St Mark's Basilica voted Horse of the Year at annual ceremony in London

St Mark’s Basilica was crowned Horse of the Year at the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards ceremony held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday evening.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, who racked up four Group 1 wins in an unbeaten three-year-old campaign, became the sixth horse owned by a member of a Coolmore partnership to win the award but the first since Minding in 2016.

St Mark’s Basilica also took the honours in the three-year-old colt category after a season in which he won the French 2,000 Guineas, Prix du Jockey Club, Coral Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes.

Palace Pier, owned by Shadwell Estate and trained by John and Thady Gosden, won the older horse award after a superb season which included three Group 1 wins in the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne and the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore picked up another award when dual Classic winner Snowfall was named three-year-old filly for 2021. The daughter of Deep Impact recorded the largest winning margin in the history of the Oaks in June when winning by 16 lengths.

The sprinter honours went the way of Starman for trainer Ed Walker and owner David Ward after an admirable season headlined by success in the Group 1 July Cup.

David Elsworth: veteran trainer honoured with merit awardCredit: Edward Whitaker

The increasingly popular Trueshan was stayer of the year after his hat-trick in the Goodwood Cup, Prix du Cadran and British Champions Long Distance Cup for Alan King.

Not surprisingly, the prolific and unbeaten Native Trail was named top two-year-old colt. Owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Oasis Dream won two Group 1s in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes.

Fellow Newmarket-trained Inspiral took the honours in the two-year-old filly category, a second award of the night for the Gosdens. The Cheveley Park-owned filly won all four of her starts in 2021 culminating in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile.

The recipient of the Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2021 was trainer David Elsworth. In a racing career spanning almost 67 years, Elsworth has scaled the pinnacles of both Flat and Jump racing, combining Classic success with victories in the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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