Goldikova is Cartier queen — French horse triumphs at racing awards

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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