Enable gained a thrilling second consecutive victory in the Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, France, on Sunday and the brilliant filly may now create another piece of history by becoming the third horse to be crowned the Cartier Horse Of The Year twice.
Frankel – dual Cartier star
Only Ouija Board (2004 & 2006) and Frankel (2011 & 2012) have received this premier equine accolade more than once, but the John Gosden-trained four-year-old could join such illustrious company following her short-neck verdict over Sea Of Class in Europe’s leading middle-distance and richest contest.
Victory at Longchamp saw Enable, out with injury for most of the year, move up to 56 points in the Cartier Horse Of The Year and the Cartier Older Horse standings, but the daughter of Nathaniel, homebred by owner Khalid Abdullah, holds leading chances in both categories due to the unique nature of the Cartier Racing Awards.
Gosden has trained three of the past four winners of the Cartier Horse Of The Year Award, thanks to Kingman (2014) and Golden Horn (2015) joining Enable on the roll of honour.
The Newmarket handler is mounting another formidable challenge this year, with current category leader Roaring Lion (174), plus Stradivarius (112) and Cracksman (88), who are all due to run on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 20, also in the mix with Enable. Stradivarius has dominated the 2018 Cartier Stayer Award standings throughout the year.
John Gosden (photo: Investec)
Gosden could yet have a leading candidate for Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt as well with the unbeaten Too Darn Hot (24) set to participate for owner/breeder Lord Lloyd-Webber in the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes – a race that could also feature Advertise (56), Anthony Van Dyck (40) and Ten Sovereigns (40) – at Newmarket on October 13.
A superb weekend of racing across Europe last weekend saw a host of excellent performances including Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly contender Laurens (152), who annexed her fourth Gr1 of 2018 with another typically tough display in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 6.
Trained by Karl Burke in Yorkshire, the John Dance-owned Laurens is due to challenge for Breeders’ Cup glory at Churchill Downs, Kentucky early next month.
Godolphin’s Wild Illusion (96) also advertised her claims for Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly glory with a determined victory in the Gr1 Prix de l’Opera Longines at Longchamp on Sunday, while Sea Of Class (88) enhanced her credentials in the same category following her narrow reversal, from a poor draw, to Enable. And don’t forget the super filly Alpha Centauri (160), winner of four Gr1s this year, who had to be retired after a race injury last month.
On the same card, talented and consistent four-year-old filly Mabs Cross (68), who was beaten a nose in the Gr1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August, leapt to the head of the Cartier Sprinter standings with a cheeky success in the Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines, also over five furlongs. The Michael Dods-trained speedster now has a definite lead on points for the Cartier Sprinter Award, with the Gr1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes over six furlongs on QIPCO British Champions Day, October 20, at Ascot likely to have strong bearing on the outcome of this category.
The Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Award has an open look and Pretty Pollyanna (48), disappointing last time out, has a chance of going to the top if winning Friday’s Gr1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.
Cartier Racing Awards – points earned in Pattern races up to and including Sunday, October 7, 2018
Cartier Horse Of The Year
Roaring Lion 174
Alpha Centauri 160
Laurens 152
Poet’s Word 140
Stradivarius 112
Recoletos 104
Saxon Warrior 104
Wild Illusion 96
Cracksman 88
Sea Of Class 88
Cartier Older Horse
Poet’s Word 140
Recoletos 104
Cracksman 88
Lightning Spear 76
Waldgeist 72
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
Roaring Lion 174
Saxon Warrior 104
Kew Gardens 84
Masar 68
Flag Of Honour 58
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
Alpha Centauri 160
Laurens 152
Wild Illusion 96
Sea Of Class 88
Forever Together 80
Cartier Sprinter
Mabs Cross 68
Battaash 48
Brando 48
Havana Grey 48
Merchant Navy 48
Cartier Stayer
Stradivarius 112
Flag Of Honour 56
Vazirabad 55
Kew Gardens 48
Holdthasigreen 36
Torcedor 36
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt
Advertise 56
Quorto 48
Anthony Van Dyck 40
Ten Sovereigns 40
Soldier’s Call 34
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly
Skitter Scatter 60
Fairyland 50
Pretty Pollyanna 48
Signora Cabello 48
La Pelosa 32
Lily’s Candle 32
So Perfect 32
