Enable named as Cartier Horse of the Year at the Cartier Racing Awards

ENABLE was crowned the Cartier Horse of the Year at the 27th annual Cartier Racing Awards on Tuesday evening.

The 2017 Cartier Racing Awards were presented at a glittering ceremony before an invited audience of 300 at the Dorchester Hotel.

Enable recorded five consecutive Group 1 victories in 2017, finishing her season with a stunning victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.

The three other Cartier Horse of the Year nominees were Cracksman, Ribchester and Ulysses.

Enable also took the honours in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award from Winter, Lady Aurelia and Roly Poly.

Her stable companion Cracksman became the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt following his impressive success in the Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

Cracksman saw off challenges from Harry Angel, Churchill and Barney Roy.

Even by his own incredibly high standards, Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien enjoyed an outstanding 2017 as he sent out a worldwide record of 27 Group 1 winners.

O’Brien was responsible for both the 2017 Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt, U S Navy Flag, and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly, Happily, while Order Of St George scooped the Cartier Stayer Award for the second year in succession.

Harry Angel is the winner of the 2017 Cartier Sprinter Award after a terrific season. He finished on top from Marsha, Battaash and Lady Aurelia.

Ulysses was crowned the Cartier Older Horse for 2017, after registering a Group 1 double in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park and the Juddmonte International at York.

Harry Herbert, Cartier’s Racing Consultant, commented: “It has been another tremendous year in European horse racing and I would like to extend congratulations to all the winners at the 2017 Cartier Racing Awards.

“Enable enjoyed five commanding victories at Group 1 level and her performances, particularly at Ascot and Chantilly, mark her out as a filly of rare distinction. She is a very appropriate winner of Cartier Horse of the Year.

“Similarly her stable companion Cracksman was an outstanding winner at Ascot in the autumn, capping a superb season for her trainer John Gosden.

“The prospect of Enable, Cracksman and Harry Angel, the Cartier Sprinter for 2017, all returning next year is a mouth-watering prospect.

“Of course, 2017 will be remembered as the year when Aidan O’Brien sent out a record 27 Group 1 winners and he and the Coolmore team are rewarded with Cartier Racing Awards for U S Navy Flag, Happily and Order Of St George.

“Sir Michael Stoute has been a master of his profession for over 40 years and he is a most worthy recipient of the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit. His handling of Ulysses in 2017 was outstanding and sees that colt named as Cartier Older Horse.”