Lesley White, travelling head lass to West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon, admitted to being shocked after winning the Dedication to Racing prize at the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards.

She was presented with the trophy by three-time champion Flat jockey Ryan Moore at a gala ceremony at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London, on Monday night.

She also picked up a cheque for £5,000 with £5,000 being awarded to Channon’s yard.

White, 54, who flew back for the awards from Dubai where she is overseeing the yard’s runners at the Carnival, has worked for the trainer for 29 years.

Speaking from Heathrow before returning to Dubai yesterday morning, she said: “I was shocked to be honest. Everyone deserved to win in their categories. It was an honour basically.

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“Ryan Moore did the presentation, which was good because I have known him for a long time. It was a good evening.”

White started working with Channon when he began pre-training and breaking yearlings at his stud in Hampshire, and even babysitted his son, Michael, and daughter, Nicola, some 40 years ago.

She then worked with him when he was assistant to John Baker and Ken Cunningham Brown, before moving to Lambourn when Channon took out his own licence to train, and then West Ilsley.

White has been closely involved with Channon’s stars including Youmzain, Queen’s Logic, Flashy Wings, Piccolo, Tobougg and Majestic Desert.

“Everyone dreams of the good horses when they come along and you just embrace those,” she added.

“I have been lucky going to America, Japan and Hong Kong and obviously Dubai where I am going back to now.”

Channon was delighted to see White, who lives at the yard, triumph.

He said: “I can’t imagine life without her. She’s our travelling head lass, but her remit goes way beyond that.

“She’s a very good work rider and she simply adores clipping the yearlings.

“We’ve had so many rows over the years, but plenty of success as well. I can trust her totally – not to do the job, that’s a given – I trust her judgement of horses above all.

“I couldn’t imagine a more deserving winner of the award.”