John Ferguson has stepped down as the chief executive and racing manager of Godolphin after appearing to lose a power struggle with Saeed bin Suroor, one of its principal trainers.
Ferguson announced the decision today in light of an interview with Bin Suroor that appeared on the Racing Post website last week, in which the Newmarket trainer spoke freely about tensions at the top of Sheikh Mohammed’s global racing operation.
“Given the recent articles in the media, it was clear my position was untenableJohn Ferguson
Ferguson said: “Now Sheikh Mohammed makes the decisions at Stanley House, nobody else.”
He also expressed his frustration that Charlie Appleby, Godolphin’s other leading Newmarket trainer, received a superior string of two-year-olds this season. Ferguson’s son, James, is Appleby’s assistant.
It all appeared to amount to an ultimatum from Bin Suroor. A week later, Ferguson had fallen on his sword.
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“Given the recent articles in the media, it was clear my position was untenable,” he said in a statement. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has given me so much over the years — trust, opportunities, amazing experiences and, perhaps most importantly, his kindness and counsel. For all these things I thank him with all my heart.”
The decision to step down ends Ferguson’s 25-year working relationship with Sheikh Mohammed. He was appointed chief executive of Godolphin in December 2015 and stated at the time that he had been tasked with giving the worldwide operation “a kick in the belly”. A year and a half on, it will surely have come as a kick in the teeth to emerge as the sole casualty from this public falling out.
Bin Suroor has trained for Sheikh Mohammed since 1995 and played a significant role in the organisation’s early success but his tally of 68 winners in 2016 was his lowest for five seasons. He has also not saddled a group one winner in Great Britain since October 2013.
However, he clearly remains an important asset to Godolphin, and all three horses that ran in their blue silks for the Investec Derby last Saturday — Benbatl, Best Solution and Dubai Thunder — came from Bin Suroor’s yard.
A statement this afternoon announced that Joe Osborne, the managing director of Godolphin in Ireland, will take up the role of interim chief executive, while Osborne offered thanks to Ferguson for his “longstanding contribution”.