Aidan O'Brien pair out to make late swoop for Cartier three-year-old colt award

Aidan O'Brien's Breeders' Cup-bound pair Circus Maximus and Anthony Van Dyck could make late bids to topple Too Darn Hot at the top of the Cartier three-year-old colt standings at Santa Anita on Saturday.

The Breeders’ Cup provides a significant opportunity for horses to mount a late challenge at the awards, with a clutch of Europe's top equine talent set to advertise their claims in the States before the competition draws to a close.

Circus Maximus (88), who bids for a third Group 1 victory of the season in the Breeders' Cup Mile, has ground to make up on his Sussex Stakes conqueror Too Darn Hot (112), while Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (76) trails the pair further ahead of his Breeders' Cup Turf assignment.

Dual Guineas heroine Hermosa and Anthony Oppenheimer's Irish Oaks queen Star Catcher (112) share top spot in the three-year-old Filly list, while Iridessa (74), Fleeting (52) and Castle Lady (52) also feature prominently among the top contenders ahead of their showdown in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Triumphs for Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna (48) or the Roger Varian-trained Daahyeh (48) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf would propel either to the head of the two-year-old filly standings, usurping top sprinter Raffle Prize (64).

Jessica Harrington's Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna is a strong conteder in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfCredit: Edward Whitaker

Unbeaten juvenile Pinatubo (80) is well clear in the two-year-old colt division, with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf contender Arizona (40) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint protagonist A’Ali (48) bidding to bridge the gap at Santa Anita.

The recently retired four-time Group 1 heroine Magical (216) stands clear at the summit of the horse of the year and older horse categories ahead of old rival Enable (152) and crack stayer Stradivarius (136).

The awards, established in 1991, will be presented in London on the evening of Tuesday, November 12. There is a neutral voting platform available on Cartier's website, which closes on Tuesday, November 5 at noon.

Cartier Horse of the Year

Magical 216
Enable 152
Stradivarius 136
Waldgeist 120
Crystal Ocean 112
Hermosa 112
Star Catcher 112
Too Darn Hot 112
Japan 108
Blue Point 106

Cartier Older Horse

Magical 216
Enable 152
Stradivarius 136
Waldgeist 120
Crystal Ocean 112
Blue Point 106
Battaash 80
Romanised 80

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt

Too Darn Hot 112
Japan 108
Circus Maximus 88
Advertise 80
Anthony Van Dyck 76
King of Change 72
Logician 64
Sottsass 60

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly

Hermosa 112
Star Catcher 112
Anapurna 80
Iridessa 74
Castle Lady 52
Fleeting 52
So Perfect 50
Watch Me 48

Cartier Sprinter

Blue Point 106
Advertise 80
Battaash 80
Hello Youmzain 56
So Perfect 48
Fairyland 40
Glass Slippers 40
Donjuan Triumphant 36

Cartier Stayer

Stradivarius 136
Dee Ex Bee 72
Holdthasigreen 48
Logician 48
Enbihaar 44
Kew Gardens 36
Anapurna 32
Search For A Song 32
Sir Ron Priestley 32

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt

Pinatubo 80
Earthlight 72
Armory 64
A'Ali 48
Siskin 48
Threat 48
Arizona 40
Golden Horde 40

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly

Raffle Prize 64
Albigna 48
Daahyeh 48
Love 48
Millisle 36
Powerful Breeze 32
Quadrilateral 32
Tropbeau 32

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