Irish Champion star Magical regains lead in Cartier Horse Of The Year standings

Star filly Magical has regained top spot in the Cartier Horse Of The Year standings after victory in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old beat stablemate Magic Wand to secure a third top-level success to move 40 points clear of the John Gosden-trained Enable and Stradivarius.

Magical, owned by Derrick Smith, John Magnier and Michael Tabor, has finished behind Enable on all four runs and they are likely to clash in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 6, when Enable attempts to become the first three-time winner of the race.

Cartier Horse Of The Year standings

Magical 168
Enable 128
Stradivarius 128
Crystal Ocean 112
Hermosa 112
Too Darn Hot 112
Japan 108
Blue Point 106
Circus Maximus 88
Advertise 80
Battaash 80
Romanised 80
Star Catcher 80

Crystal Ocean and Too Darn Hot, who have both been retired, share third place with Hermosa in the Horse Of The Year standings, won last year by Roaring Lion.

There is a four-way tie for the lead in the Two-Year-Old Colts division with impressive National Stakes scorer Pinatubo joining A’Ali, Siskin and Threat.

Stradivarius leads the way in the Stayers division dominated by horses trained by Mark Johnston and Gosden, including Dee Ex Bee, Logician, Enbihaar and Sir Ron Priestley, while Blue Point remains at the top of the Sprinter standings despite being retired after his Royal Ascot heroics.

The Cartier Racing Awards, now in their 29th year, take place in London on November 12 and points earned in Pattern races, awarded by an expert panel and voted for by Racing Post and Daily Telegraph readers and ITV viewers, determine the main prize.

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