F EATURE BOODLES
“For the first time, Boodles is extending its sponsorship to take the biggest jewel in Cheltenham’s crown, The Gold Cup”
of life. Business doesn’t stop, evenwhen he’s away from the office, because his passion is as great today as itwas when he joined the business. This year, Michael might switch off frombusiness, just momentarily,when hewatches the inaugural Boodles’ Gold Cup.When pressed, he might say that he fancies BarryMaloney’s Minella Indo for it, because of proven formover 3 miles 2 furlongs and at Cheltenham to boot, but he might also stress that if any of us already knew thewinner,we’d have no need of work.Whilst with his owner’s hat on, Michael acknowledges that he himself might have a Festival™horse in the making. His French-bred Ga Law is going to be one towatch for next season, he verymuch hopes. As the build forThe Festival™picks up pace, the boutique Boodles store in The Orchard™ is beginning to take shape. Michael knows thatmany clients would rather visit Boodles at The Festival™ than one of the brand’s shops, so ensures their experience is equally refined in The Orchard™home-away-from-home. While The Orchard™boutique is a familiar sight for racegoers, the Boodles Gold Cup finishing line is, as yet, unseen.Whether it is to be viewed live, on the big screen, or on the small screen at home, this particular crown jewel is guaranteed to draw the eye of all.
Most recently, Michael’s daughter, Honour, joined the family business. Passionate about environmentally sustainable and ethical business practices, she represents the voice of the next generation of both jewellers and customers. At 26, Honour is the youngest member of the family currently in the business. She is also the first femaleWainwright employed in Boodles’ long history; a factwhich gives her father great pride. Nicholas andMichael know that the future of the business will be safe in the hands of Honour, Jody, James, and their childrenwhen their time comes. It is Honour’s twin brother, Geordie, however,who has inherited his father’s love of horseracing. Although currently employed outside the family business, Geordie has long expressed keen interested in joining his sister and cousins in the business in the not too distant future. He is the one most likely to take the reins fromMichael in continuing the Boodles partnershipwith The Festival™ in the years to come, but for now, he is content to enjoy his racing as a punter, just as his father did before him. That is not to say thatMichael has any intention of handing over the Boodles reins to pursue a quiet retirement at any time soon. For him, being the Managing Director of Boodles is not a job, but away
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