Golden Horn Named Cartier Horse of the Year

Blood-Horse

Anthony Oppenheimer’s homebred Golden Horn was honored as Europe’s 2015 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt during ceremonies for the Cartier Racing Awards, Europe’s equivalent of the Eclipse Awards, Nov. 10 in London.

Trained by John Gosden, Golden Horn placed in all eight start this year, winning six races, including four group I events anchored by two of the world’s premier middle-distance races: the Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I) and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I). The 3-year-old son of Cape Cross (Ire) also captured the Coral Eclipse (Eng-I), Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I), and Dante Stakes (Eng-II) and closed his career in the United States with a runner-up finish in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. (gr. I) at Keeneland.

Golden Horn retires to Sheikh Mohammed Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket with earnings of more than £4.4 million and as the second-highest rated horse in the world behind United States Triple Crown winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) victor American Pharoah .

Other contenders for Europe’s Horse of the Year crown were Solow, unbeaten this year and named champion older horse; Muhaarar, honored as champion sprinter; and classic winner Legatissimo, who was named champion 3-year-old filly over Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Found, Covert Love, and Simple Verse, the last-named being only the second sophomore to be honored as Cartier champion stayer.

Runners campaigned by Coolmore and partners—Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith—took three championships: Legatissimo; Minding, 2-year-old filly; and Air Force Blue, 2-year-old colt; the latter two are trained by Aidan O’Brien.

A three-time group I winner this year, Air Force Blue also represents ties to the United States as he is by Claiborne Farm stallion War Front and was bred in Kentucky by Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm. Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier bought him for $490,000 from Stone Farm’s consignment at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.

The colt, winner of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, is the current favorite for next year’s QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I).

The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit went to Jack Berry. The 78-year-old has spent a lifetime in racing as a jockey and trainer as well as a tireless fundraiser and campaigner for injured jockeys.

The Cartier Award winners are determined by points earned by horses in group races throughout 2015 (30%), combined at season’s end 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%).

Horse of the Year, 3-Year-Old Colt
Golden Horn, by Cape Cross—Fleche d’Or, by Dubai Destination
Owner: Anthony Oppenheimer
Breeder: Hascombe and Valiant Studs
Trainer: John Gosden