Frankie Dettori lifted the roof at Royal Ascot today (22 June) when winning the prestigious Group One Gold Cup aboard Courage Mon Ami for trainers John and Thady Gosden and owner Wathnan Racing.

“It’s unbelievable – I can’t hear myself talking, there’s so much clapping,” said a euphoric Frankie, who was adding to a victory here yesterday on what is his final year in the saddle ahead of his planned retirement.

The win was all the more impressive given the fact that this was just Courage Mon Ami’s fourth career start – horses usually have a great deal more experience to be able to win this race.

“I thought that this was a bridge too far going from handicaps to a Group race, but we had a great run and really, he’s still a baby,” explained Frankie.

Courage Mon Ami, a four-year-old gelding by Frankel and out of Lemon Drop Kid mare Crimson Ribbon, is now unbeaten in all four of his starts and this was his first time stepping up in trip to 2m3f, having previously run over 1m4f and 1m6f. He came from the back of the field today to beat second-placed Coltrane, who was ridden by Oisin Murphy and trained by Andrew Balding, by three quarters of a length.

John Gosden said: “We didn’t know whether he’d stay the trip today as you can’t practise over two and a half miles at home but he stayed cool, Frankie saved every inch on the inside and luckily he managed to wriggle through to the front.

“It was a great ride from Frankie. He has had a phenomenal career – we have been working together on and off for 30 years and we’ve only had one argument during that time – we’ve kicked on with life.”

Don’t miss the full report from Royal Ascot 2023 in the 29 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine, plus we will be bringing you all the top stories from the meeting as and when they happen on horseandhound.co.uk

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Frankie Dettori made his final ride in the Epsom Oaks a winning one when riding the John and Thady Gosden-trained Soul Sister to a comfortable victory. This is Frankie’s final year in the saddle, making this Group One Betfred Oaks victory a particularly poignant one.

Frankie said to ITV after achieving his seventh victory in this prestigious race: “That means a lot – seven Oaks winners. Lady Bamford is a big supporter of mine and in my last year that is my second Classic winner – unbelievable.” The 52-year-old jockey also won the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, on Chaldean.

Frankie enjoyed further Group One success earlier in the day when piloting Emily Upjohn to victory in the Coronation Cup, also for John and Thady Gosden.

“I have ridden two great fillies this afternoon – Emily Upjohn and this one. I just want to soak it in now!” said Frankie. “It was a bit messy at the beginning and I didn’t want to go too wide. William [Buick] stopped quickly and I had to go wide, but I kept her balanced and she did the rest.”

Frankie’s previous Oaks winners are Balanchine (1994), Moonshell (1995), Kazzia (2002), Enable (2017), Anapurna (2019) and Snowfall (2021). He has now ridden 23 English Classic winners.

Of how the race panned out, Frankie said: “I followed Buick and he dived very quickly around Tattenham Corner and so I had to take evasive actions and swing right. We got organised and sat quiet between the three and the one and a half furlong poles and then I was just hoping that if I pressed the button she would go – and she did go. She’s shown so much class.

“If I stayed on one more year, I may get close to Lester [Piggott]’s 30 [Classic wins]. I’m joking! It’s incredible and I’ve had some fantastic rides. Emily and Soul Sister mean it’s two in the bag and we’ve one to go with Arrest tomorrow.

“It is mental, I’ll be honest with you. I thought I had three good rides in the three Group One races, but to have two in the bag already with the Derby to go is crazy. I’m stuck for words!”

Soul Sister is owned and was bred by Lady Bamford, who is a long-term supporter of racing. She led her mare in to the winner’s enclosure and was unsurprisingly delighted with the victory having previously enjoyed Oaks success with Sariska in 2009.

This was a fourth Oaks victory for John Gosden, who now trains alongside his son Thady.

“I could see she was coming strongly, but I didn’t know if she’d stay the mile and a half, but she did, and she stayed it well, which she needed,” said John. “This last half furlong up the hill will find them out, but she stuck her neck out and she’s a classy filly.

“Her family are milers, but looking at her pedigree I saw Darshaan under the third dam, so I thought there was a chance she’d stay. I didn’t know until the two marker what was going to happen, but it was a strongly run race and she’s beaten two nice fillies, seeing it out well.”

