The 2011 Flat season in Europe already looks like it will be a tremendous one, if the Classic exploits of Frankel and Pour Moi are anything to go by, and the top horses of the year will be recognised in great style at the 21st Cartier Racing Awards in November.
The highly-coveted eight Cartier Awards for horses are determined by points earned in Pattern races throughout 2011, combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists, plus votes from readers of the Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph, a system that over 20 years has accurately rewarded supreme excellence.
In addition, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 18-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.
The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to recognise excellence in horseracing and are the sport’s equivalent of the Oscars.
European horseracing’s most prestigious accolades will be presented on the evening of Tuesday, November 15, during a glittering ceremony before an invited audience at London’s Dorchester Hotel.
The first points earned in Pattern races are announced today and Andre Fabre-trained Pour Moi, who came from last to first under Mickael Barzalona in the premier British Classic, the Investec Derby, at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 4, leads the way on 66. Barzalona, 19, is the new riding sensation in Europe but he gave owners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith a few anxious moments when standing up in the stirrups and celebrating before the winning post.
Pour Moi won by a head from Treasure Beach, also owned Magnier, Tabor and Smith, but carrying the last-named’s colours, with The Queen’s Carlton House in third.
The amazing Frankel (56 points) is next in the Cartier standings after making all in the Newmarket Classic, the mile QIPCO 2,000 Guineas, on April 30 and had his rivals in trouble by half-way when he was more than 12 lengths clear with Tom Queally aboard. The three-year-old colt, owned by Khalid Abdulla and trained by Henry Cecil, won easily by six lengths and is due to run next week in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, also over a mile, on Tuesday, June 14. The unbeaten Frankel gained the accolade of Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt last year.
Pour Moi and Frankel lead the way for two Cartier Awards, Cartier Horse Of The Year and Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt.
Blue Bunting has the next highest points’ total, 54, thanks to her performances in the two British fillies Classics. The Godolphin three-year-old gave trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni his first success in a British Classic when three quarters of a length too good for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Together (48) in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1. She started favourite for the Investec Oaks at Epsom Downs over half a mile extra on June 3 but failed to act on the track and finished fourth, just losing out on third, behind the winner Dancing Rain (48) from William Haggas’ Newmarket yard. Misty For Me (48) , also trained by O’Brien in Ireland, finished fifth in the Investec Oaks but previously triumphed in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh from Together.
St Nicholas Abbey, another trained by O’Brien, leads the way for the Cartier Older Horse Award with 40 points following his victory over Midday (32) in the Group One Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs on June 3, with Presvis just a point behind on 39, thanks to his exploits in Dubai which included winning the Group One Dubai Duty Free at Meydan on March 26.
Canford Cliffs (32), one of a strong mile contingent last year, is level with the 2010 Cartier Horse Of The Year Goldikova (32), Planteur (32) and Sarafina (32). The Freddy Head-trained Goldikova and Canford Cliffs, from the Richard Hannon yard, clash in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 14, while former Australian superstar So You Think, successful in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup on his second start in Ireland where he is now trained by O’Brien, races on the following day in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
Ladbrokes have opened a market on the Cartier Horse Of The Year, with the current odds being 9/4 Frankel & So You Think, 5/1 Pour Moi & Goldikova, 10/1 Workforce & Canford Cliffs.
The standings for the Cartier Stayer Award are led by the recent Group Two Charles Heidsieck Champagne Henry II Stakes winner Blue Bajan (24), trained by David O’Meara, while Sole Power (18), successful in the Group Two Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock Park for Irish trainer Eddie Lynam, has a narrow lead over Godolphin’s Delegator (16) and Wizz Kid (16) in the Cartier Sprinter category.
Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant, commented today: “The last two Investec Derby winners, Workforce and Sea The Stars, both gained the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Award, with the latter also being the Cartier Horse Of The Year, so it will be fascinating to see how Pour Moi progresses.
“Frankel, who enjoyed Cartier honours last year, is an awesome racehorse and all those who witnessed his demolition of a strong QIPCO 2,000 Guineas field were amazed by his performance.
“As well as these exciting three-year-olds, we have vintage group of older horses that includes Goldikova, Canford Cliffs, So You Think, Workforce, St Nicholas Abbey and Midday.
“Royal Ascot promises to be very special next week.”
For more information, please contact Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant (01488 669166), Florence Shippey of Cartier on 020 7408 5717) or (Mark Popham of Racenews (020 7704 0326).
