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| Staff Writer |
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On Saturday, 21st October 2023, at Ascot's QIPCO British Champions Day, King Of Steel and Big Rock delivered sensational performances, earning their place in the reckoning for this year's Cartier Racing Awards.
In the QIPCO Champion Stakes, King of Steel secured his first top-level victory, having finished second in the Classics earlier in the year. The colt's victory was especially significant as it marked Frankie Dettori's final ride as a UK-based jockey. King of Steel defeated Cartier Older Horse contender Via Sistina by three-quarters of a length, earning him 100 points and moving him up to fourth place in the Cartier 3YO Colt rankings, two spots behind his Betfred Derby conqueror, Auguste Rodin. Meanwhile, Paddington continues to hold the top spot in both the Cartier 3YO Colt and Cartier Horse of the Year standings, despite finishing ninth in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The race was won by Big Rock, who also beat Cartier 3YO Filly leader Tahiyra.
The 33rd Cartier Racing Awards, established in 1991 to recognize excellence in horseracing, will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on 9th November. Fans of horseracing play a crucial role in determining the winners of the Cartier Racing Awards, with their choices accounting for 35% of the final total for each horse. Votes are combined with points earned in Pattern races (30%) and the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) to determine the recipients for each of the eight equine awards. Notable efforts on QIPCO British Champions Day included Art Power, who secured his first Gr.1 victory with a rallying neck success in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint, moving him up to second in the Cartier Sprinter category.
In the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, Trawlerman won in resolute style with Frankie Dettori as the jockey. The race saw defending Cartier Stayer champion Kyprios and Trueshan, who won the prize in 2021, both meet with defeat.
City of Troy made a significant move in the Cartier 2YO Colt division following his commanding victory in the Native Trail's Dewhurst Stakes, the highlight of Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket. Meanwhile, Los Angeles secured juvenile Gr.1 honours in France in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Ylang Ylang also showcased the depth of Coolmore’s 2YO this year as she beat Shuwari in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile on day one of the Dubai Future Champions Festival, moving her up to second in the Cartier 2YO division.