Classic winners Ezeliya and Rosallion share the early lead alongside Tattersalls Gold Cup victor White Birch in the points standings for the Cartier Horse of the Year, the top equine accolade of the Cartier Racing Awards.
Rebel’s Romance is an impressive winner of both the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (Pic – HKJC)
All three horses have accrued 56 points in Pattern races so far this season, with Ezeliya having followed up victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes in April with an emphatic success in the Betfred Oaks on Friday.
The daughter of Dubawi is also out in front in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly standings and represents the same combination of owner/breeder the Aga Khan, trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Chris Hayes who teamed up with Tahiyra to win the same award in 2023.
Elmalka (50), a surprise winner of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, is currently second in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly rankings, with another Aga Khan homebred, Rouhiya (32), and Fallen Angel (32) also prominent following victories in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Rosallion tops the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division following his narrow victory over Haatem (36) in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas. The Richard Hannon-trained duo previously filled the places behind Notable Speech (48) in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and all three could meet again in the St James’s Palace Stakes – a race that is also due to feature Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (32).
The 2023 Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt City Of Troy (48) floundered in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas but bounced back to his best with a taking display in the Betfred Derby on Saturday, while Look de Vega (32) also impressed in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly 24 hours later.
White Birch was third in last year’s Betfred Derby and the four-year-old heads the Cartier Older Horse category following a perfect start to 2024, with three wins at the Curragh including defeating Auguste Rodin by three lengths in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Rebel’s Romance (54), an impressive winner of both the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, is a close second ahead of surprise Prix Ganay scorer Haya Zark (48), with another Godolphin globe-trotter, Naval Power (36), in fourth.
Sunday’s Prix du Gros-Chene winner Ponntos (30) leads the Cartier Sprinter division following a busy start to his campaign, with appearances in Dubai, Italy and France. Star Of Mystery (27) started her season in Dubai as well, including denying Ponntos in the Blue Point Sprint, while UK winners Kerdos (16), Inisherin (16) and Mill Stream (16) also rank highly.
French form is also to the fore in the early standings for the Cartier Stayer Award, with Sevenna’s Knight (24) on top following Longchamp victories in the Prix de Barbeville and Prix Vicomtesse Vigier. Tower Of London (18), who finished in front of Sevenna’s Knight when taking the Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, and Boodles Yorkshire Cup scorer Giavellotto (17) sit second and third.
Cartier Racing Awards – points earned in Pattern races up to and including Sunday, 02 June 2024.
Cartier Horse of the Year
- 56 – Ezeliya
- 56 – Rosallion
- 56 – White Birch
- 54 – Rebel’s Romance
- 50 – Elmalka
- 48 – City Of Troy
- 48 – Haya Zark
- 48 – Notable Speech
- 36 – Haatem
- 36 – Naval Power
Cartier Older Horse
- 56 – White Birch
- 54 – Rebel’s Romance
- 48 – Haya Zark
- 36 – Naval Power
- 32 – Audience
- 32 – Charyn
- 32 – Luxembourg
- 32 – Mqse de Sevigne
- 32 – Ottoman Fleet
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
- 56 – Rosallion
- 48 – Notable Speech
- 48 – City Of Troy
- 36 – Haatem
- 32 – Metropolitan
- 32 – Look de Vega
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
- 56 – Ezeliya
- 50 – Elmalka
- 32 – Fallen Angel
- 32 – Rouhiya
- 28 – Dance Sequence
Cartier Sprinter
- 30 – Ponntos
- 27 – Star Of Mystery
- 20 – Mill Stream
- 16 – Inisherin
- 16 – Kerdos
- 16 – Mitbaahy
Cartier Stayer
- 24 – Sevenna’s Knight
- 18 – Tower Of London
- 17 – Giavellotto
- 12 – Alessio
- 12 – Shembala