Of plans for the future with Soul Sister, John explained: “I think she’s versatile enough to go a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. It’s great for her to win a Classic for the owners, who bred her at their own farm, and let me tell you, that’s not an easy game. It’s hard enough to get a mare in foal, let alone breed a horse like that.”

Soul Sister went off at odds of 11/4, while short-priced favourite Savethelastdance (5/6) finished one-and-three-quarter lengths down in second under Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien in the Epsom Oaks. 40/1 shot Caernarfon finished a creditable third, just a head behind Savethelastdance, under Connor Beasley for trainer Jack Channon.

Aidan O’Brien said of Savethelastdance’s performance: “She has run well, but she obviously handles soft ground and stays very well. We were very happy with her really. She has a lot of options and we can do whatever. She is a big honest filly that stays very well and handles soft ground when it comes. She handles good ground, but soft ground doesn’t bother her.”

Jack Channon said of his Epsom Oaks result: “At the top of the hill she was travelling so well, but you could see that Frankie was travelling just as well. We picked up just as well as her [Soul Sister] up until about the furlong pole, and she probably hasn’t quite got up the hill.

“She’s a very good filly, we’re blessed to have her in the yard, and it’s just a massive thank you to everyone in the yard who has done such a great job.”

2023 Epsom Oaks result: Soul Sister’s breeding

Soul Sister is bred in the purple; by the unbeaten Frankel, out of a Dansili mare named Dream Peace. Frankel needs little introduction – he clocked almost £3m in prize money during his unbeaten run of 14 races. His victories included the Royal Lodge Stakes, the Dewhurst Stakes, the Greenham Stakes, the 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes in both 2011 and 2012, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes, the International Stakes and the Champion Stakes.

Dream Peace has proved herself to be a very useful broodmare with a handful of successful progeny, including Soul Sister. Dream Peace clocked over £500,000 in prize money while racing in the USA, winning four of her 18 races, finishing second in three others and third on eight other occasions.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 8 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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Stradivarius, a multiple champion stayer on the Flat, has been retired to stud after a glittering career.

Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen and trained by John and Thady Gosden, the chestnut, who won fans from all over the world, was victorious in three Royal Ascot Gold Cups, as well as landing four Goodwood Cups, three Yorkshire Cups and two Doncaster Cups. The eight-year-old scooped £3,458,968 in prize money during his 35-race career, notching 20 wins in the process, seven of which were Group Ones.

Stradivarius was a late absentee in the Lonsdale Cup at York last month owing to a bruised foot, from which he took longer than expected to recover.

Bjorn told the Racing Post Stradivarius had been “trotting and cantering”, but that “his connections felt it would not be fair to ask him to come back as a nine-year-old after his time off”.

“It has been a fairytale from start to finish. Until this setback he had never been medicated and had never missed an engagement through injury.

“He is a tribute to John Gosden, who has trained him so brilliantly for so long.”

By Sea The Stars, Stradivarius won plaudits for how he kept returning to the racecourse year in, year out – his career began in October 2016 and concluded with a second place, where he was beaten only a neck, in the Group One Goodwood Cup in July 2022.

“The music has stopped for Stradivarius,” said Bjorn.

John Gosden added: “Stradivarius has been the most extraordinary and unique racehorse throughout his career. He exhibited joy in his training and has given enormous pleasure to everyone, both on and off the track.

“His constitution has been a marvel to behold and his exciting style of travelling easily in a race, and then quickening to pounce, reflected his character. He goes to stud with an amazing race record and enormous affection. To train he has been a complete joy to all of us here. He will remain close to home and is already looking forward to his new career.”

Stradivarius will now stand at stud at the National Stud in Newmarket.

National Stud chief executive Anna Kerr added: “We are delighted to have a racehorse of the calibre of Stradivarius joining the roster at the National Stud. He has consistently demonstrated many of the attributes that his sire Sea The Stars had, including consistency, soundness and a phenomenal temperament.

“The whole team are looking forward to him arriving here in the coming weeks and he will be available for breeders to view at the stud during the December sales.”

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A glittering array of stars from the world of racing arrived in Mayfair, London, last night (15th November) for the world premiere of Dettori, a film charting the remarkable story of Frankie Dettori.

The charismatic jockey has worked for the past three years with acclaimed film director Anthony Wonke — who was also behind the making of the AP McCoy movie Being AP — and the result is an intimate and moving cinematic documentary that looks set to thrill racing fans.

