The Godolphin Stud and Stable Award winners were announced yesterday night in a glitzy ceremony at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London, with Leanne Masterton, the travelling head girl for Ian Balding, winning racing’s employee of the year.

Television presenter Clare Balding, previously of the BBC, presented Masterton the perpetual Godolphin Trophy, alongside 18-time Champion National Hunt Jockey Tony McCoy.

As well as the trophy, Masterton won £30,000 (Dh183,900), of which £15,000 will be shared amongst the staff at the historic Park House Stables in Kingsclere where she works.

Masterton joined Park House at 16 and has developed into one of the finest and most respected travelling grooms on the international circuit.

She rode seven winners as an apprentice and the highlight of her 18-year career came in 2013 when she accompanied Side Glance on his trip to Australia where he won the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington Racecourse.