Dubai: The Dubai-owned Godolphin Stables has carried out the biggest management shake-up in its 22-year history, handing its principal trainers complete responsibility and making the prime position of Racing Manager routinely redundant.
With Saeed Bin Surour and Charlie Appleby now holding the delegated authority of Godolphin’s owners, long-serving Racing Manager Simon Crisford has left the operation and will assume a new role as a Racing Adviser to the Maktoum Family and its associates.
The 51-year-old Briton had held the exalted position of Racing Manager to the world’s most powerful stable since its inception in 1992, but had come under the scanner since last year’s doping scandal revealed several management flaws following an extensive internal review by former Metropolitan Police Chief Commissioner Lord Stevens.
A statement on the Godolphin website detailed the management revamp and also thanked Crisford for his outstanding service over 22 years. “We wish him success in his new role as a Racing Adviser to the Maktoum Family,” the statement said after narrowing down the organisational changes.
Crisford, 51, told the Racing Post the move had been “under consideration for some time”.
“Having dealt with the events of last year and seen the Lord Stevens inquiry through to its conclusion, I thought this was a good moment to bring my time at Godolphin to a close,” he said.
“I had felt for a while I would like a fresh challenge. I think the time is right for a new start for the stable and for me.”
According to the Godolphin website, the structural overhaul is intended to “streamline and improve management oversight; safeguard horse welfare and ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations”.
It also emphasises the role of trainers Bin Surour and Appleby as the “individuals responsible for their particular racing stables and make clear that they hold the delegated authority responsible for their particular racing stable”.
They will also serve as the chief spokespersons for their respective stables and Godolphin.
The website also revealed that a new Board of Directors will be announced with members set to include Shaikh Juma Bin Dalmouk Al Maktoum, Altaf Noorani and others.
Meanwhile, Hugh Anderson will become Managing Director of Godolphin Management Company Limited, overseeing all services in support of the trainers. He will remain Chief Operating Officer, reporting to the Board of Directors.
Godolphin trainers in the US, Kiaran McLaughlin and Tom Albertrani, Andre Fabre in France and Jim Bolger in Ireland will report to Owner Representative John Ferguson.