“Trying to make history – it’s what I love, it’s what I do,” said the jockey, who has ridden more than 3,000 winners in a career spanning three decades.

Joining Frankie on the red carpet at the Curzon Cinema in Mayfair for the event were trainers Luca Cumani and John Gosden, both of whom have been pivotal in shaping the spirited teenage apprentice into one of the world’s greatest all-time jockeys.

His wife Catherine (pictured below) and his five children Leo, Mia, Ella, Rocco and Tallula Dettori also sat down to enjoy the film, although Frankie revealed afterwards that his Italian father Gianfranco Dettori, whose tumultuous relationship with his son is at times brutally laid bare in segments of footage, was yet to see the documentary.

Anthony Oppenheimer, owner of 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn, was also in attendance. In the film, Frankie reveals that the colt was the first horse he rode when rejoining trainer John Gosden, helping to propel him out of one of the darkest spells in his life.

“It was a really frightening time,” says Catherine in the film, setting Frankie the life-defining challenge: “Now that we need you, show me how good you are.”

Frankie said to presenter Nick Luck in an equally revealing question and answer session after the premiere that he was thrilled with how the film had turned out. Director Anthony Wonke explained that he had originally intended to finish it within a year but last year’s lockdown allowed him the luxury of extra time to spend with his subjects, and the resulting footage of Frankie going stir crazy during racing’s cessation for nearly three months last year is just one of the many fascinating insights into his home life.

The film is released on the back of Frankie’s new autobiography, Leap Of Faith, giving his many fans a feast to savour in the run-up to Christmas.

Dettori is out now in selected cinemas and on Blu-ray, DVD and download.

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It did not take John Gosden too long to find a replacement for his stable star Enable. On Saturday 20 February, Mishriff, who won the French Derby last year, won the $20m Saudi Cup in Riyadh which was worth £7.3m.

To put that sort of prize money into context, it is comfortably more than Gosden will win in prize money in Europe, America and Australia and Mars throughout all of 2021.

And, in one hit, his talented jockey David Egan, 21, has just about been propelled into The Sunday Times Rich List – his winning percentage is probably more than he has earned in the whole of his career.

Mishriff, who belongs to Prince Faisal, must now be considered the most versatile Flat horse in the world, having won Group Ones on the turf in Chantilly and the world’s richest race on the dirt. He will now get the chance to win a few more quid in the Dubai World Cup after which the world is his oyster – the Arc and Breeders’ Cup Classic could also be in his sights.

Egan, who is retained by Prince Faisal, missed out on his French Derby win and another at Deauville because of Covid travel restrictions and a suspension, but this will have more than made up for it.

Continued below…

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The pair was second in last year’s Saudi Derby and that dirt experience helped enormously, as did a brilliantly judged ride from the young jockey who let the US dirt specialists Charlatan and Knicks Go take each other on for the first seven furlongs. Charlatan won that little contest, but had nothing left when chased down in the closing stages.

“I’ve been waiting all my life to win a race like this,” said Egan. “It’s a privilege to be associated with such a good horse and an honour to win it for Prince Faisal in his backyard.”

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This picture was taken of a young Enable by her breeders at Juddmonte Farms. Fast forward five years and she has become one of the most successful racehorses, scooping her tenth Group One in August in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York and she is now in France bidding to make history in claiming her third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Here are some interesting facts you may not know about Enable…

Impeccable breeding

The John Gosden-trained mare, who is owned by Khalid Abdullah, is a daughter of Nathaniel (by Galileo), out of a mare called Concentric (Sadler’s Wells). This impeccable breeding means that she has a remarkable combination of speed and stamina.

A winning debut

She made a winning debut as a two-year-old on the all-weather at Newcastle in November 2016. She was sent off second-favourite but won easily by 3¾ lengths. She made just one racecourse appearance as a two-year-old.

A future star

Enable was first seen on the racecourse during her three-year-old season at Newbury. In need of the run, she finished third behind stablemate and favourite Shutter Speed and her trainer suggested she would be his English Oaks filly.

The beginning of something beautiful

She was first partnered with her regular jockey Frankie Dettori at Chester as a three-year-old, and it was the beginning of a wonderful partnership — they beat the Aidan O’Brien-trained Alluringly to win the Cheshire Oaks.

