Anthony Oppenheimer's Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), the winner of four Group 1s this year including the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Investec Derby, was crowned Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt Tuesday night at a ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
The winner of his lone juvenile outing last year, Golden Horn won six of eight starts this year and finished second on two occasions. After opening his sophomore campaign with a win in the Listed Feilden S. in April, Golden Horn was promoted to favoritism for the Derby following a win over stablemate Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) in the G2 Dante S. That pair filled the exacta in the blue riband three weeks later, and Golden Horn bested last year's dual Group 1 and Classic winner The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) by 3 1/2 lengths in the G1 Coral-Eclipse when next seen a month later. Golden Horn lost his unbeaten tag when second in the G1 Juddmonte International on softer ground Aug. 19, but rebounded to take the G1 Irish Champion S. in September followed three weeks later by the Arc. The John Gosden trainee wrapped up his career with a game half-length defeat when second to Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Oct. 31, and retires to Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.
Top miler Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) finished second to Golden Horn in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings, but gained compensation by taking home the Cartier Older Horse award for owner/breeders the Wertheimer brothers and trainer Freddy Head after a perfect six-for-six season. The 5-year-old gelding with the middle-distance pedigree had failed to thrive under those conditions early in his career but hit another level this season when campaigned mostly at a mile. After closing last season with a career high in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein over that distance in October, Solow took a Chantilly conditions event by four lengths Mar. 3 and was 4 1/4 lengths the best–and one of the most eye-catching winners on the Dubai World Cup card–over nine furlongs in the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 28. He extended his streak when stepped up to 9 1/2 furlongs for the G1 Prix d'Ispahan May 24 and collected three more Group 1 wins over a mile during the remainder of the year: Royal Ascot's Queen Anne S., Glorious Goodwood's Sussex S. and Qipco British Champions Day's Queen Elizabeth II S. Solow beat out a trio of fillies in Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) for the Cartier honor.
Like Golden Horn and Solow, Sheikh Hamdan homebred Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was dominant in his division this year, and earned the Cartier Sprinter award (he was also third in points for Horse of the Year). The winner of the G2 Gimcrack S. as a juvenile, Muhaarar was considered a Guineas candidate earlier this year after winning the G3 Greenham S. over seven furlongs at Newbury in April, but flopped when eighth in France's Guineas, the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, May. 10. The Charlie Hills trainee, however, would not lose again. Dropped back to six furlongs for the inaugural G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, Muhaarar demolished fellow 3-year-olds by 3 3/4 lengths, and bested his elders in the following month's G1 Darley July Cup. He got the better of the classy mare Esoterique in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest Aug. 9, and wrapped up his career with a sound two-length defeat of the previously unbeaten Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the Qipco British Champions Sprint S. Oct. 17. Muhaarar will join the stallion ranks at Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud in Britain next year. Muhaarar beat out Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Twilight Son for the sprinter award.
Three Trophies For Coolmore…
Legatissimo (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) is one of three Cartier award winners for the Coolmore partners, and she earned the Cartier 3-Year-Old Filly award on the merits of three Group 1 wins. Running in the silks of Michael Tabor for trainer David Wachman, Legatissimo won the G1 1000 Guineas and was a short-head second to Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Investec Oaks a month later. She was second by the same margin in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh in late June before taking the G1 Nassau S. and G1 Matron S. in dominating style. She was 1 1/4 lengths second to Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Oct. 31.
The Coolmore partners repeated a feat they achieved last year when winning both Cartier juvenile awards with Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), this year accomplishing it with Air Force Blue (War Front) and Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Air Force Blue, a $490,000 Keeneland September purchase, was beaten just once in five starts this year when second in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. in his second outing, and he returned thereafter to annex the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. in dominating fashion before bowing out for the season with a 3 1/4-length win in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. Minding, meanwhile, finished no worse than second in five starts this year and notched Group 1 wins in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Dubai Fillies' Mile.
Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) becomes just the second 3-year-old to win the Cartier Stayers Award in the 25-year history of the awards. The filly came out on top in a controversial running of the G1 Ladbrokes St Leger when, after being disqualified on raceday for interference with Bondi Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), she was reinstated following an appeal. Trained by Ralph Beckett for Qatar Racing, Simple Verse quickly proved that Classic win was no fluke with a score in the G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Oct. 17, and she also won the G3 Lillie Langtry S. in July.
The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit was this year awarded to Jack Berry who, in addition to roles as a trainer and jockey in his 78 years, has also been a tireless fundraiser and campaigner for injured jockeys. His fundraising this year allowed the Jack Berry House to be opened in Malton, Yorkshire. The £3 million facility offers injured jockeys top-quality rehabilitation and recovery programs.
“The Cartier Racing Awards are 25 years old–a tremendous landmark–and we could hardly have wished for a better season in European horse racing,” said Harry Herbert, Cartier's racing consultant. “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 2-year-olds Air Force Blue and Minding were both very impressive,” Herbert added. “It is refreshing to see the Cartier Stayer Award go to a 3-year-old, Simple Verse, for the first time since 1994.”
He concluded, “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.”
The Cartier awards are decided through a combination of points earned in pattern races in 2015 (30% of the weight); opinions of a panel of racing journalists (35%); and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph and Channel 4 Racing viewers (35%).
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