'I’m not doing it for the celebrity - I love horses and I’m doing it for them'

The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards serve an important purpose simply by existing and providing acknowledgement to many of the sport’s unsung members for their dedication, leadership and skills.

In the case of Elody Swann, who won last year’s stud staff category at the Godolphin-sponsored event, it might just have provided the impetus to believe in herself a little more.

The Frenchwoman remains resolutely modest about her achievements, which include arriving at Newsells Park Stud from her home in Nantes as a teenager with virtually no English. She is now one of the pivotal members of the team, held in the highest regard by manager Julian Dollar, and has even become a bit of a lucky charm with the young horses she has showcased at the sales.

"Everyone on the farm kept it very quiet, I had no idea I was nominated until I think the time of the foal sales," she recalls. "Obviously I was against other people who were quite experienced, I’m only a barn leader, I’m not a stud groom, so I was thinking, 'I probably have zero chance anyway'.

"It was a bit of a shock but I was proud at the same time, it’s nice to know that you’re doing a good job and your manager feels that you deserve to be recognised."

Last February, in the kind of virtual ceremony which is hopefully confined to the past, Swann found out that she had finished in front of Martin Languillet of Fittocks Stud and Hazelwood Bloodstock's Tom Hughes to earn first prize.

It proved quite overwhelming.

Newsells Park is one of Europe's most powerful sales consignorsCredit: Laura Green

"I was over the moon," says Swann. "I was against two stud grooms who deserved it, I knew them and respected them.

"I rang my parents, explained to them what it was, and Julian rang straight away to say well done. My phone wouldn’t stop, text messages going through. It was really nice because I’m not doing it for the celebrity, I really like my job, I love horses and I’m doing it for them.

"Then I had a text from Graham [Smith-Bernal], who was only a client at the time, not the owner of the farm. I didn’t expect someone like him to even know I was nominated, he sent me a card and some wine.

"That was really nice, a client goes in and out of the farm, you see them and say hello, but you don’t expect them to recognise the work that you do. Mrs Philippa Cooper messaged me on Instagram straight away and said I deserved it. All your friends support you, but to hear it from outside people as well was very special.

"We did manage to have a party on the farm in the end and went to Darley afterwards; obviously because of Covid, afterwards only my husband was allowed to come, it was a small thing, but that’s just how it is."

Swann grew up riding at pony club but it was quite by chance that she managed to find a job in Britain.

"It was quite hard to find an opportunity where I’m from," she explains. "Mucking out stables, you can find a job easy but if you want to have a bit more responsibility . . . I was in a hole and couldn’t find anything.

"My mother knew someone who used to work at Newsells. I had an interview on the phone with Gary [Coffey, current racing manager], well, it was very short because my English was so poor!

"But Gary said if I wasn’t scared or worried about leaving my parents and my country, they would give me a trial. I did that for six months, after that they gave me a stud hand position. I’ve been at Newsells now for 16 years."

Graham Smith-Bernal, the present owner of Newsells, was one of the first to be in touchCredit: Laura Green

Swann says that the variety of life in Hertfordshire keeps her stimulated. She specialises with foals but will find herself involved in the preparation of the yearlings for sale, a vital part of this commercial stud’s business.

This time last year at Tattersalls Book 1 she was responsible for leading up a Dubawi filly out of the gilded broodmare Waldlerche who was sold for 1,250,000gns to Al Shira’aa Farms, as well as a daughter of Sea The Stars and Best Terms who went for 1,500,000gns to Godolphin.

"That was one of my main goals," she says. "I’ve got a few favourites and Mark [Grace], the yearling manager, knows that I’m quite French and if he wants to keep me happy he has to give me the horse I want!

"We do the work prepping them and take them through the ring. You know how they are, maybe if they react a bit funny to something."

Swann’s recollection of her most recent success story, a 600,000gns Sea The Stars filly out of Pinkster from this month's Book 1, is a particularly touching reminder of how so many more people are involved in the life of a racehorse than is ever truly acknowledged.

"She was lovely, we always liked her and she’s got a very nice page, but we weren’t sure she’d make that," she says.

"She started being busier and busier [with visits to the box], you get butterflies when you know the big clients are coming. Anthony Stroud, Angus Gold, Sheikh Fahad, you get a bit excited. It was quite slow with bidding at the beginning, but then it started going.

"You work hard, you make them look shiny and fit, and you bond with them. You want a horse to get the money they deserve and she was a diamond.

"The next day I saw an article and Richard Knight, who bought her, he said she showed so well, she was outstandingly well behaved and every time he went to see her she was exactly the same.

"That’s a proud moment when you see someone say that about your horse. We’re a big farm, we have standards, and it’s nice when the standards stay the same."

Swann says the prize-money for her award - for which nominations this year close on November 8 - has remained in her bank account. It looks as if it might be about to be unlocked to achieve a long-held dream to pinhook.

"I’m planning on buying a foal," she reveals. "That’s been something I've wanted to do for a long time but I didn’t have the people behind me.

"I’m in charge of the foal sales for Newsells, Ben [Barclay, broodmare manager] really involves me in that, I think I know what I’m looking for and what to look for, but I just needed a couple of people to help.

"This year I’m lucky, as a couple of people in Newmarket are willing to try to give it a go.

"You can’t do it on your own, you need some help. I’ve been here a long time, people start to recognise me when I show the horses, and I feel I’m known a bit more now in Newmarket than a few years ago. Why not try? If I fail, at least I’ve given it a go."

Judged upon her achievements so far, the foal could hardly be destined for better hands.

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Nominations are open until November 8 for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin. The awards are an opportunity for employees from across the various areas of the industry, such as training yards, studs or administrative roles, to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication. Find out more by visiting thoroughbredawards.co.uk.