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Classic winners Ezeliya and Rosallion are currently leading alongside Tattersalls Gold Cup victor White Birch in the points standings for the prestigious Cartier Horse of the Year award. The Cartier Racing Awards, which were established in 1991 to recognize excellence in horseracing, will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the evening of Wednesday, November 20.
All three horses have earned 56 points in Pattern races this season. Ezeliya secured a victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes in April and followed it up with an impressive win in the Betfred Oaks on Friday. The daughter of Dubawi is currently leading in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly standings and is owned and bred by the Aga Khan, trained by Dermot Weld, and ridden by jockey Chris Hayes.
This same winning combination previously secured the same award in 2023 with Tahiyra.
Elmalka, a surprising winner of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, is currently in second place in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly rankings, with another Aga Khan homebred, Rouhiya, and Fallen Angel also making their mark after victories in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Rosallion leads the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division after narrowly defeating Haatem in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas. Both horses previously finished behind Notable Speech in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, and all three could potentially face each other again in the St James’s Palace Stakes. The race is also expected to feature Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan.
The 2023 Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt City Of Troy struggled in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas but showcased a strong performance in the Betfred Derby. Look de Vega also made an impression in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly 24 hours later.
White Birch, who finished third in last year’s Betfred Derby, leads the Cartier Older Horse category after a strong start to 2024 with three wins at the Curragh, including a three-length victory over Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Rebel’s Romance, who won both the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, is a close second in the rankings. Haya Zark, the surprise Prix Ganay winner, is in third place with Naval Power in fourth.
Ponntos, the winner of Sunday’s Prix du Gros-Chene, is leading the Cartier Sprinter division after a busy start to the season, which included appearances in Dubai, Italy, and France.
Star Of Mystery started her season in Dubai and also denied Ponntos in the Blue Point Sprint. Meanwhile, Kerdos, Inisherin, and Mill Stream, all winners in the UK, are also ranking highly.
In the Cartier Stayer Award standings, Sevenna’s Knight leads after victories in the Prix de Barbeville and Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp.
Tower Of London, who finished ahead of Sevenna’s Knight in the Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, and Boodles Yorkshire Cup winner Giavellotto are in second and third place, respectively.