City Of Troy was crowned Cartier Horse of the Year at the 34th Cartier Racing Awards during a celebratory evening at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday evening.
The son of US Triple Crown winner Justify, trained by Aidan O’Brien for a Coolmore partnership that includes Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith, becomes only the second horse after Frankel to receive the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Horse of the Year accolade in successive years.
City Of Troy in the build-up to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Championships at Del Mar (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
An authoritative winner of the Betfred Derby, City Of Troy defeated older opposition in both the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International, lowering York’s course record in the latter with a sensational front-running display. Sea The Stars, recipient of the Cartier Horse of the Year award in 2009, is the only other colt to win all three races.
City Of Troy took the Cartier Horse of the Year award ahead of stable-mate Kyprios, who returned to the top of the staying division during an unbeaten 2024, multiple Gr1-winning miler Charyn and Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe scorer Bluestocking.
The Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt award also went to City Of Troy, who prevailed over Notable Speech and Rosallion, both dual Gr1 winners over a mile this year, and Juddmonte International runner-up Calandagan.
Cartier Older Horse Charyn (Pic – Megan Coggin)
Charyn received the Cartier Older Horse award following an exceptional campaign that commenced at Doncaster in March and ended in Japan last week. Trained by Roger Varian for Nurlan Bizakov, the four-year-old posted imposing wins in the Queen Anne Stakes, Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By QIPCO).
Bluestocking was also nominated for the Cartier Older Horse award alongside King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes victor Goliath and globe-trotting star Rebel’s Romance.
The Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award went to Porta Fortuna on the back of a season that yielded impressive wins in the Coronation Stakes, Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes and Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes.
Owned by a partnership that includes Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing, Steve Weston and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, the Donnacha O’Brien-trained daughter of Caravaggio came out on top over Tamfana, Ramatuelle and Kalpana, who all recorded top-level wins of their own during 2024.
Bradsell took the Cartier Sprinter award for trainer Archie Watson and owner Victorious Racing, with the four-year-old having recorded decisive victories in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes and Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes. Australian mare Asfoora, winner of the King Charles III Stakes, QIPCO British Champions Sprint victor Kind Of Blue and Starlust, successful in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, were also nominated.
Cartier Champion Stayer, Kyprios (Pic – Megan Coggin)
Kyprios is only the third horse following Persian Punch and Trueshan to be crowned the Cartier Stayer in non-consecutive years following a perfect campaign that included a sweep of the Gold Cup, Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, Comer Group International Irish St Leger and Qatar Prix du Cadran.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien for a Coolmore partnership that includes Moyglare Stud Farm, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, Kyprios dominated a division that also saw rising star Jan Brueghel, Double Major and Sweet William nominated.
Godolphin’s Shadow Of Light is the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt for 2024 after becoming the second juvenile in 42 years to win both the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes and Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Lope De Vega prevails over fellow top-level winners Henri Matisse, Hotazhell and Whistlejacket.
Lake Victoria enjoyed an unbeaten season, culminating with exhilarating displays in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Coolmore homebred received the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly award. Her trainer Aidan O’Brien is also responsible for Fairy Godmother, with Keeneland Phoenix Stakes heroine Babouche and bet365 Fillies’ Mile winner Desert Flower completing those nominated for the award.
The recipient of the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2024 was Jessica Harrington. A supremely talented horsewoman, she represented Ireland in three-day eventing before establishing herself as one of her country’s most successful trainers in both Flat and National Hunt racing.
Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, commented: “We are thrilled to celebrate another tremendous year of European racing and our congratulations go to all of this year’s winners at the Cartier Racing Awards. City Of Troy looked an exceptional colt throughout the season and he is a worthy recipient of the Cartier Horse of the Year award. We are honoured to be able to present the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit to Jessica Harrington, who has proved such an inspirational figure across the equestrian world. I would like to extend a special thanks to our media partners Racing Post, The Daily Telegraph and Sky Sports Racing for their ongoing support of the Cartier Racing Awards.”
