An emotional tribute was paid to jockey Pat Smullen as he collected the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit for 2019 at a glittering ceremony in London on Tuesday night (12 November).

The nine-time champion in his native Ireland was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018 and announced his retirement in May of this year. He has since raised over €2.5million for Cancer Trials Ireland. In September, he organised the Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland at the Curragh racecourse, for which legendary jockeys Sir AP McCoy, Kieren Fallon, Charlie Swan and Ruby Walsh returned to the saddle.

The 2016 Derby-winning jockey was described by Cartier’s racing consultant Harry Herbert as “an inspirational figure”.

“As well as his brilliance in the saddle, his dedication to help others who face the same health issues tells us what an outstanding human being he is,” he said.

Pat said it was “an honour” to receive the award.

“I’ve been so fortunate all through my life to have done something that I truly loved,” he said in front of 300 guests from the world of racing.

“In the present moment we should really appreciate what we have and what a great industry it is.

“I got to travel the world, and meet great people through the years and that was achievable only by one thing — the horse.”

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In a heartfelt video of tributes, with footage contribution from Racing TV, ITV Racing, Sky Sports Racing and Horse Racing Ireland, Pat also explained: “When it was your life, it was everything that mattered, when it ends it takes a bit of getting used to. Ascot or Champions Weekend — it’s the good racing you miss.

He added: “I’d like to think that throughout the 25 years that I was a jockey that I conducted myself in a proper manner and I think that’s something to be proud of.”

Trainer Dermot Weld, with whom Pat was long associated, reflected: “The way he’s fought cancer reflects the way he rode horses – the way he rode with that determination, the will to win.”

Pat’s fellow jockey-turned-trainer Johnny Murtagh added: “If you got a young jockey in and you said ‘Just be like Pat Smullen’, you wouldn’t have to tell them anything else.”

The Cartier Awards once again honoured the multi-winning mare Enable, who was crowned Cartier Horse of the Year for the second time. The five-year-old wonder horse, who will remain in training for 2020, joins Frankel and Ouija Board in taking the prestigious title two times.

Enable is home-bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori. She has earned over £10 million in prize money and this year won Group 1 races the Coral-Eclipse, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes and Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

This was the mare’s fifth Cartier award while John Gosden and Frankie Dettori also gained three further honours on the night. Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber also collected their second trophy for their three-year-old home-bred Too Darn Hot, while Godolphin were double winners.

The full list of Cartier Award winners is as follows:

• Cartier Horse of the Year: Enable (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori/Prince Khalid Abdullah)
• Cartier Older Horse: Enable
• Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Too Darn Hot (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori/Lord Lloyd-Webber
• Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Star Catcher (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori/Anthony Oppenheimer)
• Cartier Stayer: Stradivarius (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori/Bjorn Nielsen)
• Cartier Sprinter: Blue Point (Charlie Appleby/William Buick and James Doyle/Godolphin)
• Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Pinatubo (Charlie Appleby/William Buick and James Doyle/Godolphin)
• Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Quadrilateral (Roger Charlton/Jason Watson/Khalid Abdullah)
• Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit: Pat Smullen

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Roaring Lion has had an unbelievable season and was crowned Cartier Horse of the Year recently at the prestigious racing awards.

Bred in America, he has packed plenty into his three years, and achieved in abundance. He is now set for a new career at stud and we look forward to seeing his offspring on the racecourse in future years...

Taking the title

The three-year-old colt was recently crowned Cartier Horse of the Year at the prestigious Cartier Racing Awards (13 November) in London, topping a competitive category including stablemates Enable, Stradivarius, Cracksman and the Jessica Harrington-trained Alpha Centauri.

He became the fourth Cartier Horse of the Year in the last five years to be trained by Newmarket-based John Gosden, following on from Kingman (2014), Golden Horn (2015) and Enable (2017).

Roaring Lion also gained the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt award, fending off Saxon Warrior, Masar and Sands Of Mali.

