Ghaiyyath gets Cartier coronation after being crowned Horse of the Year

Ghaiyyath has been crowned Cartier Horse of the Year following his scintillating Flat season that included triumphs in the Coronation Cup, Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International.

The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old is Godolphin's third horse to take the coveted prize after his three consecutive Group 1 wins this year, starting with a brutish display at Newmarket before he lowered the colours of Enable and Magical at Sandown and York.

He suffered a narrow defeat to Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes on his final start before retirement, but the son of Dubawi followed in the footsteps of Daylami (1999) and Fantastic Light (2001) by scooping the award for Sheikh Mohammed's operation and was also successful in the Older Horse category.

Watch Ghaiyyath beat Enable

"To win with Ghaiyyath has been a fantastic achievement by everyone involved with Godolphin," Appleby said.

"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has followed this horse very closely from being a yearling through his two-year-old career and thankfully it has culminated in what he has achieved this year.

"I now pass the baton over to the breeding operation and I'm sure they will have a lot of fun and success with him in his career.”

Despite falling short in the Horse of the Year category, Battaash was named leading sprinter, while Love took the Three-Year-Old Filly heat after her imperious performances in the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.

Battaash: perfect campaign for the Lambourn rocketCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

John Gosden dominated the 30th Cartier Awards once again after three-time Gold Cup hero Stradivarius maintained his stranglehold on the Stayers' division for the third year in succession and Palace Pier took the Three-Year-Old Colt crown. The Newmarket trainer was also recognised for his outstanding training achievements by being presented with the 2020 Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit.

Aidan O'Brien's name was on the award sheet after Criterium International winner Van Gogh was named Two-Year-Old Colt of the year, while the trainer's son Joseph took home his first Cartier award with Fillies' Mile winner Pretty Gorgeous (Two-Year-Old Filly).

The Cartier Awards are decided through a combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races, the views of a panel of journalists and handicappers, plus the opinions of readers of the Racing Post and the Daily Telegraph.

2020 Cartier Award winners

Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath
Two-Year-Old Colt Van Gogh
Two-year-Old Filly Pretty Gorgeous
Three-Year-Old Colt Palace Pier
Three-Year-OldFilly Love
Sprinter Battaash
Stayer Stradivarius
OlderHorse Ghaiyyath
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit John Gosden

More to read:

Ghaiyyath retired to Kildangan Stud after muscle soreness following work

Ghaiyyath earns world-best mark after International domination

White flags are raised as Ghaiyyath leaves star rivals gasping

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