Long-serving Messenger honoured

Stuart Messenger, head lad with Michael Stoute, has been crowned Employee of the Year at the sixth annual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

Manchester United and England star Michael Owen was due to present the awards but an injury sustained in the Carling Cup final saw former jockey John Reid step in to present Messenger’s prize.

Classic-winning rider Reid was also on the judging panel for the awards and he handed a cheque for £25,000 (€27,600) to Messenger, with £15,000 (€16,500) for himself and £10,000 (€11,000) to be shared among his colleagues at Stoute’s Newmarket yard.

Stoute described Stuart as “irreplaceable” and someone that he “would not want to do the job without”.

Messenger, who has been in racing over 32 years, said: “It is an absolute dream to win an award like this and something that I never expected.

“I was delighted to have been nominated in the first place and, having seen the calibre of the other nominees, never once thought that I could be in with a chance of winning Employee of the Year.

“There are so many deserving staff in the industry and I’d like to thank Godolphin for supporting such a worthwhile means of recognising this hard work and dedication.”

Messenger also claimed the High Achiever award with Stoute’s travelling head lad Jimmy Scott being handed the Dedication To Racing prize.

Whitsbury’s Farm’s James Gray was the recipient of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award with Roy Gedge (Stud Staff Award) and Elizabeth George (Rider/Groom Award) also among the winners.

Ken Bedford, stable lad for John Dunlop, was given the NASS Special Merit Award.

Each individual category winner collected £5,000 (€5,500), with their colleagues at their respective stable or stud sharing £5,000 (€5,500) between them.

The two runners-up in each category also received £2,000 (€2,200) with their respective yards of employment collecting the same amount.