2014 - A Review Of The Year

2014 was a year of development and change for Godolphin, which is looking forward to 2015 with anticipation.

Additional trainers and jockeys were signed up, with a new branch of the most international of all stables commencing in Australia.

The horses performed well as Godolphin achieved a record number of winners, 361, during the year.

There were 277 victories around the world, with the newest division of Godolphin in Australia, who started operating in August, delivering 84 successes by the end of the year. Godolphin's previous best annual tally was 228 in 2013, with 214 in 2012, 202 in 2009 and 200 in 2010.

A strong start was made to 2014 at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, with Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor and Silvestre de Sousa becoming champion owner, trainer and jockey respectively during the three-month meeting from January to March.

Two Group One wins were notched up during the Dubai World Cup Carnival. The first came from Prince Bishop in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored By Emirates Airline over 10 furlongs on Super Saturday, March 8, at Meydan. Then African Story triumphed decisively in the world's richest race, the US$10-million Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline over the same distance at Meydan on March 29.

Godolphin claimed three Classics victories during the Dubai World Cup Carnival, with Ihtimal taking both the UAE 1000 Guineas and the UAE Oaks in tremendous style at Meydan. The Shamardal filly went on to finish a close third in the Group One QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, UK on May 4. Long John, who started his career in Australia, was the clear winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors.

The international stable enjoyed winners in eight countries during 2014 - America, Australia, Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Turkey and the UAE.

Three of the six new trainers for Godolphin are in Australia; John O'Shea plus the joint operation of brothers Lee & Anthony Freedman, and Gai Waterhouse. Godolphin expanded their European trainers too with French-based Henri-Alex Pantall and Irish handlers Michael Halford and Willie McCreery.

Godolphin stalwart Cavalryman, at the age of eight, had a year to celebrate, winning three times from five starts. His first success of 2014 came in the Group Three Nad Al Sheba Trophy Sponsored By District One at Meydan on March 1 and he was unlucky not to follow up at the same course when a neck second in the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors on March 29.

His other two successes were at Group Two level in Britain - the 12-furlong Princess Of Wales's boylesports.com Stakes at Newmarket on July 10 and the two-mile Artemis Goodwood Cup at Glorious Goodwood on July 31.

There are plenty of promising horses who are starting to make their names in training with Godolphin.

Charming Thought enjoyed the highest-profile victory among them in the Group One vision.ae Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket on October 17, the first British Group One win for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Godolphin celebrated 55 successes in Group and Listed races while the strike-rate of 20 per cent was the best seen in four years.

Two new Godolphin riders were signed up for 2015 towards the end of the year - William Buick, who will ride mainly for Charlie Appleby, and James Doyle, who will partner most of Saeed bin Suroor's horses.

It was also announced that Newmarket-based trainer John Gosden will train for Godolphin in 2015.

Godolphin now looks forward to an exciting year ahead in 2015 which will kick off with the Dubai World Cup Carnival on January 8.