Dubai: Godolphin, the international racing stable with bases in Dubai and Newmarket, England, were crowned champion owner in Britain for the fourth consecutive year after enjoying an epic year on the flat. The prize is awarded to the owner or stable that wins the most prize money during a season.

Godolphin, the stable created by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in 1992, amassed a staggering £4,498,707 from 113 winners.

It was the 13th time that the stable, which has horses in training in the UAE, Australia, Japan, France, Ireland, the UK and USA, was winning the accolade. They won the first British Championship in 1996 and the team added more triumphs in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and most recently in 2018.

Shaikh Mohammad himself has won the British Champion Owner title as an individual owner on nine occasions, the first of these coming in 1985 and the last in 1997.

The highlight of the season for Godolphin was the victory of Masar in the Group 1 Epsom Derby in June, a first for the stable in its trademark Royal Blue silks.

Hugh Anderson, Godolphin Managing Director (UK and Dubai), put the achievement in perspective when he said on the stable’s website: “2018 has been a wonderful year for His Highness Shaikh Mohammad and Godolphin all around the globe, with 26 Group 1 victories already recorded. Here in the UK, the success of the racing operation is reflected in winning the Champion Owner trophy again and this a source of immense pride to everyone at Godolphin.”

“Masar’s Derby was obviously the highlight of the season, but we can see the strength in depth of our operation through Wild Illusion, Blue Point, Best Solution, Quorto, Royal Marine, Benbatl, Thunder Snow and numerous other outstanding performers,” he added.

“Well done to everyone at Godolphin, all of whom have played their part in making 2018 such a memorable year. And thank you to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad for his leadership and unflagging loyalty which continually inspires us.

“We look forward to 2019 with great optimism.”

Dubai owners enjoyed a highly successful season with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, finishing in fourth place with £2.57 million (Dh12.33 million) in earnings from 92 winners while Dubai businessman.

Saeed Suhail was fifth with a prize money of £1.55 million from 10 prestigious wins, most notably that of his stable flagbear Poet’s World.

The Top Jockey accolade went to Silvestre de Souza who rode 148 winners, while Oisin Murphy was runner-up with 121 winners.

The leading trainer among the 600 licensed trainers in Britain was John Gosden, whose 148 winners earned a mind-boggling £8,241,040.

The Owners’ Championship is awarded to the owner who has won the most prize-money on Britain’s turf and all-weather tracks throughout the season which began with the Guineas Festival and concluded on British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday.