SIX Royal Ascot winners this week has “energised” the Godolphin team, according to Joe Osborne, who has accepted the role of chief executive of Sheikh Mohammed’s vast racing and breeding organisation.

Osborne stepped into the role on an interim basis two weeks ago following the sudden resignation of John Ferguson. At Royal Ascot this week Sheikh Mohammed asked Osborne to remain in the job.

“It is an honour to be entrusted with this role and I look forward to working with our global team to achieve racing and breeding success for Sheikh Mohammed and his family,” Osborne said.

It was Osborne’s late father Michael who established KIldangan Stud as Sheikh Mohammed’s Irish base and became a close advisor to the Dubai leader on racing and bloodstock matters.

Joe Osborne has worked for Sheikh Mohammed since 1994, principally leading the operation in Ireland and the Godolphin Flying Start programme. Joe has also been very involved in the establishment and development of operations in France, America, Australia and Japan.

Osborne will remain based in Kildangan Stud, from where he will liaise with the Godolphin management team around the world. However, he will not be taking on the racing manager role which Ferguson held.

“We’re looking at the structure and the racing manager role will not be part of my responsibilities,” Osborne said. “I expect to be in attendance at all the major bloodstock sales around the world, though it may not necessarily be me doing the buying on behalf of Godolphin.”

Asked if Godolphin is likely to remain as active in racing and sales, Osborne said: “I would be even more optimistic than that. The vibes are positive, everybody is energised and the focus remains on finding quality horses. It’s very much onwards and upwards.”

There has been speculation in the industry that Osborne’s appointment could herald a new era in relations between Godolphin and Coolmore. Since 2005, Sheikh Mohammed has almost never bought a horse at public auction sired by a Coolmore stallion.

The reason for this self-imposed ban was never made clear and it is generally acknowledged that the policy is one of the main reasons hindering Godolphin’s strike-rate in the classic races.

At Royal Ascot this week Coolmore boss John Magnier congratulated Sheikh Mohammed in person on Godolphin’s success. The industry will now look to the sales circuit for evidence of any change in the Sheikh’s buying policy.

Should the two superpowers trade stallion nominations for their most lucrative sires, Galileo and Dubawi, next spring then the cold war most definitely will be over.