'Our results are largely down to him': studs' joy at Godolphin awards finalists

The Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards are an annual shop window to recognise those who play a pivotal, yet sometimes unheralded, role in the day-to-day lives of stud farms, and this year's finalists in the stud staff category look a typically strong trio.

Hazelwood Bloodstock is approaching its fifth birthday and, according to manager Adrian O'Brien, Tom Hughes has played a crucial role in the success of the burgeoning team having started there four and a half years ago.

O'Brien said: "We're extremely proud and delighted that Tom's receiving the recognition that we firmly believe he deserves. Our sales results over the last few years is largely down to his exceptional work.

"It's widely acknowledged at the sales how well our horses look, and I cannot tell you the minute detail that Tom goes into in preparing yearlings for sale.

"That's our shop window obviously, but day-to-day he makes the lives of Philippa and I so much easier because of his diligence, efficiency and his reliability. He's truly exceptional and nobody deserves this more."

O'Brien added: "I knew Tom from our days in Australia and his moving back to the UK with his family and ours almost coincided. I cannot tell you how happy we were when we were able to come to an arrangement when he came as our stud groom."

Newsells Park Stud is renowned for its golden touch when it comes to offering yearlings and the leading consignor is represented by long-serving barn manager Elody Swann at this year's awards.

Stud manager Julian Dollar said: "Elody came nearly 17 years ago without the ability to speak nearly a word of English. I was lucky enough to judge the awards for a couple of years and it was a real honour to do it and meet some of these guys.

"It's a way of life, and they're often at the coal face, whether it's a stud hand or, in Elody's case, barn manager - a promotion she's obviously deserved over the years."

Attention to detail and passion are among the necessary characteristics needed for stud work, and Dollar added that Swann's love of horses extends to naming them and following them throughout their careers.

Elody Swann: stalwart of Newsells Park Stud

"Elody loves them and they all have a name - I don't know how she does it - but every single year 28 foals run through her barn and they all have a name," said Dollar.

"She remembers them all and follows them through to training and when they're running. She probably gets a bit too attached to them!"

He added: "I manage to pack her off for a week or two's holiday at the end of the season to visit her mother in France, and then she's desperate to get back before the yearling prep starts.

"She ran one of the two yearling barns for us this year and did a great job; as soon as that's over she goes over to look after the sales foals. She really packs it all in."

The third finalist from a high-class section is Fittocks Stud's Martin Languillet, who has plenty of industry experience having formerly worked for Juddmonte and Cheveley Park Stud, as well as doing stints abroad.

Fittocks' Sarah Goodwin said: "Martin's been here for three and a half years. He gave himself a personal flying start where he took himself to Australia and America, and he has worked for both Juddmonte and Cheveley before coming to us.

"For someone of such a young age, he's worked hard and been in the industry for quite a long time. I can trust Martin with anything, he's brilliant with people and the horses."

Hughes, Swan and Languillet are among 18 finalists for the GSSSA Awards, run by the BHA in association with the Racing Post and Racing TV, for which 206 nominations were received from across the racing and breeding industries.

That was whittled down to a shortlist of ten for each of the six categories in December, with the final three now agreed for each category. Each finalist will take part in a remote judging day on February 22.

Fittocks Stud's Martin Languillet

An interactive virtual awards ceremony will be broadcast live and free to air on RTV that evening, hosted by ITV Racing’s Ed Chamberlin. A celebratory event is being planned for the summer, subject to government guidance.

The winner of the stud staff category will receive a prize of £5,000, with an additional £5,000 being awarded to their stud. The runners-up will win £2,000 each, with the same amount going to their stud.

For the first time this year, those who made the shortlist of ten but did not progress to the final three will also receive £250 each in recognition of their achievement. Total prize-money amounts to £128,500.

The awards will also recognise an overall Employee of the Year, who will be selected from the winners of the stud staff, leadership, dedication, and rider/groom categories. That person will receive an additional prize of £10,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud.

Read more

Success of On The Gallops venture is music to the ears of the Glastonburys (£)

'Goldikova gave us so many great memories and I hope there will be more to come'

Adlerflug's half-brother Arrigo snapped up by Yorton Farm Stud