Meet the man who left Coolmore to become the power behind the Godolphin throne

For nearly 30 years Michael Banahan has been striding through the fields of Darley and Godolphin, mentally recording the characteristics of what must add up to thousands of mares, foals and yearlings over multiple generations, details he can typically recite with precision.

Although the soft-spoken native of County Meath purposefully chose to stay in the background for most of his career, in the shadows of his organisation’s American horses, those days formally ended in the bright spotlights of the recent Eclipse Awards ceremony.

Helping to collect Godolphin’s rare sweep of honours as America’s outstanding owner and breeder of 2021, in addition to the trophies earned by champions Essential Quality and Yibir, Banahan has publicly assumed the more visible mantle of director of bloodstock in addition to continuing to direct farm operations.