Treve wins the Gr1 Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe
Unbeaten three-year-old filly Treve was acclaimed the Cartier Horse of the Year at the 23rd annual Cartier Racing Awards, European horseracing’s equivalent of the Oscars, presented before an invited audience of 330 at the Dorchester Hotel, London, England.
Trained in France by Criquette Head-Maarek for Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, the daughter of Motivator has triumphed on all five of her starts, the latest three in Group Ones. She rounded off 2013 with a stunning five-length success in Europe’s richest race, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, and will remain in training next year.
Treve saw off strong opposition in the Cartier Horse of the Year category from Sky Lantern, Moonlight Cloud, Novellist and Al Kazeem. She also takes the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award, again ahead of Sky Lantern, with Just The Judge, Chicquita, and Talent the other nominees.
There was some compensation for Moonlight Cloud as she captured the Cartier Older Horse Award.
Trained by Criquette’s brother, Freddy Head, in France for American owner George Strawbridge, the five-year-old mare is unbeaten this year and has enjoyed three Group One victories – the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois and the Qatar Prix de la Foret. There is also the prospect of further glory as she heads out to the Longines Hong Kong International Races next month. Novellist, Al Kazeem, Declaration Of War and Farhh were the other Cartier Older Horse nominees.
The Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt was a competitive category, with the honours going to Magician.
Owned by a Coolmore syndicate and trained by Aidan O’Brien, the Galileo colt won a Classic – the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas – over a mile in May and, after missing the middle part of the season, was brought back to action with a stunning victory on the world stage in the 12-furlong Grade One Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, USA, on November 2. The other nominees in this category were Toronado, Dawn Approach, Trading Leather and Ruler Of The World.
Group One Racing Post Trophy hero Kingston Hill is the best horse to have been trained by Roger Varian and Paul Smith-owned colt just takes the accolade of Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt by the narrowest of margins from War Command followed by Toormore, Outstrip and Sudirman.
Chriselliam capped off a tremendous first season with victories in the Group One Shadwell Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Santa Anita, USA. She is the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly and gives part-owner and former champion Flat jockey Willie Carson a huge chance of Classic success in 2014. Also nominated in this category were Rizeena, Indonesienne, Vorda and Lucky Kristale.
Lethal Force was in fine form over the summer, recording consecutive Group One victories in Royal Ascot’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. The best horse trained by Clive Cox saw off opposition from Society Rock, Gordon Lord Byron, Slade Power and Sole Power to be the Cartier Sprinter.
The biggest cheer of the week at Royal Ascot in 2013 came when Her Majesty The Queen’s Estimate landed the Group One Gold Cup in thrilling fashion. The four-year-old filly takes the honours in the Cartier Stayer category ahead of Altano, Tac De Boistron, Brown Panther and Red Cadeaux.
Jim Bolger collected the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit for 2013. The Irishman can be proud of a career that began in the 1970s and has encompassed lots of success as a trainer, owner and breeder. His role as nurturer of human talent should also be emphasised, with Aidan O’Brien and A P McCoy among the many who started to learn their trade under the watchful eye of this master trainer.
