Champions Rebel’s Romance & Immersive feature among four Eclipse Awards

Rebel’s Romance and Immersive were crowned divisional champions at the 2024 Eclipse Awards on Thursday, 24 January, with Godolphin receiving both the Outstanding Owner and Outstanding Breeder Eclipse Awards for a fourth consecutive year.

Having finished runner-up to Modern Games in the Champion Male Turf Horse category two years earlier, Rebel’s Romance clinched the same award in 2024 following his thrilling victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The son of Dubawi became the first horse to win the 12-furlong showpiece in non-consecutive years, adding to his other 2024 top-level wins in the Dubai Sheema Classic, Champions & Chater Cup and Preis von Europa. 

On receiving the award, Darren Fox, Sales Manager for Godolphin USA, said: “I would like to say thank you to Resolute Racing, the NTRA, the National Turf Writers Guild and all the sponsors, and especially everyone who voted for Rebel’s Romance. This was a very competitive category, so I’d like to congratulate tonight’s finalists as well.

“Rebel’s Romance likes to keep his bags packed and his passport on the ready by his bedside locker. He loves his travel but, fortunately, he loves his racing even more. Rebel’s Romance has been a fantastic horse and on behalf of Charlie Appleby and the entire team back in Newmarket, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for this award. It means a great deal.”

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Immersive swept all before her during an outstanding debut season for Brad Cox that included impressive G1 wins in the Spinaway Stakes, Darley Alcibiades Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Only Countess Diana (1997) has completed the same sweep of all three premier two-year-old races.

A homebred daughter of Nyquist, Immersive is currently sidelined due to bone bruising, although she is expected to return to action later in the season.

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: “Thank you very much for everyone who voted for Immersive. It’s my honour and privilege to represent Godolphin’s founder, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, and accept this Eclipse Award for his exceptional two-year-old filly Immersive.

“I had a visit with Immersive prior to leaving Kentucky and she told me that she was very excited about being nominated for the Eclipse Award, but so sad that she can’t be here tonight. Rehab comes first, so that she can get back on track and do what she does best – winning.

“Immersive is delighted to have her team-mate Good Cheer fill in as a super-sub for the spring, but she wants her to remember that she is only keeping her seat warm. She also wanted to thank Brad Cox and her team for guiding her on such a successful and undefeated season, culminating in the Breeders’ Cup win. And also a big thank you to her partner Manny Franco, who formed an unbeatable bond with the filly. She will be back, ready to pick up where she left off and continue the winning streak.

“Lastly, she wants to let her fans know that she will be back, better than ever, and hopes to see them all at Saratoga, where it all began.”

An outstanding season in North America saw Godolphin take the Outstanding Owner Award for a fifth straight year, and eighth time in total (including the success under the Darley banner in 2006). Horses in the royal blue silks smashed the US$20m prizemoney barrier in 2024 – an unprecedented landmark – with 32 Graded wins including 10 at G1 level.

Godolphin also became the leading all-time individual owner at the Breeders’ Cup, with the wins of Rebel’s Romance and Immersive at Del Mar bringing up a 20th success at the meeting.

Johnny Burke, head of Godolphin’s pre-training and rehabilitation in Kentucky, said: “It’s not familiar ground looking from up here at such an esteemed group, however I am extremely honoured to accept this award on behalf of Godolphin. I want to thank everybody here tonight for making this happen but, most importantly, I want to thank all the members of the team. There are many and they all play an important role.

“Team Godolphin is a privilege to be a member of but, most importantly, it’s a privilege to work around the thoroughbred racehorse. These are our lives and we are fortunate to be involved with them from their upbringing to watch them grow and mature. This is who we are, and this is what we do.”

Homebred horses accounted for 26 of Godolphin’s Graded Stakes victories in 2024, helping the operation clinch the Outstanding Breeder prize for a fourth consecutive year, adding to the previous title in 2012. Horses bred by Godolphin amassed in excess of $US23m in earnings, winning 226 races.

Danny Mulvihill, Godolphin USA Farm Manager, said: “I want to say thank you very much to everyone who voted and congratulations to our fellow finalists. I want to echo what Johnny [Burke] said – the biggest thank you goes to our team back home, who are ably led by Gary Harlow, Ben Lynch and Paul Seitz.

“It is a team sport after all, and most other teams get to have their practice days, where they can sandbag a little bit, and then have their game days. These guys bring their game days every day of the week. That is what is required to get us to a position to be on this stage tonight.”