Karandagan has been honored as Horse of the Year at the Cartier Racing Awards held in London. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard in France, the four-year-old secured victories in three prestigious Group 1 races, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Apart from Brigadier Gerard in 1972, Karandagan is the only horse to clinch both of these major titles within the same season. Wearing the Aga Khan’s colors, Karandagan also placed second in the Coronation Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic earlier this year and triumphed in the Grand Prix of Saint-Cloud in France.
Other contenders for the top award included Ombudsman, who finished second in the Champion Stakes and won both the Prince of Wales Stakes and Juddmonte International, as well as the promising three-year-olds Delacroix and Minnie Hawk. Meanwhile, Trawlerman, trained by John and Sadie Gosden, won four races this year, including the Gold Cup at Ascot, earning him the Leading Stayer award at the 35th Annual Awards.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to broadcaster and author Braff Scott.
Summary of awards:
– Horse of the Year: Karandagan
– Sprinter: Asphora
– Stayer: Trawlerman
– 3-Year-Old Stallion: Delacroix
– 3-Year-Old Filly: Minnie Hawk
– 2-Year-Old Stallion: Gstaad
– 2-Year-Old Filly: Precise
– Old Horse: Karandagan
– Excellence Award: Bluff Scott
Fan Take: This accolade cements Karandagan’s place among the elite in horse racing history and highlights the remarkable talent coming out of European stables. For fans, it’s thrilling to witness such a dominant horse, as it raises the bar for competition and inspires excitement for future races worldwide.
