DUBAI (March 28, 2019)—The world’s elite horseracing performers from 2018 will be honoured at the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Horseracing Excellence Awards, on March 28, 2019, two days ahead of the world’s richest race meeting, the US$35 million Dubai World Cup 2019. An initiative of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the awards are a testimony to sporting excellence in the UAE and across the globe.
Recognising extraordinary feats, as well as consistent performances at the very highest level throughout the racing season, the awards also pay tribute to legends of the sport via the Lifetime Achievement Award and those who have captured the public’s heart in the People’s Choice Award. The ceremony, held at The Island, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City—District One, ties in nicely with the week’s Dubai World Cup festivities and underlines HH Sheikh Mohammed’s relentless endeavour for excellence and commitment to nurturing Dubai’s already flourishing racing industry.
The coveted titles of Best Horse, Best Jockey, Best Trainer and Best Owner are awarded via a data count as provided by the U.S. Jockey Club and analysed by a committee comprised of representatives from Nielsen Sports, a top-tier analytical sports data provider and KPMG, a premier audit, tax and advisory firm. Group and Graded races held across the globe on Dubai World Cup night 2018 through to Super Saturday, March 9th, 2019 are included in the performance review.
Godolphin-owned Best Solution has picked up the Best Horse award, securing three Group 1 victories during 2018, headlined by his tenacious Caulfield Cup win in Australia. A field of 18 lined up for the 2400m AUD $5 million feature, including Group 1 Underwood Stakes winner Homesman, Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes second The Taj Mahal and Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar, but none could pose a threat. The Grosser Preis von Baden and the Grosser Preis von Berlin were the Saeed bin Suroor trainee’s Group 1 lead-up wins to the biggest victory of his career, which has taken his total earnings to more than $3.3 million.
Best Jockey has been awarded to Irishman Patrick Cosgrave, who managed to secure four Group 1 wins, including the Caulfield Cup on Best Solution and the Ladbrokes Stakes on Benbatl in 2018. Ireland’s Champion apprentice, Cosgrave spent two years with Aidan O’Brien before successfully continuing his career in England.
Best Trainer went to Godolphin’s longest-serving trainer, Saeed bin Suroor. The Emirati holds the record for most Dubai World Cup wins (eight), with last year’s winner Thunder Snow and the legendary Dubai Millennium in 2000 being highlights. Bin Suroor has been training since 1995 and has 12 British classic winners to his name, including the brilliant Lammtarra. He has been crowned champion trainer in Great Britain on four occasions and in the UAE eight times. He has won 188 Group 1 contests among his more than 2,000 victories worldwide.
Godolphin has been awarded Best Owner after a record-breaking 2018 season, with 30 Group/Grade 1 races around the world. Unquestionably, the standout performances of the year were Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, Epsom Derby winner Masar and Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow. Fan favourite and consistent top performer Hartnell posted the first Group 1 victory of the year, dominating the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield, with other sprinting victories including Jungle Cat’s Al Quoz Sprint, as well as Blue Point’s King’s Stand Stakes win at Royal Ascot. Two-year-old Line of Duty secured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while Royal Meeting and Royal Marine also headed up the juvenile division with Group 1 wins in France.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, voted by committee, has been given to U.S. racing Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Record holder for the most Triple Crown race wins with 14, Lukas has won 20 Breeders’ Cup races, five Eclipse Awards and has been responsible for educating some of the top trainers in the U.S. The conditioner had Todd Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin, Dallas Stewart Mark Hennig, Randy Bradshaw, George Weaver (who became an assistant to Pletcher), Bobby Barnett and Mike Maker learn the ropes under his watchful eye. When it comes to his statistics, there is none who even comes close: he has sent out over 4,800 winners, 219 Grade 1 race victories, 25 Champions and was the first trainer to reach $100 million and $200 million in prize money. In 1988 he trained only the third ever (and most recent) filly to win the Kentucky Derby, Winning Colors.
The vote of the racing fans has gone to the world’s top-rated racehorse, Winx, earning this year’s People’s Choice Award. The Chris Waller-trained wonder-mare recently extended her world record with a 24th Group 1 victory in the George Ryder Stakes, also stretching her win streak to an astounding 32 races. Since 2015, Winx has been in the Top 10 of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, and she has been the highest-rated mare in the world since 2016. During 2018, she held the World’s Best Racehorse title, joined by Great Britain’s prolific Cracksman, in a season that included a historic fourth Ladbrokes Cox Plate win.