Irish Classic trio head table in early running to be Cartier top horse

Classic winners take precedence in a three-way tie in the early race to be crowned Cartier Horse of the Year as Aidan O'Brien's French 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner St Mark's Basilica is joined at the top by 1,000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth and Jim Bolger's 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare.

The trio lead the way on 64 points each to put themselves clear of Prix d'Ispahan winner Skalleti (56) and another Ballydoyle contender Snowfall (56), who routed the Cazoo Oaks field in spectacular style but also trails stablemate Mother Earth in the Three-Year-Old Filly standings.

Cartier Horse Of The Year

Mother Earth 64
Poetic Flare 64
St Mark's Basilica 64
Skalleti 56
Snowfall 56
Adayar 52
Palace Pier 48
Broome 40
Helvic Dream 40
Incarville 40
Mare Australis 40
Pyledriver 40

The Jerome Reynier-trained Skalleti leads the Older Horse of the Year standings ahead of Palace Pier (48), who was crowned the leading Three-Year-Old Colt in last year's awards.

That category is headed this year by Poetic Flare and St Mark's Basilica, ahead of Godolphin's Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (52).

The David Evans-trained Rohaan (24) leads the way in the Sprinter category and Skazino (24) heads the Stayer standings, although next week's Royal Ascot meeting is sure to provide a shake-up to the early leaderboards.

European horseracing's top awards are delivered through a combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races (30 per cent), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of
racing journalists/handicappers (35 per cent) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35 per cent).

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