Three-year-old colt Roaring Lion put himself into contention for Cartier Horse Of The Year honours following his stunning success in the extended 2000m Gr1 Juddmonte International at York on August 22.
Other highlights at the four-day Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival included Stradivarius collecting the WH Stayers’ Million, as he added the Gr2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup to his earlier victories this year in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Gr1 Qatar Goodwood Cup.
Stradiivarius’ connections thrilled
Roaring Lion (126), owned by Qatar Racing Limited and trained by John Gosden, landed the Gr1 Juddmonte International by three and a quarter-lengths from Poet’s Word (140), which moves the son of Kitten’s Joy up to third place in the standings for Cartier Horse Of The Year behind that rival, who previously landed Ascot’s Gr1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Gr1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, and star three-year-old filly Alpha Centauri (144).
Alpha Centauri, trained by Jessica Harrington in Ireland for owner the Niarchos Family, has now won four Gr1 mile contests in succession.
Her latest outing saw her take on all-aged, all sex competition for the first time when she was the stunning winner of the Gr1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 12. She had previously landed the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes.
The daughter of Mastercraftsman also holds a clear lead in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly division, with dual French Gr1 heroine Laurens (88) currently in second place. One of the most impressive winners at York was Sea Of Class (64), who added the Gr1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks to her earlier victory in the Gr1 Darley Irish Oaks.
Roaring Lion is out in front in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division, having finished third behind Godolphin’s Masar (68) in the Gr1 Investec Derby at Epsom Downs and won Sandown Park’s Gr1 Coral-Eclipse prior to his Juddmonte International victory. QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (80), fourth in the Juddmonte International and runner-up at Sandown Park, currently lies in second.
Cartier Racing Awards – points earned in Pattern races up to and including Sunday, August 26, 2018:
Cartier Horse Of The Year
Alpha Centauri 144
Poet’s Word 140
Roaring Lion 126
Stradivarius 112
Cracksman 88
Laurens 88
Forever Together 80
Saxon Warrior 80
Lightning Spear 76
Recoletos 72
Cartier Older Horse
Poet’s Word 140
Cracksman 88
Lightning Spear 76
Recoletos 72
Benbatl 66
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
Roaring Lion 126
Saxon Warrior 80
Masar 68
Study Of Man 56
Kew Gardens 52
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
Alpha Centauri 144
Laurens 88
Forever Together 80
Sea Of Class 64
Wild Illusion 64
Cartier Sprinter
Battaash 48
Merchant Navy 48
Blue Point 46
Sands Of Mali 40
Eqtidaar 36
Mabs Cross 36
Cartier Stayer
Stradivarius 112
Vazirabad 55
Torcedor 36
Marmelo 32
Flag Of Honour 24
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt
Advertise 56
Anthony Van Dyck 24
Marie’s Diamond 24
Land Force 20
Calyx 16
Dark Vision 16
Emaraaty Ana 16
Quorto 16
Van Beethoven 16
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly
Pretty Pollyanna 48
Signora Cabello 48
Skitter Scatter 28
Beyond Reason 24
So Perfect 24
