At Ascot on Saturday, Aidan O’Brien wrapped up his seventh British Flat Trainer’s Championship, the first time he has landed the title since 2017.
While the season officially runs from January 1 to December 31, the Ballydoyle handler leads the standings by more than £3 million after a string of big-race victories.
Aidan O’Brien proudly holds the trophy (Pic – Megan Coggin)
City Of Troy has spearheaded O’Brien’s efforts in Britain this year, reeling off a Gr1 hat-trick in the Betfred Derby, Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International.
Kyprios returned to the top of the staying tree with victories in the Gold Cup and Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, while Jan Brueghel led home a one-two for the stable in the Betfred St Leger.
O’Brien’s juveniles have also excelled, with Lake Victoria taking the Gr1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes.
O’Brien said: “It is a big team effort from everyone in Ballydoyle and Coolmore. There are so many special people in so many different areas that if I started talking about them, I would be here until tomorrow. You can have the horses and the place but, if you don’t have the people, it won’t happen.
“The owners are the people who put the resources in every year, to try and help us make it better. They put a lot of time in and give us advice. We do our best, give information back, and try to follow the roadmap that they draw for us. Some years it goes very well, some years it is ordinary, and some years it is medium.
“This was a good year for us. We won plenty of good races. I am just delighted for everybody when we do have a good year. We don’t take anything for granted and try to look to the future.”
Godolphin was crowned Champion Owner in Britain for a 16th time thanks to a campaign that has yielded Classic success and more than £4 million in prize money.
The Dubai-based operation started the season with a bang as Notable Speech captured the Gr1 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas, with the son of Dubawi going on to defeat all-aged opposition in the Gr1 Qatar Sussex Stakes during the summer.
Shadow Of Light and Desert Flower were the standouts as the two-year-olds came to the fore in the second half of the season, with the latter extending her unbeaten record to four in the G1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile.
Shadow Of Light looks a front-runner for Europe’s Champion Two-Year-Old honours after completing a rare Gr1 double in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes and Darley Dewhurst Stakes.
Hugh Anderson, Managing Director of Godolphin (UK and Dubai), said: “Everyone at Godolphin is immensely proud to receive the UK Champion Owner trophy for a 16th time.
“It has proved to be another exceptional season, led by our brilliant 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner Notable Speech. It’s also particularly exciting to see the next generation coming through, with Shadow Of Light and Desert Flower establishing themselves as the best two-year-olds in the country. With several of our senior stars set to remain in training, we can look forward to 2025 with great anticipation.
“All of our trainers have done a superb job once again, while it has been extremely rewarding to see our homebreds and stallions perform so well. Thank you to every single Godolphin employee, who have all played their part in this success. Our greatest thanks must go to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, whose endless passion for the sport continues to prove an inspiration for us all.”
Sean Dylan Bowen clinched the Champion Apprentice title following a hard-fought battle with Joe Leavy.
The riders were neck and neck entering the final week of the season, but Bowen partnered crucial winners at Chelmsford, Haydock Park and today at Catterick to swing the pendulum in his favour.
Bowen, who finishes the campaign with 45 successes, has been based in Newmarket with James Owen since moving over from Ireland at the start of the season.
Bowen said: “My plan at the start was to go jumping, but everyone said I was mad because I was too light. They said I should go on the Flat first and switch after if I did get heavier. My weight is reasonably good at the minute, so we will see how long I can get out of it.
“I joined Mr Owen’s yard in May. Time has flown since I came over. The main reason for doing so was opportunities – there is more racing than back home in Ireland. My aim was to pick up as many rides as I could and hopefully get some winners along the way.”