CARTIER RACING AWARDS POINTS UP TO & INCLUDING JUNE 5, 2011
CARTIER HORSE OF THE YEAR
POUR MOI 66
FRANKEL 56
BLUE BUNTING 54
CARTIER THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT
POUR MOI 66
FRANKEL 56
DUBAWI GOLD 48
RELIABLE MAN 48
RODERIC O’CONNOR 48
CARTIER THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY
BLUE BUNTING 54
DANCING RAIN 48
MISTY FOR ME 48
TOGETHER 48
GOLDEN LILAC 40
CARTIER OLDER HORSE
ST NICHOLAS ABBEY 40
PRESVIS 39
CANFORD CLIFFS 32
GOLDIKOVA 32
MIDDAY 32
PLANTEUR 32
SARAFINA 32
CARTIER STAYER
BLUE BAJAN 24
BRIGANTIN 17
DUNADEN 16
DUNCAN 16
CARTIER SPRINTER
SOLE POWER 18
DELEGATOR 16
WIZZ KID 16
PROHIBIT 13
INXILE 12
Winners at the Cartier Racing Awards
2010 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Frankel
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Misty For Me
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Workforce
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Snow Fairy
Cartier Sprinter: Starspangledbanner
Cartier Stayer: Rite Of Passage
Cartier Older Horse: Goldikova
Cartier Horse of the Year: Goldikova, owned by the Wertheimer brothers
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Richard Hannon
2009 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: St Nicholas Abbey
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Special Duty
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Sea The Stars
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Sariska
Cartier Sprinter: Fleeting Spirit
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Goldikova
Cartier Horse of the Year: Sea The Stars, owned by Christopher Tsui
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Oxx
2008 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Mastercraftsman
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Rainbow View
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: New Approach
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Zarkava
Cartier Sprinter: Marchand D’Or
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Duke Of Marmalade
Cartier Horse of the Year: Zarkava, owned by HH the Aga Khan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
2007 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: New Approach
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Natagora
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Authorized
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Peeping Fawn
Cartier Sprinter: Red Clubs
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Dylan Thomas
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dylan Thomas, owned by Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: The Niarchos Family
2006 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Teofilo
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Finsceal Beo
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: George Washington
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Mandesha
Cartier Sprinter: Reverence
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Ouija Board
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ouija Board, owned by Lord Derby
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Peter Willett
2005 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: George Washington
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Rumplestiltskin
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Hurricane Run
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Divine Proportions
Cartier Sprinter: Avonbridge
Cartier Stayer: Westerner
Cartier Older Horse: Azamour
Cartier Horse of the Year: Hurricane Run, owned by Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Henry Cecil
2004 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Shamardal
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Divine Proportions
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Bago
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ouija Board
Cartier Sprinter: Somnus
Cartier Stayer: Westerner
Cartier Older Horse: Soviet Song
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ouija Board, owned by Lord Derby
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: David & Patricia Thompson
2003 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: One Cool Cat
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Attraction
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Dalakhani
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Russian Rhythm
Cartier Sprinter: Oasis Dream
Cartier Stayer: Persian Punch
Cartier Older Horse: Falbrav
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dalakhani, owned by HH the Aga Khan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Lord Oaksey
2002 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Hold That Tiger
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Six Perfections
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Rock Of Gibraltar
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Kazzia
Cartier Sprinter: Continent
Cartier Older Horse: Grandera
Cartier Stayer: Vinnie Roe
Cartier Horse of the Year: Rock of Gibraltar, owned by Sir Alex Ferguson & Sue Magnier
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Prince Khalid bin Abdulla
Cartier Special Award: Tony McCoy
2001 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Queen’s Logic
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Johannesburg
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Banks Hill
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Galileo
Cartier Stayer: Persian Punch
Cartier Sprinter: Mozart
Cartier Older Horse: Fantastic Light
Cartier Horse of the Year: Fantastic Light, owned by Godolphin
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Magnier
2000 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Superstar Leo
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Tobougg
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Petrushka
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Sinndar
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Sprinter: Nuclear Debate
Older Horse: Kalanisi
Cartier Horse of the Year: Giant’s Causeway, owned by Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Cartier Millennium Award of Merit: HM The Queen
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: HH the Aga Khan
1999 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Torgau
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Fasliyev
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ramruma
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Montjeu
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Sprinter: Stravinsky
Cartier Older Horse: Daylami
Cartier Horse of the Year: Daylami, owned by Godolphin
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Peter Walwyn
1998 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Aljabr
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Bint Allayl
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Dream Well
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Cape Verdi
Cartier Sprinter: Tamarisk
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Older Horse: Swain
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dream Well, owned by the Niarchos Family
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: The Head Family
1997 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Embassy
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Xaar
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ryafan
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Peintre Celebre
Cartier Stayer: Celeric
Cartier Sprinter: Royal Applause
Cartier Older Horse: Pilsudski
Cartier Horse of the Year: Peintre Celebre, owned by Daniel Wildenstein
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Sir Peter O’Sullevan
1996 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Pas De Reponse
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Bahamian Bounty
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Bosra Sham
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Helissio
Cartier Stayer: Nononito
Cartier Sprinter: Anabaa
Cartier Older Horse: Halling
Cartier Horse of the Year: Helissio, owned by Enrique Sarasola
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Frankie Dettori
1995 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Blue Duster
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Alhaarth
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ridgewood Pearl
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Lammtarra
Cartier Stayer: Double Trigger
Cartier Sprinter: Hever Golf Rose
Cartier Older Horse: Further Flight
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ridgewood Pearl, owned by Anne Coughlan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Dunlop
1994 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Gay Gallanta
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Celtic Swing
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Balanchine
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: King’s Theatre
Cartier Stayer: Moonax
Cartier Sprinter: Lochsong
Cartier Older Horse: Barathea
Cartier Horse of the Year: Barathea, owned by Sheikh Mohammed
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Marquess of Hartington
1993 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Lemon Souffle
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: First Trump
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Intrepidity
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Commander In Chief
Cartier Stayer: Vintage Crop
Cartier Sprinter: Lochsong
Cartier Older Horse: Opera House
Cartier Horse of the Year: Lochsong, owned by Jeff Smith
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Francois Boutin
1992 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Lyric Fantasy
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Zafonic
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: User Friendly
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Rodrigo De Triano
Cartier Stayer: Drum Taps
Cartier Sprinter: Mr Brooks
Cartier Older Horse: Mr Brooks
Cartier Horse of the Year: User Friendly, owned by Bill Gredley
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Lester Piggott
1991 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Culture Vulture
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Arazi
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Kooyonga
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Suave Dancer
Cartier Stayer: Turgeon
Cartier Sprinter: Sheikh Albadou
Cartier Older Horse: Terimon
Cartier Horse of the Year: Arazi, owned by Allen Paulson & Sheikh Mohammed
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Henri Chalhoub
