Frankel is named Cartier Horse of the Year
Further honours were heaped on the brilliant racehorse Frankel at the Cartier Racing Awards in London last night (Tuesday 15 November).
An obvious choice for the prize for best three-year-old colt, Frankel also won the most prestigious award – Cartier Horse of the Year. The unbeaten Galileo colt’s awards were collected by his trainer Sir Henry Cecil and Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel’s owner/breeder Khalid Abdulla.
The three-year-old filly award went to the impressive Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream, whose German connections professed their delight in being at the glittering ceremony in the Dorchester hotel.
Another Galileo offspring, the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was best two-year-old filly, while Dabirsim – whom Frankie Dettori rode to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere on Arc day – collected the colts’ equivalent.
Jim and Fitri Hay picked up their first Cartier award for the best stayer, which went to Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory, in whom they bought a share at the beginning of the year.
Champion older horse went to the French-trained Cirrus Des Aigles, who was a surprise winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes last month. And David Simcock’s sprinter Dream Ahead, who gave Hayley Turner a first Group One victory in the Darley July Cup, was crowned top sprinter.
The night’s final award, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit, went to recently retired trainer Barry Hills, who received a standing ovation.
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Guests on the night included legendary American athlete Edwin Moses and his fellow Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis.
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A St Andrews’ graduate, Catherine joined Horse & Hound in 2002 and stayed for 11 years in a variety of roles until she went freelance in June 2013. She rejoined the team part-time in November 2016 as hunting editor. She pretty much lives on the hunting field or at the racecourse, but also loves eventing, as a journalist, press officer and competitor. She was H&H’s sole accredited journalist at the London Olympic Games and has reported from major race meetings and eventing, showjumping and dressage championships and shows round the world, and has hunted all over Britain and Ireland.