Champion trainer award puts icing on another outstanding UK season

Charlie Appleby received the British Champion Trainers’ Award for a second successive year on Monday, completing a momentous clean sweep of jockey, trainer and owner titles in 2022.

The achievement has only been matched once before by Godolphin, with Saeed bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori helping provide a full-house of championships in 2004. Charlie Appleby becomes just the third trainer in the past 50 years to retain the trainers’ title after winning it for the first time, emulating Peter Walwyn and Aidan O’Brien.

This year will also see Dubawi crowned champion sire in Britain and Ireland for the first time, cementing an unprecedented year.

In addition to collecting his Trainers’ Championship trophy, Charlie Appleby was presented at the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association Derby Awards with the International Trainer of the Year prize. Newly crowned Champion Jockey William Buick was also among the winners at the same ceremony as he took the Flat Jockey of the Year award.

Godolphin’s US-based team has enjoyed a sensational year as well, and Cody’s Wish has been recognised with a significant accolade of his own this week. The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero, who shares a remarkable bond with his namesake Cody Dorman, was voted winner of the 2022 Secretariat Vox Populi Award on Monday.

Cody Dorman will be honoured with the 2022 Big Sport of Turfdom award by the Turf Publicists of America on Tuesday, an accolade that reflects how his inspiring connection with Cody’s Wish has resonated with the racing world and beyond.

The racing year is far from over, with Botanik hoping to add to this year’s 30 G1 wins in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday. Godolphin’s horses in Australia have carried all before them throughout the spring, and Vilana and Kementari will be hoping to annex another valuable prize in Perth this Saturday in the AU$1.5m Gold Rush