Cartier Racing Awards
Cartier Racing Awards 2025
Wednesday 27th August
 

Ombudsman is the new leader in both the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Older Horse divisions with 124 points after he reversed the form with his Coral-Eclipse conqueror Delacroix (88) in an extraordinary running of the Juddmonte International on day one of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival. 

The John & Thady Gosden-trained colt ultimately won convincingly by three and a half lengths, although fellow Godolphin runner Birr Castle (12) briefly appeared set to cause a huge upset as he established a commanding lead before fading to third close home. 

Winner of the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in June, Ombudsman looks likely to contest the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown before the QIPCO Champion Stakes back at Ascot, where his rivals could include Calandagan (108). 

Minnie Hauk (112) enjoyed a more routine success as she beat older rival Estrange (40) in Thursday’s Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, a success that lifts the Betfred Oaks and Juddmonte Irish Oaks heroine to the top of the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly standings. 

Her owner Coolmore and trainer Aidan O’Brien have a strong hand in the division, with Betfred Oaks runner-up Whirl (96) currently second following her wins this season in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes and Qatar Nassau Stakes. 

Delacroix’s second behind Ombudsman has seen the Coolmore colt move up to third behind Field Of Gold (96) in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category. Stablemate and dual Derby winner Lambourn (92) failed to enhance his claims as he could only finish fifth in Wednesday’s Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes. 

Trawlerman (72) has extended his lead at the top of the Cartier Stayer standings following a game victory in the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup on Friday. The Godolphin seven-year-old was following up his imperious display in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and could yet be a contender for Cartier Horse of the Year honours. 

No horse has won more than one top-level sprint in Europe this season, with Lazzat (48) leading the Cartier Sprinter category thanks to his victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and second to Sajir (40) in this month’s ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. 

Australian mare Asfoora (32) added her name to a growing list of contenders for the sprinting prize with a decisive success in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday. 

Power Blue (40) is the early pacesetter in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt standings following his victory in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month. The son of Space Blues is clear of Coventry Stakes winner and Sumbe Prix Morny runner-up Gstaad (32) and the unbeaten Zavateri (32), who has captured the Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes and Coral Vintage Stakes. 

The top two in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly division have both proved themselves against colts already this season. Venetian Sun (56) is four wins from four starts, including beating Gstaad in Sunday’s Sumbe Prix Morny. True Love (48) easily defeated a field that included Power Blue in the GAIN Railway Stakes before finishing second to the same horse in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

Cartier Racing Awards

Points earned in Pattern races up to and including Sunday, August 24, 2025.
 
Cartier Horse of the Year
124 Ombudsman
112 Minnie Hauk
108 Calandagan
96 Field Of Gold
96 Whirl
92 Lambourn
88 Delacroix
72 Trawlerman
68 Henri Matisse
68 Ruling Court
 
Cartier Older Horse
124 Ombudsman
108 Calandagan
64 Diego Velazquez
64 Sosie
62 Cinderella's Dream
 
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
96 Field Of Gold
92 Lambourn
88 Delacroix
68 Henri Matisse
68 Ruling Court
 
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
112 Minnie Hauk
96 Whirl
62 Cercene
60 Desert Flower
56 Zarigana
 
Cartier Sprinter
48 Lazzat
40 Arizona Blaze
40 Sajir
40 Time For Sandals
32 American Affair
32 Asfoora
32 Mgheera
32 No Half Measures
 
Cartier Stayer
72 Trawlerman
48 Illinois
40 Scandinavia
34 Candelari
30 Dubai Future
 
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt
40 Power Blue
32 Gstaad
32 Zavateri
24 Do Or Do Not
20 Coppull
 
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly
56 Venetian Sun
48 True Love
28 Green Sense
24 Composing
24 Lady Iman
24 Royal Fixation