Features

The glitz and glam of the racing world turned out in force on Tuesday 15th November to witness the formidable Frankel, who has been unbeaten on the racecourse throughout his career, being named Cartier Horse Of The Year at the 2011 Cartier Racing Awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

The prestigious Cartier Awards, now in their 21^st year, are racing’s equivalent to the Oscars, where the best flat horses are commemorated for their remarkable achievements during the year.

However, not only did the mighty Frankel pick up the award for Horse of the Year, but also Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category.

Other superstar horses celebrated on the night include;

• German trained filly Danedream, who set a new race record time when winning the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in such devastating style. She took the honours in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category.
• QIPCO Champion Stakes winner, Cirrus Des Aigles took the Cartier Older Horse Award. The French gelding, trained by Corine Barande-Barbe, came out on top in a category that included last year’s Cartier Horse of the Year Goldikova, miler Canford Cliffs, So You Think and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner St Nicholas Abbey.
• Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Award went to Dabirsim, who went through his first season unbeaten in five outings. The Christophe Ferland-trained colt, saw off competition from the Group One winners Camelot, Parish Hall, Power and Wrote.
• The Aidan O’Brien-trained Maybe was named Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly, after enjoying an unblemished juvenile career, including winning the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in August.
• Fame And Glory, also handled by O’Brien, made the successful transition from top-class middle-distance performer to top-class stayer this year and he took the honours in the Cartier Stayer category.
• Dream Ahead, who provided Hayley Turner with her first Group 1 winner in the Darley July Cup – making her the first woman to outright win a Group 1, was awarded the Cartier Sprinter Award. Later in the year he went on to win the Betfred Sprint Cup and Prix De La Foret, making him the outstanding sprinter of 2011.  

Although most of the awards go to the horses, Cartier save one little award at the end for a special racing personality, who, in the opinion of the special 17-strong Cartier Jury, has done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

This year the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit went to Barry Hills, who enjoyed an outstanding training career spanning over 40 years, before he handed over his licence to son Charlie in August this year.
Barry Hills