A first Group One

Her first Group One came in 2017 in the Oaks at Epsom, where she was sent off the joint-second favourite. She showed that stamina was her forte and stormed clear to win by five-lengths.

Enable then confirmed herself as the leading middle-distance filly of her generation by winning the Irish Oaks. Her trainer then pitched her against the boys and older horses in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, where she outstayed the top-class Ulysses.

Her second Group One came in the 2017 Yorkshire Oaks, before the star filly was sent to France for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, winning by 2½ lengths.

A delayed start

Having suffered a training setback at the start of her four-year-old season, Enable missed some big-race opportunities during the spring and summer of 2018.

She made a winning comeback on the all-weather at Kempton in the Group Three September Stakes, but when it came to that year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe there was a question as to whether she was back to her 100% self. However, she demolished all doubt when holding on by a neck to the fast-finishing Sea Of Class.

Continued below…

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Going for a third Arc win

She has since travelled to America, where she won the Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf in November. In July, she also stormed to victory in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown and also took her second King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes win.

Following her triumph at York in the summer (22 August) she is now back in France in a bid to claim her third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, before she will most likely start her new life in the breeding shed — and we can’t wait to see her offspring on the racecourse!

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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On Tuesday, 28 July, Stradivarius overcame traffic problems mid-race to claim a record-breaking fourth Goodwood Cup at the Qatar Goodwood Festival (28 July-1 August), under his regular jockey Frankie Dettori. Here is everything you need to know about the popular striking chestnut...

A top pedigree

Stradivarius is a six-year-old striking chestnut with a white blaze and four white socks. Still entire, he is from the fourth crop of foals sired by Sea The Stars, who won the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2009.

Stradivarius’ dam, Private Life, won two minor races in France and was placed twice in Listed races – she was a granddaughter of the outstanding racemare Pawneese.

A star stayer

Stradivarius was bred in Ireland by his owner Bjorn Nielsen, who has always dreamt about breeding a Derby winner, but has instead produced one of the best staying horses. Bjorn put Stradivarius in training with top Newmarket handler John Gosden.

Where it all began

He made his racecourse debut in a maiden stakes at Nottingham in 2016, where he finished fifth of nine. His first win came two races later in the same year, in another maiden stakes this time at Newcastle, under Robert Havlin. The rest, you could say, is history.

An enviable CV

Since then, the superstar’s major wins include a record-breaking four Goodwood Cups, three Ascot Gold Cups, plus two wins in both the Yorkshire Cup and the Lonsdale Cup. He has also added the Queen’s Vase, the British Champions Long Distance Cup and the Doncaster Cup to his impressive CV.

The dollar signs

The popular stayer has claimed an eye-watering £2,857,249 in total earnings for his connections. On top of that, he has also twice won the £1m bonus for successes in the Yorkshire Cup, the Ascot Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup in the same season.

A crowned champion

Among his accolades, Stradivarius was crowned the Cartier Champion Stayer in 2018 and 2019 at the prestigious Cartier awards ceremony held annually.

A brilliant partnership

Charismatic jockey Frankie Dettori has ridden Stradivarius in 16 of his 23 starts and racing fans have enjoyed seeing the sight of the Italian executing his famous flying dismount from the bright chestnut after each victory.

After his win in this year’s Goodwood Cup, Frankie said: “Stradivarius’ greatest weapon is his turn of foot, I don’t remember a stayer with a turn of foot like his.”

Continued below…

9 reasons we love Frankie Dettori

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Racing fans’ favourite

Stradivarius’ form reads 541/121133/11111/111112-311. That’s 16 wins from his 23 starts and comprising mostly Group One and Group Two wins.

It is rare to see a six-year-old Flat horse still running so successfully at what is considered in the game as “older” — especially one who is still entire, as they are usually packed off to stud at four. But it is Stradivarius’ unique longevity that racing fans have fallen so in love with — being able to follow his career year after year.

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A top team

The three-year-old bay colt is trained by John Gosden in Newmarket and has been ridden in all of his career runs by top jockey Frankie Dettori.

A famous owner/breeder

The son of Dubawi is home-bred by Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber at their Watership Down Stud near Newbury in Berkshire.

A top pedigree

He is out of the Lloyd Webbers’ three-time Group One-winning mare, Dar Re Mi. The dam has also produced St Leger runner-up Lah Ti Dar and Musidora Stakes winner So Mi Dar — both fillies also by Dubawi — for the Lloyd Webbers.

