and bears us witness to something truly magical.

"Our company is dedicated to creating content that leaves its audience inspired and hopeful, and this story will do just that. It's a beautiful story and we're absolutely honoured to tell it."

Read these next:

'He taught us how to live' - Cody Dorman, number one fan of Breeders' Cup hero Cody's Wish, dies aged 17 

Cody's Wish keeps hold of Dirt Mile after stewards' inquiry to secure emotional win 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.