Reigning employee of the year reflects on a whirlwind few months as nominations open for 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards

Simone Meloni has reflected on a whirlwind few months following his success in this year's Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards and said he was delighted to give back to those who have supported him.

Meloni, who works for Nicky Henderson, enjoyed a memorable evening at the 2025 awards ceremony in February as not only did he win the rider/racing groom award, he was also crowned employee of the year, securing prize-money of £30,000 for himself and his colleagues at Seven Barrows.

Nominations for the 2026 awards, which are being sponsored by Godolphin for a 22nd consecutive year – and run by the BHA with support from the Racing Post and Racing TV – are now open and Meloni was still on cloud nine in Lambourn on Wednesday when talking about his success.

He said: "It was crazy and I couldn't believe it. I was in shock as soon as it happened, but I started to feel happy and every day I still feel emotional about winning. 

• 'Outstanding horseman with infectious personality' - Simone Meloni crowned employee of the year at Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 

"Once I came back to the yard, everyone was celebrating and I felt more emotional and lucky because I could see everyone that was supporting me. I still feel really happy about that. It's not changed my life, but it's changed my spirit and it's really good.

"The first thing I was thinking about was the team, because that's what you do when you work with horses. It's not about just one person, it's about everybody being compact because once you get that then you get good results."

Meloni and his fiancee Sara Icampo moved to Britain in 2016 to work at a pre-training yard at Kingwood near Lambourn. After a number of years, they made the short move to join Henderson and are entering their fourth season at the yard.

He added: "When I arrived in England almost nine years ago my English was really bad. We started at Kingwood because we found out Italian guys worked there and they said it would be easy for me to learn, but we always wanted to work at Seven Barrows."

Simone Meloni riding Jingko Blue at Seven Barrows

Henderson highlighted the importance of having one of his employees recognised, although he was not surprised when Meloni was named employee of the year.

He said: "You could nominate all sorts people, but he was such an obvious candidate and he's fantastic. Everything he's done since he's been here has been done with the most happy and enthusiastic attitude you could ever want, so it wasn't hard to promote. 

"It was very special. It was a hell of a night and not surprisingly we had a good few nights here to celebrate and everyone was thrilled. It was genuine happiness, which the whole team felt. It's one behind another here and everyone was so pleased because he's that sort of person. Everyone adores him."

Godolphin's Diana Cooper explained the impact the awards have on the industry.

She said: "We're so proud to be part of the sponsorship aspect. Godolphin was created as a racing stable. There's already owner, trainer and jockey awards, but our principle is that those who make the success for others in the industry are the ones that deserve to be recognised.

"What I've loved over the last few years is how embedded the awards are as benchmarks for success and good work. It's all helping to modernise our industry and the recognition can benefit everyone."

Sarah Guest, who is assistant trainer to John O’Shea and was crowned employee of the year in 2023, still holds a great sense of pride at her achievement.

She added: "It's all about the recognition. For your employer to have picked you out and said they want to nominate you is incredible. It took John nearly 20 years, but it's great and it inspires the staff around you to want to have that same achievement. It ends up being a whole yard experience rather than just an individual one."

Read this next:

Nominations open for 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 

'This is more than an awards ceremony, it is a heartfelt thank-you' - hard-earned celebration at York 

'Outstanding horseman with infectious personality' - Simone Meloni crowned employee of the year at Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 

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