A dream year

Roaring Lion enjoyed a super 2018 Flat season, with outstanding victories in three Group One races in the space of just three months. He took the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park, the Juddmonte International at York and the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. He followed up on these superb wins with a fourth straight Group One success, when dropped down in distance to a mile for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day (20 October).

American-bred star

The eye-catching grey was bred at the Taylor Made stud in Kentucky, USA, where he was also reared before he was spotted as a yearling by the racing manager for Qatar Racing, David Redvers, and his assistant Hannah Wall at the 2016 Keeneland September Sales. He was purchased for $160,000 (£125,000) for the big owners.

In the genes

Roaring Lion is sired by Kitten’s Joy, out of Vionnet (by Street Sense), all of which are American-bred. He gets his roan grey colouring from his dam, while his sire is chestnut. He is Kitten’s Joy’s highest-rated offspring.

Kitten’s Joy’s other high-profile progeny include the Charlie Appleby-trained, Godolphin-owned Hawkbill — winner of the Group One Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, and finished fourth to Roaring Lion in the Coral-Eclipse in July.

His distinguished owner

The outstanding colt is his owner Qatar Racing’s most successful racehorse to date, and has won his connections a total of £2,723,865 in prize money, racing in the distinctive maroon silks.

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who heads the Qatar Racing operation, described the award as an “unbelievable achievement by the whole team”, adding that the champion Flat trainer, John Gosden, was a “master of his art.”

“By a long way, Roaring Lion has given me my best times in the sport,” he said.

A perfect partnership

Roaring Lion’s regular rider is 23-year-old Irish jockey Oisin Murphy, who has partnered the colt to all — bar his debut run — of his starts.

He has a total of 13 career starts under his belt, with a form reading: 1112-351311110. His last run this season was when he was tried on the dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic this month, finishing 14^th from 14 runners.

“Roaring Lion is a credit to Sheikh Fahad and his brothers for their foresight and support of British racing,” said Oisin.

“He was very difficult early on — from the point of view that we never knew how much ability the horse had. He flourished as the year went on and we all benefited from his success through his four Group One wins in a row later in the season.”

A future top stallion prospect

Following his highly successful season, Roaring Lion has been confirmed to stand for stallion duties in 2019 at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire, with an eye-watering stud fee of £40,000.

“He is by some margin the best horse I have ever been involved with, and is the toughest horse I have seen on a racecourse,” said David Redvers. “His class, durability and will to win made him look cut from a different cloth this season. His pedigree and looks make him one of the most attractive stallion prospects to retire to stud in recent years. He’s a superior horse and I believe he will prove an equally strong influence as a sire.”

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The John Gosden-trained superstar Roaring Lion was crowned the Cartier Horse of the Year in front of racing’s royalty at the glittering Cartier Racing Awards ceremony last night (13 November), beating his stablemate, the wonder filly Enable, to take the 2018 prestigious title.

Owned by Qatar Racing, the super talented and consistent three-year-old colt became the fourth Cartier Horse Of The Year in the last five years to be trained by the Newmarket-based champion Flat trainer, following on from Kingman (2014), Golden Horn (2015) and Enable (2017).

Roaring Lion was purchased as a yearling by Qatar Racing’s racing manager David Redvers at the 2016 Keeneland September sale for $160,000 (£123,000). The son of Kitten’s Joy enjoyed an outstanding year with victories in three Group One races over just two months from July to September — the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park, the Juddmonte International at York and the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The colt followed up on these brilliant victories with a fourth straight Group One success when dropped down in distance to a mile for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

John Gosden also trains three of the other four nominations for Cartier Horse of the Year — Enable, Stradivarius and Cracksman — while the final nomination for this award was the Jessica Harrington-trained Alpha Centauri.

“By a long way, Roaring Lion has given me my best times in the sport,” said Qatar Racing’s Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. “To have a Cartier Horse of the Year is an unbelievable achievement by the whole team. John is an unbelievable trainer and a master of his art. I remember standing at the Craven and he said to me ‘this might be a little bit scary but don’t be disappointed and wait until the end the year.’ It was absolutely true.