An award winner

By winning four from four starts last season, Too Darn Hot remained unbeaten during the 2018 Flat season. His connections celebrated his success when the colt picked up the Cartier two-year-old award at the prestigious Cartier awards in November.

Time on the sidelines

His three-year-old season endured a delayed start following an injury to a splint bone and he had to by-pass the 2000 Guineas. He made a comeback in the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on 16 May when finishing second to Telecaster — ending his unbeaten run. He ran again, just nine days later, in the Irish 2,000 Guineas to finish second once again.

High ranked

Too Darn Hot is rated 126, and in last year’s juvenile rankings, it was the highest mark for a juvenile since Frankel and Dream Ahead were given the same rating in 2010.

Speed with brilliant breeding

The colt boasts an enviable amount of speed mixed with an impressive pedigree. “He’s blessed with an awful lot of speed,” his trainer told Racing Post. “His mother got a mile and a half and his father was a phenomenal miler and, at this stage, he seems to be taking more after his father.”

Post-racing career

It has been confirmed that Too Darn Hot will eventually stand under the Darley banner at Dalham Hall Stud — where his sire Dubawi has stood with success — on retiring from the racecourse.

Don’t miss our full report from Royal Ascot in 27 June issue of Horse & Hound.

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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.”

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday.

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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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H&H finds out more about the superstar filly, who was recently crowned Cartier Horse of the Year...

Enable has captured the hearts of racing fans across not only the country, but also Europe and not least the heart of her jockey Frankie Dettori. She is a freak of nature, she has girl power in abundance, and for her owner and trainer, she is a “filly of a lifetime”.

The phenomenal three-year-old filly was bred by her owner Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farm and therefore runs in the famous silks carried by the mighty Frankel.

The daughter of Nathaniel is in training with Newmarket-based John Gosden and has been ridden in all but two of her races by the brilliant Frankie Dettori.

She made her first appearance on a racecourse in November 2016 as a two-year-old. It was a comfortable winning debut in the one-mile maiden race on the all-weather at Newcastle and propelled her into an unforgettable 2017.

A form that speaks for itself

Enable’s three-year-old campaign kicked off in April when she switched to the turf for the first time at Newbury — she stayed on to finish third behind stable companion Shutter Speed.

This week, she was crowned the Cartier Horse of the Year at racing’s equivalent of the ‘Oscars’, the Cartier Racing Awards (pictured, below). She was also the deserved recipient of the Cartier three-year-old filly in 2017.

Her 2017 form speaks for itself (3 1 1 1 1 1 1) and this year she created history when winning an outstanding five Group One victories.

Winning in the rain

The wonder filly’s flurry of Group One triumphs began when she headed to Epsom for the Investec Oaks, where she was up against eight fillies headed by red-hot favourite Rhododendron, runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas.

It was a dramatic renewal of the 12-furlong Classic and was run in driving rain when a thunderstorm broke shortly beforehand. However, Enable quickening clear of the field inside the final furlong to score by five lengths.

She became the first filly in seven years to follow up victory in the Investec Oaks with success in the Group One Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh in Ireland — Frankie hurried back from a shoulder injury to partner the superstar.

Taking on the boys

When she went to Ascot for the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, it was the first time she had come up against older horses and colts. Frankie got down to his near-minimum weight of 8st 7lb to partner her again.

She had a formidable challenge with the likes of Highland Reel, Jack Hobbs and Ulysses in the mix. However, in her usual fashion she cruised up, powering away from her rivals.

Breaking records

Her final hurrah of the season saw her become the first three-year-old filly trained in Britain to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She is also the seventh horse to capture the race after winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the same season — emulating greats such as Ribot, Mill Reef and Dancing Brave.

The best news for Enable fans is that she is set to be back in training for the 2018 Flat season (the breeding shed can wait a bit longer) and may even head back to France to defend her Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe title.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday

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“He’s probably the best horse that I’ve ridden,” declared jockey Frankie Dettori after Golden Horn took the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe yesterday (Sunday 4 October).

Popular mare Treve was going for a historic third win in the Paris race, but it was the John Gosden-trained Derby winner that triumphed at Longchamp.

