Short-listed candidates for the 11th Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards have been announced with organisers citing “a bumper haul of nominations from Flat and Jump yards and studs across the country”.

With six different categories worth a total of £120,000 in prize-money, 60 nominees now go forward to the second round of judging, which will see three finalists in each section. The winners will be announced a dinner at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London on Thursday, 23 February.

Brough Scott, Chairman of the 12-strong panel of judges which includes the 2014 Employee of the Year Leanne Masterton, said: “Judging these awards is both a painful and rewarding task. Painful because of the need to put one wonderful candidate above another, but rewarding because they are the best stable staff incentives world-wide and because this year trainers have supported them in record numbers. I’d like to thank all the trainers, managers, owners and colleagues who took the time to nominate a member of staff and wish all the shortlisted candidates the best of luck in the next stage of the judging process.”

Clare Balding will host the awards dinner along with special guest Ryan Moore. Five of the six categories carry a first prize of £5,000, with an additional £5,000 being awarded to the yard where the winner works, while each runner-up will receive £2,000. The winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer award will receive £2,000, as will the yard, and the runners-up in that category each receive £1,000.

The winner of the Employee of the Year award will be decided from the winners of the Leadership, Rider/Groom, Stud Staff and Dedication to Racing categories and will be awarded a further £20,000 on the night, with the same amount shared among employees at their yard.

The full list of shortlisted nominees is as follows:

Leadership Award

Sarah Denniff (Sir Michael Stoute); Joanne Fowles (Roger Varian); Steve Howarth (Kevin Ryan); Leanne Kershaw (Jedd O’Keeffe); Lisa Kozak (Oliver Sherwood); John Lake (Barry Hills); Andrew Larnach (Mark Johnston); Kevin Mooney (Charlie Hills); Matthew Nicholls (Kim Bailey); Richard ‘Johnson’ White (Philip Hobbs).

Dedication to Racing
Bill Brown (Lady Cecil); Martin Franklin (Roger Charlton); Liam Higgins (Kim Bailey); Donna Hills (Paul Nicholls); Paul Holley (David Elsworth); Clifford Marsden (Luca Cumani); Colin Nutter (Sir Mark Prescott); Robynne Watton (Mark Johnston); Carolyn White (Dr Richard Newland); Lesley White (Mick Channon).

Stud Staff Award
Peter Beasant (Kingsclere Stud); Arthur Bell (Shadwell Estate Company); Diane Best (Cobhall Court Stud); Dale Clements (Cheveley Park Stud); Jessica Fortt (Dunraven Stud); Oleh Ihnatenko (Whitsbury Manor Stud); Ron Lott (Shadwell Estate Company); Rebecca Smith (Wretham Stud); Ginny Whales (Ashbrittle Stud); Sophie Woolf (Rushbrooke Stud).

Rider/Groom Award
Naeem Ahmed (Brian Meehan); Simon Archer (Sir Mark Prescott); Samantha Jo Bell (Richard Fahey); Jess Benfield (Charlie Longsdon); Lorraine Morris (Paul Nicholls); Joy Morton (Robert Johnson); Steve Nicholson (Ed Dunlop); Christopher Pattenden (Diana Grissell); Martyn Peake (Lady Cecil); Kate Robinson (Jamie Snowden).

Administration Award
Jo Brown (Overbury Stallions Ltd); Bee Chapman (William Jarvis); Joanna Cody-Boutcher (Philip Hobbs); Samantha Dwan (Nigel Tinkler); Judy Foxwell (Roger Charlton); Louise Kaye (James Tate); Nicky McGrath (Mark Johnston); Joline Saunders (Richard Phillips); Peter Shoemark (John Gosden); Stephanie Snell (Sir Michael Stoute).

David Nicholson Newcomer Award
Michael Brannigan (Nicky Henderson); Lucy Challoner (Scott Dixon); Tegan Clark (Olly Stevens); Charlotte Clayton (Rae Guest); Kevin Eggleton (Seamus Mullins); Sean Houlihan (Philip Hobbs); Lauren Lucas (Micky Hammond); Claudia McDougall (Sara Cumani); Tyler Saunders (Barry Hills); Ryan Timby (Rod Millman).