Newly retired Too Darn Hot leaps to head of Cartier Horse Of The Year standings

The recently retired Too Darn Hot has leapt to the head of the Cartier Horse Of The Year standings courtesy of his two impressive victories in the Prix Jean Prat and Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The son of Dubawi, who sustained a career-ending injury following his half-length success over Circus Maximus last Wednesday, leads on 112 points ahead of retired Royal Ascot hero Blue Point (106), Tattersalls Gold Cup heroine Magical (104) and the brilliant Enable (96).

If John Gosden's star colt, who also heads the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt award, wins he would emulate the mighty Frankel in being crowned Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and Cartier Horse Of The Year in successive years.

Blue Point, who landed a memorable Royal Ascot double when winning the King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes, leads the Cartier Older Horse and Sprinter categories on 106 points.

The Martyn Meade-trained Advertise, winner of the Commonwealth Cup and more recently the Prix Maurice de Gheest, sits second behind Godolphin's star in the last-named category.

Blue Point: leading the Older Horse and Sprint categoriesCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Hermosa, winner of the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas, tops the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly award on 96 points ahead of the Investec Oaks heroine Anapurna (48).

Another of John Gosden's stable stars, the three-time Goodwood Cup hero Stradivarius, has established a commanding lead over old rival Dee Ex Bee (56) on 96 points in the Cartier Stayer category.

The son of Sea The Stars, who is a 2-5 chance to land his second Weatherbys Stayers' Million Bonus, has enjoyed another flawless campaign and looks likely to stay in training next term.

Cartier Horse Of The Year
Too Darn Hot 112
Blue Point 106
Magical 104
Enable 96
Hermosa 96
Stradivarius 96
Crystal Ocean 88
Advertise 80
Anthony Van Dyck 64
Japan 60

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
Too Darn Hot 112
Advertise 80
Anthony Van Dyck 64
Japan 60
Circus Maximus 56
Persian King 56

What are the Cartier Racing Awards?

The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in European horseracing. There are eight equine awards, ranging from the Cartier Horse Of The Year to the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.

In addition, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 15-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding, either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

European horseracing’s top awards are arrived at through three established strands. Points are earned by horses in Pattern races (30 per cent of the total) and these are combined at the end of the 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 plus ITV Racing viewers (35 per cent).

The 29th annual Cartier Racing Awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony before an invited audience of 300 in London, England, on the evening of Tuesday, November 12.

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