“My wife, Melissa, had to put up with me for the whole year, which was difficult enough I am sure. Oisin [Murphy, retained jockey] has done an unbelievable job — I don’t think there is a jockey like he is riding at the moment, except maybe Frankie (Dettori). Oisin is only young and hopefully has many more years to come. We will try and strive for another one of these awards. I don’t think it will be easy, but we will try.”

The Cartier award winners 2018:

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Too Darn Hot

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Skitter Scatter

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Roaring Lion

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Alpha Centauri

Cartier Sprinter: Mabs Cross

Cartier Stayer: Stradivarius

Cartier Older Horse: Enable

Cartier Horse of the Year: Roaring Lion owned by Qatar Racing Limited

Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: David Oldrey

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Derby winner Golden Horn triumphed at the 2015 Cartier Racing Awards last night (10 November).

Trained by John Gosden, Golden Horn was named Cartier horse of the year, as well as picking up the three-year-old colt award.

The son of Cape Cross was bred by owner Anthony Oppenheimer and was sent to Tattersalls as a yearling, but failed to meet his reserve so was put into training with Gosden.

Golden Horn was not originally entered into the Derby due to concerns that he wouldn’t stay a mile and a half, but Mr Oppenheimer supplemented the colt at a cost of £75,000 after success in the Dante in May. The colt went on to win the Derby under Frankie Dettori, before taking the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this season.

His final start was in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on 29 October, where he finished second.

Golden Horn retires with earnings of more than £4.4m and as the second-highest rated horse in the world behind US Triple Crown hero American Pharaoh.

The two-year-old colt award went to Air Force Blue. Trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, he won this year’s running of the Dewhurst and is currently favourite for the 2016 2,000 Guineas.

The two-year-old filly award went to Minding, by Galileo, who won the Group One Fillies’ Mile on 9 October at Newmarket. Also trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, she was ridden on that occasion by Ryan Moore, and has since been installed as the favourite for next year’s Oaks.

The three-year-old filly award went to Legatissimo, trained by David Wachman and a third win at the awards for the Smith, Magnier and Tabor team.

The Cartier sprinter award went to Charlie Hills-trained Muhaarar, owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Simple Verse, trained by Ralph Beckett, became only the second three-year-old, following Moonax in 1994, to receive the Cartier stayer award. Owned by Sheikh Fahad Thani, the filly won the St Leger after an appeal to reverse her disqualification. The race was originally handed to Bondi Beach.

Solow, trained by Freddy Head, won the older horse award after an unbeaten campaign that started on the all-weather of Chantilly in March and included five Group One victories.

The Injured Jockeys’ Fund’s Jack Berry (pictured below with Marcus Armytage) won the Cartier/Daily Telegraph award of merit for his work on the northern rehabilitation centre, Jack Berry House in Malton, which opened earlier this year.

Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant, said: “Golden Horn carried nearly all before him and is a worthy recipient of Cartier Horse of the Year, while Solow and Muhaarar were equally dominant in mile and sprint races respectively.

“I think it would be hard to find a tougher filly anywhere in the world than Legatissimo, while the Coolmore-owned two-year-olds, Air Force Blue and Minding, were both very impressive. It is refreshing to see the Cartier Stayer Award go to a three-year-old, Simple Verse, for the first time since 1994.

“Jack Berry’s whole life has been dedicated to racing and the opening of Jack Berry House in 2015 is a lasting testament to his tireless work on behalf of injured jockeys. We are delighted to announce him as the recipient Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2015.”

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Audi has taken over sponsorship of UK polo’s summer showpiece – the HPA International Day at Guards.

Jewellery giant Cartier chose not to continue sponsoring the event – after 27 years of support – when its contract ended last year.

Rumours were that Cartier executive chairman Arnaud Bamberger was unhappy that The Queen no longer attends the event and that it attracts a “chavvy” clientele.

Audi International Day, featuring the Coronation Cup between England and South Africa, takes place on 22 July.