The son of Cape Cross won by two lengths to Flintshire, who was also second in the race last year. A neck back was New Bay, with Treve just a nose behind in fourth.

It was Golden Horn’s fourth Group One win of the year — following success at Epsom, then in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and finally in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

He has won seven from eight starts, only finishing second once in the Juddmonte at York.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, the pair raced wide of the field for the first furlong, before settling and pulling clear to win by two lengths.

”My tactics were good but his performance was unbelievable,” said Frankie.

“Today you saw the real Golden Horn. He put to bed a great Arc field like a true champion. Over the last furlong and a half it would have been impossible for any horse to get near me.

“I pressed the button and he flew. Think of the horses he has beaten and beaten well. I spent the last furlong enjoying myself. He has given me some tremendous pleasure and is probably the best horse that I’ve ridden.”

Frankie now shares the record for a jockey winning the race for the fourth time with six others. His other wins came aboard Lammtarra, Sakhee and Marienbard.

Owner and breeder Anthony Oppenheimer is now considering one final race at the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland, before Golden Horn takes up his stud duties at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.

Last year Treve became the first dual winner of the world’s richest turf race since Alleged in 1977/78. The win also escalated her to Europe’s highest-earning mare.

Treve was retired after the 2014 race, however, owned Sheikh Joaan al Thani decided to go for a third attempt at the Arc.

The five-year-old, by Motivator, has now been retired to stud.

Trainer Criquette Head-said: “There is no disgrace in being beaten by Golden Horn. He was the Derby winner and there are no excuses.

“She deserves to go to stud and enjoy herself now. She has been unforgettable.”

For full report don’t miss this week’s issue of H&H, out Thursday 8 October.

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Frankie Dettori rode the 13-8 favourite Golden Horn to land the Investec Derby at Epsom  today (Saturday, 6 June).

This was the Italian jockey’s second win in the Epsom Classic, coming eight years after his first victory in the world-famous race on Authorized.

The former champion jockey, at 44 the oldest rider in the race, gave the John Gosden-trained colt a masterful ride, pouncing from way back in the field to win with an explosive finish.

Frankie’s trademark flying dismount in the winner’s enclosure was met with a mighty roar from his legion of fans in the packed stands.

“I still can’t believe that I’ve won the Derby again – what a feeling!” said Frankie. “I did feel the pressure – I knew he was a good horse and it was up to me to mess it up.

“But once he found top gear he was off. The horse was magnificent.”

Trainer John Gosden was also responsible for the runner-up in the race, Jack Hobbs, ridden by William Buick.

“He [Golden Horn] was quite keen early on but Frankie dropped him out beautifully,” he said. “The last thing I said to him was ride a cool race, and he rode a cool race. He waited and waited.”

Owner Anthony Oppenheimer, who also bred the Cape Cross colt, supplemented Golden Horn for the race on Monday at a cost of £75,000.

Storm The Stars finished third for trainer William Haggas and jockey Pat Cosgrave.

The race was watched by The Queen and The Duke Of Edinburgh, who made their annual visit to Epsom Downs for Investec Derby Day. Celebrities in attendance included actress Elizabeth Hurley, TV star Millie Mackintosh, Olympic gold medallists Denise Lewis and Sir Steve Redgrave and cricketers Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Eoin Morgan.

Don’t miss all the action from the Investec Derby Festival in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday 11 June.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Gary Witheford has become a leading force for dealing with troubled horses from all walks of life, most predominantly within the racing industry.

To the outsider, his mesmerising work can seem almost magical — but at the basis of everything he does, are his fundamental principles of natural horsemanship.

Horse & Hound visited Gary at his Wiltshire-base to find out what the first steps he takes are when dealing with a problem horse.

Using Brujo — his legendary grey Andalusian stallion who he rescued as a colt — Gary explains the basic ideas behind his horsemanship (see video above).

The Points

“The Points is how I set out to control [a horse’s] movement, to get inside its head, to have at the end what we call Call-Up, when the horse will actually walk across to me and is prepared to follow me around the ring,” Gary says. “It can look like magic, but it’s not: it’s what the Indians in Americas have been doing for years.”

Pressure and Release

“Before we do anything we need the horse to understand the very basics of Pressure and Release, and we do that just on the halter,” Gary adds.

