Newmarket’s finest join awards line-up
NEWMARKET JOURNAL JAN 2011. GORDON LIANG FROM FITTOCKS STUD WHO IS A NOMINEE IN THE STUD AND STABLE STAFF AWARDS.
NEWMARKET has four finalists in the world’s most valuable competition for racing and stud staff.
They will attend a special judging day at the London offices of the British Horseracing Authority on Sunday, February 26, when the individual category winners will be chosen, along with the overall winner of the prestigious Employee of the Year award – the title won last year by Newmarket head lad David Bradley.
All 15 finalists will then attend the awards ceremony at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel on Monday, February 27, where two-times champion Flat jockey Paul Hanagan will present them with their prizes.
Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin racing organisation is providing a prize fund of £120,000 for the finalists and their respective yards and studs, and the Employee of the Year winner will also be presented with the Godolphin Trophy.
In the stud staff category, Newmarket has two of the three finalists.
One is Graham Nicklin, who has been stud groom at Cheveley’s Glebe Stud for 12 years.
He has devoted most of his working life to racing and loves the job so much he wants to carry on working despite reaching retirement age.
Joining him in the stud staff category final is assistant stud groom Gordon Laing, who has been at the Cumani’s Fittocks Stud for 12 years, having previously worked as a farmer.
In the rider/groom category final is 35-year-old Zafar Abbas who works for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.
He has become a key member of the Moulton Paddocks trainer’s staff since joining Godolphin three years ago, and looked after three-times Group One winner Blue Bunting, who has just been retired to stud.
Feed man Lenny Brinkley, who works for Fordham Road trainer Roger Varian, is a finalist in the dedication to racing category.
Lenny has been at Kremlin House Stables for more than 30 years, most of which were spent working for the late Michael Jarvis – for whom he led up 2005 Oaks winner Eswarah.
“These are the awards that renew the faith in the dedication and talent in the heart of the game,” said Brough Scott, chairman of the judging panel. “Being a judge is not just a pleasure – it is an inspiration.”
Robin Mounsey, communications manager for the British Horseracing Authority, added: “Despite the tough task of choosing between the candidates, one thing the judging panel all agreed upon was the extraordinarily high calibre of those shortlisted, and the wealth of talented, dedicated individuals that reside within our industry.
“We wish all the finalists the best of luck, and hope they enjoy their thoroughly deserved time in the spotlight at the awards ceremony.”
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