Dual G1 winner Poetic Flare heads the Cartier Horse Of The Year standings following an action-packed three weeks of outstanding racing.
The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. There are eight equine awards – the Cartier Horse Of The Year, the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.
The 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards will be awarded in November. Cartier continues its ongoing support with the presentation of the Cartier Racing Awards.
The Jim Bolger-trained Poetic Flare has 120 points in the Cartier Horse Of The Year standings following an admirable second to Alcohol Free (96) in the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on July 28. The three-year-old, who was also bred by Bolger and runs in the colours of his wife Jackie, has enjoyed G1 victories this season in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.
This year’s Classic crop account for seven of the top eight points scorers in the Cartier Horse Of The Year standings, with St Mark’s Basilica on 112 points after recording his third G1 win of the campaign in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on July 3.
The son of Siyouni, who is trained by Aidan O’Brien for a Coolmore partnership, has established himself as one of the stars of 2021 having also tasted success in the G1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club.
Other leading contenders include Godolphin’s Adayar (100) who became the first horse since his grandsire Galileo in 2001 to complete the Derby-King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes double when capturing the G1 midsummer highlight at Ascot on July 24.
Alcohol Free recorded a second G1 victory this season, and third in total, as she beat Poetic Flare in the Qatar Sussex Stakes. The Jeff Smith-owned filly, successful in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, has only finished out of the frame once in eight starts for Andrew Balding, coming home fifth in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas.
The only older horse near the top of the standings is G1 Queen Anne Stakes victor Palace Pier (96), who missed the Qatar Sussex Stakes with a blood disorder but is due to run in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 15.
Also in the Cartier Horse Of The Year running is Godolphin’s Hurricane Lane (92), who followed up success in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with a stunning victory in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on July 14.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Mother Earth has 88 points having been placed in G1 company on her last three starts, as does stable companion Snowfall, who backed up success in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom with a smooth victory in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 17.
Palace Pier, who was crowned last season’s Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, also leads the way in the Cartier Older Horse standings ahead of Broome (80) for Aidan O’Brien. Owned by a Coolmore partnership, Broome was fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes at Ascot last time out, having previously landed the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Skalleti (80) has won all four of his starts this term and recorded successive G1 victories when capturing the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich for trainer Jerome Reynier on July 25.
Lady Bowthorpe (72) provided trainer William Jarvis with a first G1 victory for 27 years in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on July 29 and is another contender vying for the accolade, along with Godolphin’s Althiqa (63) who enjoyed a second straight G1 victory for Charlie Appleby with success in the Diana Stakes at Saratoga, USA on July 17.
Poetic Flare (120) heads St Mark’s Basilica (112) in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Category, with Godolphin duo Adayar (100) and Hurricane Lane (92) both challenging for the award.
Dragon Symbol (48) has finished second on his last four starts for Archie Watson, most recently chasing home Suesa in the G2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on July 30. Bolshoi Ballet (40) disappointed when sent off favourite for the Cazoo Derby but returned to winning ways for Aidan O’Brien in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park, USA.
Alcohol Free is the new leader in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category thanks to her Qatar Sussex Stakes victory. A trio of Aidan O’Brien-trained runners are snapping at her heels – Mother Earth, Snowfall and Joan Of Arc (64), who was third in the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
There is a three-way tie at the top of the Cartier Sprinter Category between Ed Walker’s G1 Darley July Cup hero Starman, the Roger Teal-trained Oxted, who was third in the sprint highlight at Newmarket, and Dragon Symbol. The trio all have 48 points. G2 King George Qatar Stakes heroine Suesa, Dream Of Dreams and Campanelle have 32 points.
Subjectivist (60) remains the leader in the Cartier Stayer division following his success in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for Mark Johnston and owner Dr Jim Walker, although the four-year-old will sadly miss the rest of the season due to a setback.
Trueshan (36) provided Alan King with a first G1 success on the Flat in the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup on July 27 and heads the challengers along with Skazino (32), who finished second to Valia (24) in the G2 Prix Radio FG for Cedric Rossi at Longchamp on July 14