Audi is also sponsoring two further internationals, at Chester Racecourse Polo Club and at Beaufort Polo Club.

Tickets go on sale on 1 May at www.guardspoloclub.com.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (3 May 2012)

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Polos longest-running sponsorship deal ends this year.

Cartier UK has confirmed it will cease backing one of the world’s biggest one-day polo events in favour of a more exclusive one at Guards Polo Club.

The international jeweller has supported the Hurlingham Polo Association’s (HPA) International Day at Guards for 27 years, but this year’s match on 24 July will be its last.

Insiders claim Cartier was concerned that the Chinawhite nightclub’s marquee detracted from Cartier’s own celebrity-packed one and that International Day, which attracts more than 20,000 spectators each year, had lost its exclusivity (news, 5 May).

Now Cartier has signed a three-year deal to sponsor the Queen’s Cup tournament, also at Guards, starting next year.

Colonel Paul Belcher, chairman of Guards Polo Club, said: “We are delighted Cartier UK will continue its association with the club.

“The HPA’s International Day will remain at Guards and continue to be one of the most prominent fixtures in the English polo calendar.”

Cartier UK executive chairman Arnaud Bamberger said: “We felt it was time to change the formula to one that is more tournament-focused.”

The Queen used to present the Coronation Cup at the International but for the past few years she has missed the event.

Polo insiders also say Mr Bamberger was unhappy to share the day with other sponsors, including Audi, which sponsors the England team.

Cartier will be sole sponsor of the Queen’s Cup and the much-coveted royal connection will be restored for Mr Bamberger as The Queen still presents the trophies on finals day.

The jeweller is reported to be paying more for Queen’s Cup sponsorship than it did for International Day and the HPA is busy marketing its flagship event to potential sponsors, said chief executive David Woodd.

The Queen’s Cup has been sponsored by Harcourt Developments for three years.

This year’s final (12 June) will be dedicated to Ian Wooldridge of Harcourt Developments, and Guards chief executive Charles Stisted, who died in a helicopter accident in Ireland last year (news, 28 October 2010).

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (26 May, 2011)

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Cartier is thought to be considering halting its long sponsorship of polo’s glittering summer showpiece after this year, purportedly because the event is getting “too chavvy”.

Neither Guards Polo Club nor the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) would confirm that the jewellery giant has decided to stop sponsoring the Cartier International Polo tournament in Windsor Great Park.

But Cartier’s contract with Guards is up for renewal later this year and those in the know say Cartier executive chairman Arnaud Bamberger is unhappy about the eclectic celebrity guest list and that The Queen no longer attends.

The London Evening Standard also claimed Guards may pull the plug on the event due to the “low-brow” clientele.

But the club’s spokesman Diana Butler would only say: “We shall sit down [with Cartier] this summer to make a decision about the future of the event.

“Cartier has sponsored the tournament for 27 years and we hope it will continue to do so.”

David Woodd of the HPA said: “Cartier has been a wonderful sponsor for 27 years. We very much hope it will continue to be involved in the sport in Britain.”

Cartier did not reply to H&H’s enquiries.

The event hit the headlines in 2008 when there were three male streakers and glamour model Katie Price claimed she was turned away from an after-party hosted by London nightclub Chinawhite.

But alongside stars such as Baywatch’s David Hasselhoff, the event has played host to the likes of actors Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley and society names like the Bransons and the Rothschilds.

This year’s Cartier International Day (24 July), features the 100th anniversary of the Coronation Cup.

For tickets visit: www.guardspoloclub.com.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (5 May, 2011)

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Brilliant French racehorse Goldikova was crowned Horse of the Year at racing’s prestigious Cartier Awards last night.

Goldikova, who won a record-breaking third Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs last month, has now won 12 Group One races, and it was recently announced that she is to stay in training next year as a six-year-old.

The Cartier award was collected by Gerard Wertheimer, who owns her jointly with his brother Alain, and her trainer Freddie Head.

