Bow Echo retirement opens Cartier Horse of the Year race as Item and Kalpana boost claims at York

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Bow Echo's shock retirement has blown the Cartier Horse of the Year race wide open and Juddmonte stars Item and Kalpana strengthened their claims with standout performances at York's Ebor festival.

• 'It was a five o'clock decision to get on the van' - Item overcomes foot scare and traffic trouble to down big guns in Juddmonte International 
• 'I could hear the commentator getting loud!' - Kalpana just holds on in desperate tussle with Sparan Nua to claim another Group 1 

The unbeaten three-year-old, who retired after injury earlier this month, remains top of the Horse of the Year standings on 128 points as well as leading the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division. However, his absence has given his rivals the chance to close the gap before the awards are decided in November.

Andrew Balding's Item emerged as one of the biggest movers after causing an upset in the Juddmonte International to take his points tally to 80. The Frankel colt defeated a high-class field featuring Constitution River (92), Ombudsman (80) and Almaqam to move firmly into contention in both the overall and three-year-old colt categories.

Juddmonte's Kalpana also enhanced her credentials when following up her King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory with success in the Yorkshire Oaks. She now heads the Cartier Older Horse standings on 96 points, ahead of stablemate Blue Bolt (80) and Calandagan (80).

French Classic winner Rayif has also emerged as a leading challenger after landing a second Group 1 in the Prix Jacques le Marois to reach 80 points.

Elsewhere, Diamond Necklace is second to Bow Echo and is the leading three-year-old filly despite suffering her first defeat when second in the Prix Jean & Louis Romanet, while Nunthorpe winner Bacio entered the sprint reckoning after his brilliant York success.

One of the most exciting categories is the Two-Year-Old Filly division, which is led by Senorita Bonita on 56 points after she scorched to victory in Deauville's Prix Morny, with Sun Goddess on 52. York's Lowther Stakes winner Libertango sits third (32).

The 36th Cartier Racing Awards will be presented on November 18, with the remaining autumn Pattern races set to decide who capitalises on Bow Echo's unexpected retirement.

Cartier Racing Awards 2026 standings

Horse of the Year
128 Bow Echo
112 Diamond Necklace
108 Precise
96 True Love
96 Kalpana
96 Gstaad
92 Constitution River
88 Scandinavia
80 Rayif
80 Ombudsman
80 Item
80 Christmas Day
80 Calandagan
80 Blue Bolt

Older Horse
96 Kalpana
80 Blue Bolt
80 Calandagan
80 Ombudsman
76 Daryz

Three-Year-Old Colt
128 Bow Echo
96 Gstaad
92 Constitution River
80 Christmas Day
80 Item
80 Rayif

Three-Year-Old Filly
112 Diamond Necklace
108 Precise
96 True Love
64 Venetian Sun
56 Thundering On

Sprinter
64 Venetian Sun
51 Comanche Brave
34 Division
32 Almeraq
32 Mission Central
32 Bacio
32 Samangan

Stayer
88 Scandinavia
42 Caballo De Mar
40 Trawlerman
33 Al Nayyir

Two-Year-Old Filly
56 Senorita Bonita
52 Sun Goddess
32 Libertango
24 Green Empress
24 Victorious

Read more:

'They are better than the colts' - star fillies Libertango, Senorita Bonita and Sun Goddess poised for potential race of the season 

All options open in the autumn for 'exciting' Yorkshire Oaks runner-up after agonising defeat to Kalpana 

The Juddmonte didn't live up to the hype - and the best York performance came from this colt who is now a great ante-post Arc bet 

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