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| Staff Writer |
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The Irish Champions Festival has thrown the Cartier Racing Awards wide open, with several contenders staking their claims for Horse of the Year honours.
On a thrilling Saturday at Leopardstown, Economics continued his flawless campaign with a gritty triumph in the Gr.1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. The William Haggas-trained colt, owned by His Highness Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa, held off the challenge of defending champion Auguste Rodin to amass 80 Pattern race points in both the Horse of the Year and Three-Year-Old Colt categories.
Economics now has his sights set on the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot, where victory could see him reel in current frontrunner City Of Troy. The Irish Champion Stakes boasts an illustrious roll of honour, with previous winners including the likes of Giant's Causeway, Galileo, and Golden Horn – all of whom went on to claim Horse of the Year titles.
Adding to the drama, Porta Fortuna bolstered her own Horse of the Year credentials with a commanding performance in the Gr.1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes. The Donnacha O'Brien-trained filly, racing for a US-based syndicate, notched her third consecutive top-level success, cementing her position atop the Three-Year-Old Filly division.
Sunday's action at the Curragh saw the 2022 Cartier Stayer Kyprios reassert his dominance over the staying division. The Aidan O'Brien-trained star clinched a second victory in the Gr.1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger, building on his earlier triumphs in this season's Gold Cup and Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.
Kyprios' main opposition for this year's Stayer award could come from two Doncaster heroes. Jean Breughel, another O'Brien charge, edged out stablemate Illinois in a thrilling finish to the Gr.1 Betfred St Leger. Meanwhile, Sweet William secured a career-best victory in the Gr.2 Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup.
The Curragh's Sunday card featured a blistering display from Bradsell in the Gr.1 Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes. The Victorious Racing 4YO, trained by Archie Watson, outpaced Believing for a second consecutive time, becoming the only horse to win two Group One sprints in Europe this season. This performance has propelled Bradsell to the head of the Cartier Sprinter division.
The two-year-old divisions saw significant developments. Scorthy Champ made a bold statement in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt standings, denying the previously unbeaten Henri Matisse in the Gr.1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. In the fillies' ranks, Lake Victoria showcased her credentials with an emphatic victory in the Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, maintaining her perfect record of three wins from three starts.
Across the Channel at Longchamp, Bluestocking displayed her tenacity to claim the Gr.1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. The Juddmonte homebred, now a dual Group One winner in 2024, has surged to second place in the Cartier Older Horse division. There's talk of a potential supplement for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which could further boost her Horse of the Year prospects.
Despite these shake-ups, Charyn continues to lead the Cartier Older Horse award and shares top spot with City Of Troy in the Horse of the Year standings, following his runner-up finish to Tribalist in the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp earlier this month.
As the flat season reaches its climax, the 34th Cartier Racing Awards promise to deliver a thrilling conclusion. The prestigious ceremony, established in 1991 to honour excellence in horseracing, will take place at London's Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday, November 20th, where the equine stars of 2024 will be crowned.