Nominees for Cartier Racing Awards Released

Nominees for the 2015 Cartier Racing Awards were announced Nov. 6, with Horse of the Year to be decided among Golden Horn, Legatissimo, Muhaarar, and Solow.

 

The nine Cartier Racing Awards will be revealed and presented during a ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London, England, the evening of Nov. 10. In addition to the eight equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to a person or persons who, in the opinion of the 17-member Cartier Jury, has or have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either in their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

 

Anthony Oppenheimer's Golden Horn, a 3-year-old Cape Cross (IRE) colt, won seven of nine starts this year, four of them group I stakes: the Investec Epsom Derby, Qatar Arc de Triomphe, QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, and the Coral-Eclipse. In his last start he finished a close second to the filly Found in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I).

 

Werthemier et Frere's Solow, a 5-year-old Singspiel gelding, went six-for-six in 2015 with five group I wins: the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO, Qatar Sussex Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, and Prix d'Ispahan.

 

Sheikh Hamdan's Muhaarar, a 3-year-old Oasis Dream colt, dominated sprint races with four group I victories in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint, Darley July Cup, Commonwealth Cup, and LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest. The colt won five of six starts in 2015.

 

The 3-year-old Danehill Dancer filly Legatissimo, owned by Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, won four of eight starts including the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas, Qatar Nassau Stakes, and Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes, all group I. In her last start she finished second to Stephanie's Kitten in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).

 

European horse racing's top awards are based on a combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races throughout 2015 (30%) combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph plus Channel 4 Racing viewers (35%). Public voting began Oct. 21 and ended Nov. 3.

 

Here are the nominees for each category, listed in alphabetical order.

 

Golden Horn

Legatissimo

Muhaarar 

Solow 

 

Amazing Maria

Esoterique

Solow 

Treve 

 

Gleneagles

Golden Horn

Jack Hobbs

Muhaarar

 

Covert Love

Found

Legatissimo

Simple Verse

 

Goldream

Mecca's Angel

Muhaarar

Twilight Son

 

Order Of St George 

Simple Verse

Trip To Paris

Vazirabad 

 

Air Force Blue

Buratino 

Johannes Vermeer 

Shalaa

 

Acapulco

Ballydoyle

Lumiere

Minding