The Cartier Racing Awards standings underwent a notable reshuffle following a successful Irish Champions Festival, with Scandinavia and Blue Bolt among the leading performers to strengthen their positions after important victories at Curragh Racecourse and Leopardstown Racecourse.
The 36th Cartier Racing Awards are scheduled to take place at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday, November 18. Established in 1991, the awards recognise outstanding performances across European horseracing, with eight equine categories covering two-year-olds, three-year-olds, sprinters, stayers and older horses.
Scandinavia emerged as one of the biggest movers after extending his winning sequence to eight races with a comfortable success in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at Curragh Racecourse on Sunday. The Coolmore-owned four-year-old had already established himself as a leading staying performer with victories in the Gold Cup and Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup earlier in the season.
His latest triumph took Scandinavia to 120 points in Pattern races and strengthened his position at the top of the Cartier Stayer standings. Caballo de Mar remained second on 58 points, while St Leger runner-up Highwayman occupied third with 48. Scandinavia also moved into second place in the overall Cartier Horse of the Year standings.
Blue Bolt was another major beneficiary of the Irish Champions Festival after maintaining her unbeaten record in 2026 with a decisive victory in the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse on Saturday.
The Juddmonte-owned filly had previously captured the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Falmouth Stakes and Prix Rothschild before adding another Group 1 success to her record. The latest victory lifted her to 112 points and placed her joint third in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings.
Blue Bolt also moved to the head of the Cartier Older Horse division, where she led stablemate Kalpana, who stood on 96 points. Daryz and Notable Speech also strengthened their respective positions following victories in the Qatar Prix Foy and Woodbine Mile.
Cartier Racing Awards Leaderboards Shift After Irish Festival
The Cartier Racing Awards leaderboards continued to reflect a competitive season across the major divisions, with several established names maintaining their positions while recent winners moved closer to the leading contenders.
Bow Echo remained at the top of both the overall Cartier Horse of the Year standings and the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division with 128 points. His retirement earlier in the campaign left the door open for several rivals to reduce the gap during the remaining Pattern-race programme.
Constitution River and Item, on 104 and 80 points respectively, finished behind Hotazhell in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse on Saturday. Gstaad, also on 104 points, had finished third in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp earlier in September.
The Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category continued to be led by Coolmore’s Diamond Necklace, who held 112 points. Stablemates Precise and True Love followed with 108 and 96 points respectively. Thundering On moved into fourth place on 72 points after winning the Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes at Curragh Racecourse on Sunday.
The sprint division also experienced a change at the top after Comanche Brave produced a clear victory in the Flying Five Stakes at Curragh Racecourse. The performance moved him into first place in the Cartier Sprinter standings, ahead of American Affair on 40 points and Rumstar on 36.
Almeraq remained another prominent name in the category with 64 points after an impressive sequence that included victories in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and Sprint Cup earlier in the season.
The two-year-old divisions also saw significant movement following the weekend’s major races. Folsom Blues became the new leader of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt standings after recording a six-length victory in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at Curragh Racecourse on Sunday.
Darkness Falls also enhanced his position after winning the Golden Fleece Stakes, while Al Hudaiba strengthened his prospects with victory in the Summer Stakes in Canada.
Sun Goddess further consolidated her position at the head of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly division by following her August success in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes with another top-level victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at Curragh Racecourse. Her latest success gave her a clear advantage over Senorita Bonita, who remained on 56 points.
The Cartier Racing Awards standings are determined through Pattern-race points, assessments from racing journalists and handicappers, and votes from members of the public. Pattern races account for 30 per cent of the overall calculation, while the journalist and handicapper panel and the public vote each contribute 35 per cent.
Alongside the eight equine categories, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit recognises a person or persons who have made a significant contribution to European racing and breeding either over their lifetime or during the preceding 12 months.
The latest Cartier Racing Awards standings reflected the impact of the Irish Champions Festival, with Scandinavia, Blue Bolt, Bow Echo, Diamond Necklace, Comanche Brave, Folsom Blues and Sun Goddess among the leading performers across their respective categories. With further Pattern races remaining before the November ceremony, the leaderboards remain subject to further changes.
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