The Anabaa mare, who took the Prix d’Ispahan, the Queen Anne Stakes, the Prix Rothschild and the Prix de la Foret as well as the Breeders’ Cup Mile this season, all at Group One level, had previously won the category for best older horse as well.

The most popular award of the evening, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph award of merit, went to champion trainer Richard Hannon.

His wife Jo and son Richard Hannon jnr collected on his behalf as he is recovering after heart bypass surgery.

Ballydoyle, John Magnier’s powerful Irish stable, won two awards: best two-year-old filly for Misty For Me and best sprinter for Starspangledbanner.

Snow Fairy, winner of the Epsom and Irish Oaks, took the best three-year-old filly Cartier award, and the Khalid Abdullah-owned and -bred Workforce won the colts’ equivalent for his Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victories.

Khalid Abdullah also received a second award for Frankel, named as best two-year-old colt.

The Dermot Weld-trained Rite Of Passage only ran once on the Flat this year but he made it count — his Ascot Gold Cup win gave him a Cartier award for best stayer.

It was the 20th anniversary of the Cartier awards, which were set up by the late Tim Vigors and Cartier UK’s managing director, Arnaud Bamberger.

Monsieur Bamberger celebrated by seating himself next to actress Liz Hurley, who owns a couple of shares in horses with Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

Highclere’s Harry Herbert was the evening’s compere.

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Sea The Stars picked up the top award at the Cartier Racing Awards last night (17 November) and was named the Cartier Horse of the Year 2009.

The colt, who was recently retired to the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Ireland after 6 consecutive group one wins, also received the title of three-year-old colt of the year.

The Cartier Racing Awards, which are in their 19th year, recognise excellence in horse racing. They took part in front of an audience of 200 at Claridge’s Hotel in Mayfair.

The eight awards are awarded by points earned through races combined with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists, as well as votes from readers of the Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph.

Other winners were Goldikova, St Nicholas Abbey, Special Duty, Yeats, Sariska and Fleeting Spirit.

Sea The Stars’s trainer John Oxx was also lauded on the night and was presented with the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit.

This award is for the person who, in the opinion of the 18-strong Cartier jury, has done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

Full winners

Horse of the Year

Sea The Stars

Three-year-old colt

Sea The Stars

Older Horse

Goldikova

Two-year-old colt

St Nicholas Abbey

Two-year-old filly

Special Duty

Three-year-old filly

Sariska

Stayer

Yeats

Sprinter

Fleeting spirit

Award of Merit

John Oxx

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Group 1 winning racehorses Sea The Stars, Conduit and Goldikova are among those up for the prestigious Cartier Horse of the Year award, which will be announced tomorrow.

Nominations for the 2009 Cartier Racing Awards, European horseracing’s equivalent of the Oscars, were revealed at the weekend (Saturday, 14 November).

Recently retired will battle against Conduit, Goldikova, Mastercraftsman and Ghanaati for the Horse of the Year title.

The John Oxx-trained colt, who won six races in a row this year, is also up for the Cartier Three-Year-Old colt award against Fame And Glory, Le Havre, Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle.

The Cartier Racing Awards, which are in their 19th year, recognise excellence in horse racing.

The awards will be presented tomorrow night (Tuesday, 17 November) in London.

The eight awards are awarded by points earned through races combined with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists, as well as votes from readers of the Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph.

Full nominations:

Cartier Horse of the Year:

Conduit

Ghanaati

Goldikova

Mastercraftsman

Sea The Stars

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt:

Arcano

Awzaan

Pounced

Siyouni

St Nicholas Abbey

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly:

Hibaayeb

Lady Of The Desert

Rosanara

Special Duty

Termagant

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt:

Fame And Glory

Le Havre

Mastercraftsman

Rip Van Winkle

Sea The Stars

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly:

Elusive Wave

Ghanaati

Midday

Sariska

Stacelita

Cartier Stayer:

Alandi

Ask

Askar Tau

Schiaparelli

Yeats

Cartier Sprinter:

Art Connoisseur

Borderlescott

Fleeting Spirit

King’s Apostle

Total Gallery

Cartier Older Horse:

Conduit

Dar Re Mi

Fleeting Spirit

Goldikova

Vision D’Etat

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The Aga Khan’s brilliant filly Zarkava was named Cartier Horse of the Year at the 2008 Cartier Racing Awards last night (Monday 17 November).

