The best of British celebrated at annual TBA Flat Breeders' Awards, sponsored by Watership Down Stud

Two of the most highly respected individuals in the British racing and bloodstock sectors, Julian Richmond-Watson and Simon Mockridge, were lauded at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Flat Breeders’ Awards for the 2024 season, sponsored by Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber’s, Watership Down Stud and held at Chippenham Park on Wednesday, 9 July 2025.

Former Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) chairman and now Thoroughbred Group chairman, Julian Richmond-Watson received the Andrew Devonshire Bronze which acknowledges outstanding achievement and contribution to the British thoroughbred breeding industry. Simon Mockridge, general manager of Juddmonte UK, was awarded the Dominion Bronze in recognition of his outstanding contribution and long-term commitment to the industry.

Having owned horses since 1970, Look Here’s 2008 Oaks victory was a first Group One for Julian Richmond-Watson’s, Lawn Stud, which he founded in 2002 along with his wife Sarah. Look Here’s half-sister, Look So, became the dam of Richmon-Watson’s second top-flight winner, Scope, who took the Prix Royal-Oak in 2021. Further top-level success as a breeder came a year later courtesy of Kinross, a dual Group One winner in 2022.

As well as his breeding successes, Richmond-Watson has held many senior positions in every area of the industry. He was first appointed a racecourse steward, and then a director of Nottingham Racecourse in 1992, and since then his roles have included chairing the Epsom Race Committee, Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, chairman of Newmarket Racecourses and an eight-year tenure as chairman of the TBA. He was appointed Chair of the Thoroughbred Group in 2023 and is a board member of the HBLB and a member of the BHA Flat Pattern Committee. He is a passionate and highly knowledgeable horseman who has shown immense dedication to both the breeding and racing sectors and has provided first-class leadership for many years.

Simon Mockridge has worked in the bloodstock industry for more than 40 years, and at Juddmonte since October 1981, where he was second man at Wargrave, having completed the stud course at Witney College taught by John Onions. He was promoted to Stud Groom in 1987 and moved to Banstead Manor that year upon its acquisition in the role of Stud Manager. Simon was promoted to Stud Director in 2015 and to General Manager UK in 2021.

The Juddmonte operation has produced an exceptional 125 individual Group One winners and 30 Classic-winning homebreds, among these the likes of Frankel, Kingman and Enable. Simon, a keen amateur photographer is respected for his fine attention to detail and his excellent skills as a horseman.

The TBA Stud Employee of the Year, a prize that recognises the significant contribution that stud employees make to the breeding industry and rewards those who have shown dedication and excellence in their role, was revealed to be Zoe Isaacson of Barton Stud, Bury St Edmunds. Issacson took home the New England Stud-sponsored award including a Charlie Langton bronze, and a cheque for £2,000.

The Langham Cup, sponsored by Chasemore Farm, for the Small Breeder of the Year was awarded to Deborah O’Brien, breeder of top-class sprinter Bradsell, while the Streets Bloodstock-supported TBA Silver Salver for the Special Merit Award went to Jeff and Phoebe Hobby’s Brightwalton Stud, breeder of Prix de l’Abbaye heroine, Makarova.

The HJ Joel Silver Salver, sponsored by Barton Stud for the Flat Broodmare of the Year went to Juddmonte - who also picked up the TBA Silver Rose Bowl for Flat Breeder of the Year - for Emulous, dam of Group One and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Bluestocking, who carried all before her in 2024 when trained by Ralph Beckett.

Friendly Soul was awarded the Blue Diamond Stud-sponsored Filly of Merit Award for the breeder of a British-bred filly who had significant racecourse success in 2024. Owned and bred by George Strawbridge, the Kingman filly won four of her five starts in 2024, including the Group One Prix de l’Opera on her final run. 

It was announced in January that Godolphin was the winner of the 2024 Queen’s Silver Cup for leading British-based Flat breeder, with the Group One-winning colts Notable Speech and Shadow Of Light prominent among Godolphin’s achievements last year.

Dubawi was the leading British-based stallion by earnings (BBA Shipping Silver Cigar Box) for a record-extending tenth time, and he regained the British EBF Barleythorpe Silver Cup for winners to runner strike rate. Dubawi edged out Frankel with 73 winners from 149 runners returning a 48.99% strike rate.

Whitsbury Manor Stud won the Tattersalls Silver Salver for the leading first-season sire for the fourth time, courtesy of Sergei Prokofiev.

TBA Chairman Philip Newton commented: “The TBA Flat Breeders’ Awards Evening is about celebrating the achievements of British-bred successes, and tonight's winners once again reflect the significant depth and quality of our thoroughbreds and breeding establishments along with some incredibly worthy and highly respected winners of our individual awards. 

“Significant thanks must go to our headline sponsor Watership Down Stud, along with all the other sponsors this evening who make this evening such a special occasion and for whom we are extremely grateful.”

2024 TBA Flat Breeders Award Winners

ANDREW DEVONSHIRE AWARD - JULIAN RICHMOND-WATSON

DOMINION AWARD - SIMON MOCKRIDGE

TBA Stud Employee Award, sponsored by New England Stud - ZOE ISAACSON, Barton Stud

TBA Silver Rose Bowl - Flat Breeder of the Year, presented by Watership Down Stud - JUDDMONTE

TBA Silver Salver - Flat Special Merit Award, sponsored by Streets Bloodstock - BRIGHTWALTON STUD

Langham Cup - Small Breeder of the Year, sponsored by Chasemore Farm - DEBORAH O’BRIEN

Filly of Merit Award - Breeder of a British-bred filly who had significant racecourse success in 2024, sponsored by Blue Diamond Stud - FRIENDLY SOUL (George Strawbridge)

HJ Joel Silver Salver - Flat Broodmare of the Year, sponsored by Barton Stud - EMULOUS (Juddmonte)

2024 Statistical Award winners (previously announced)

BBA Shipping Silver Cigar Box – Leading British-based sire by earnings in 2024- DUBAWI

Queen’s Silver Cup, presented by Newsells Park Winery - Leading British-based Flat breeder - GODOLPHIN

Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup – Leading British-based sire by Flat winners in 2024 - DUBAWI

Tattersalls Silver Salver – Britain’s leading first-season sire in 2024, sponsored by Tattersalls - SERGEI PROKOFIEV