“‘The Double Diamond’ brand [that I use] is a nylon rope halter with knotted pressure points on the top of the head, under the chin and under the throat: while you don’t pull at a horse, if it backs off and pulls at you, the knots tighten.

“But as the knots are half-hitchers, if the horse stops pulling back, it eases off — hence our words Pressure and Release.”

Halter work

“The first thing you do is put the halter on and establish your leadership,” he says. “That may sound big, but it just means that you face the horse and check it back on the halter, and bring it forward when you want.

“The best place to do this is actually in the box. You look at him direct in the eye, with your shoulders up, and drive him back, and then relax your shoulders and ease your posture as you ask him forward.

“You will know when the horse gets this, because he will drop his head and lick and chew with his lips and teeth: it is his language of acceptance.”

Keen to find out more about Gary’s work? If Horses Could Talk by Gary Witheford with Brough Scott is now available at Racing Post books, priced at £20. Visit shop1.racingpost.com

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A Conservative politician – who had never ridden in a race before – won Newmarket’s one-mile charity race on Saturday (18 August).

West Suffolk’s Member of Parliament Matthew Hancock rode Dick Doughtywylie – trained by John Gosden – in the Blue Square Cavalry Charge.

The race was the main feature of Saturday’s Horsemen and Heroes Day, in aid of Racing Welfare and The Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund. Nearly £100,000 was raised in total for the charities.

“Three months ago I needed to lose two stone, get fit and learn how to handle a racehorse,” said Mr Hancock.

“I’ve had a huge amount of help, most of all from the stable staff of the yards that I’ve ridden out for – they were brilliant.”

Mr Hancock prepared for his racing debut at the British Racing School and with the help of Newmarket trainers Michael Bell and John Gosden.

He won the race by two lengths, with ex-jockey Niall Hannity on Advanced in second and Racing Welfare officer Marianne Dacombe on Grecian Goddess in third.

Newmarket’s director of racing Michael Prosser was impressed with the MP’s performance.

“With half a furlong to go he didn’t flap, he just continued to drive with his hands and heels,” he said.

“It was not the performance you would expect to see from someone in their first ever race.”

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John Gosden is a British racehorse trainer, born on 30 March 1951 in Sussex. His father, Towser Gosden, was also a renowned trainer.

After graduating from Cambridge, John became assistant trainer to Noel Murless, followed by a stint with Vincent O’Brien in Ireland.

He then moved to California where he was assistant to Tommy Doyle.

In 1979 he took out a licence to train in his own right in America.

Among other major wins, he claimed the Hollywood Turf Cup three times, the Yellow Ribbon Stakes twice and the Ramona Handicap twice.

John moved back to England in 1989, training first at Stanley House Stables in Newmarket, followed by a stint at Manton in Wiltshire before moving back to Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket.

Having trained over 2,000 winners in England since 1989, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Raven’s Pass, the Derby with Benny The Dip, the King George with Nathaniel, the 1,000 Guineas with Lahan and the St.Leger four times (Shantou, Lucarno, Arctic Cosmos and Masked Marvel), he is considered to be one of the most successful trainers of his generation.

He is married to lawyer Rachel Hood.

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Gold Cup-winning trainer Paul Nicholls was named Jump Trainer of the Year yesterday (Monday, 1 December) for the fourth consecutive year at the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) 42nd Annual Blue Square Derby Awards lunch.

The Somerset-based trainer sent out the first three home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges respectively) and has trained the last three winners of the Tingle Creek (Kauto Star in 2005/06 and Twist Magic in 2007). His horse Master Minded is current favourite for the Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday (6 December).

Paul’s stable jockey Ruby Walsh — who is currently sidelined after having his spleen removed last month — was named Jump Jockey of the Year.

Flat Jockey of the Year went to Johnny Murtagh – whose successes in 2008 include the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot (Duke of Marmalade), the Prix Morny (Bushranger) The 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas (Henrythenavigator) and the Ascot Gold Cup (Yeats).

Aidan O’Brien received the Flat Trainer of the Year award for his 23 Group 1 winners in the 2007/08 season. The Co-Wexford-based trainer was unable to attend though as his father died on Sunday (30 November).

Breeders’ Cup winning trainer John Gosden was named International Trainer of the Year after his wins with Raven’s Pass and Donativum at Santa Anita in October while Denman’s owners Paul Barber and Margaret Findlay received the Owner of the Year accolade.

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