The unbeaten three-year-old,retired to stud, counted the French 1000 Guineas, the French Oaks and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe among her five victories this year.

She beat Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass, four-time Group One winner Henrythenavigator, King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Duke Of Marmalade and Derby, Juddmonte International and Champion Stakes victor New Approach to the prize.

Zarkava, who was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, also took the three-year-old fillies’ title, while the equivalent colts’ prize went to the Jim Bolger trained New Approach.

The John Gosden-trained Rainbow View was best two-year-old filly for owner George Strawbridge, and David Wachman’s Mastercraftsman was best two-year-old colt.

Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable won the Cartier prizes for older horses and stayers with Duke Of Marmalade and Yeats respectively, who took his third Ascot Gold Cup in June, while the Freddy Head-trained Marchand D’Or, winner of the July Cup, Prix de l’Abbaye and Prix Maurice de Gheest at the top level in 2008, took the sprinter’s award home to France.

The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit went to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his vast contribution to racing and breeding around the world.

Sheikh Mohammed said: “I am delighted by this award. I love racing and I will always be involved in the sport. Thank you very much.”

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Katie Price has slammed the organisers of a polo tournament after being refused entry to one of the most prestigious matches of the season.

The former glamour model accused the people behind the Cartier Polo International of “pure snobbery” after she was allegedly turned away from the event, which took place at Guards Club last Sunday (27 July).

Writing in The Times newspaper, the 30-year-old, who has ridden since she was a child, said horses should be for everyone.

“I paid £6,000 for my table at Guards, but my manager was told that I was not the sort of person they wanted,” she wrote.

“Horses should be for everyone — little girls, glamour girls, working-class girls like me.”

The mother of three recently took part in a charity polo match at Cowdray Park and has been asked to ride in a dressage masterclass at the Horse of the Year Show in October.

“I know more about fetlocks and forelocks than most of the celebrities invited. All my life I’ve been surrounded by horses, I earned my pocket money sweeping out stables and I now have six horses.”

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Dylan Thomas saw off strong opposition to win the Cartier Horse of the Year award.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old won four Group One races this year, culminating in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. Dylan Thomas, by Danehill, also landed the older horse award.

O’Brien’s Ballydoyle team added to these successes with two more award-winners, Peeping Fawn and Yeats.

Four Group One wins put Peeping Fawn at the top of the three-year-old filly category, while dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats took the stayers title for the second year in a row.

Derby winner Authorized, trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, was named top three-year-old colt, having also been shortlisted for horse of the year.

Red Clubs was top sprinter, while New Approach and Natagora won the two-year-old colt and filly prizes.

The Niarchos family received the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit for its achievements as owner/breeders during its 50 years involvement in racing.

A shorter version of this story was first published in Horse & Hound (22 November, ’07)

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Ouija Board claimed her place in the record books last night when she became the first horse to win the prestigious Cartier Horse of the Year title for a second time.

The five-year-old mare reclaimed the title that she won in 2004 following a hat trick of Group 1 wins this season. Ed Dunlop successfully produced Ouija Board to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the Vodaphone Nassau Stakes and most recently the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Ouija Board won the Cartier Older Horse award on her way to the overall title and fought off competition from other award-winning horses including George Washington, winner of the three-year-old colt title.

Extremely popular with the public during her career, Ouija Board retires to stud at the end of the year with a record four Cartier awards to her credit.

2006 Cartier award winners

Horse of the Year: Ouija Board

Older horse: Ouija Board

Three-year-old colt: George Washington

Three-year-old filly: Mandesha

Two-year-old colt: Teofilo

Two-year-old filly: Finsceal Beo

Stayer: Yeats

Sprinter: Reverence

Award of Merit: Peter Willett

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