Longchamp heroics moved Daryz within striking distance of Blue Bolt in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings after the pair produced major Group 1 victories at Longchamp and Newmarket over the weekend.
Blue Bolt retained the lead with 144 points after extending her unbeaten run to six starts for the season with a fourth consecutive Group 1 success in the BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. The Juddmonte-owned filly, trained by Andrew Balding, also remained at the top of the Cartier Older Horse division.
Daryz closed the gap to four points after becoming the first colt since Alleged in 1978 to win successive renewals of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. His latest Group 1 triumph lifted his tally to 140 points in both the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Older Horse categories.
The son of Sea The Stars had already secured victories in the Prix Ganay and Prix Aga Khan IV earlier in the season. He was trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for Aga Khan Studs, the same owner-trainer combination that was responsible for Calandagan, who claimed both the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Older Horse titles in 2025.
Longchamp Heroics Reshaped the Cartier Horse of the Year Standings
The two-day meeting at Longchamp produced several important changes across the Cartier divisions. Scandinavia remained the leader of the Cartier Stayer category on 136 points despite suffering a narrow defeat in Saturday’s Qatar Prix du Cadran.
Scandinavia was beaten by a short-neck by Caballo de Mar, who moved to 90 points after securing the Group 1 contest. Fairy Glen also strengthened her position in the division after winning the Qatar Prix de Royallieu on the same card. She had earlier finished behind Caballo de Mar in the Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors in March and moved to 44 points.
True Love regained the lead in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly division after winning Sunday’s Qatar Prix de la Foret. Her victory took her to 128 points, four clear of fellow Coolmore contenders Diamond Necklace and Precise, who both stood on 124.
Diamond Necklace finished third behind Daryz in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while Precise finished second behind Miss Scott in the Prix de l’Opera Longines. Their performances kept both fillies firmly in contention within their division.
Miss Yechance was another notable mover after completing a third consecutive victory in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. She made all the running to secure the Group 1 prize and moved to 40 points in the Cartier Sprinter standings, where Mission Central also held 40 points after finishing third.
The two-year-old fillies also produced significant results at Longchamp. Amusingly defeated the colts in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while Green Empress added another Group 1 success in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.
Amusingly moved to 40 points and Green Empress reached 72, although both remained behind Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly leader Sun Goddess. She strengthened her position with a third Group 1 victory in the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket during the Cambridgeshire Meeting and held 116 points.
Folsom Blues continued to lead the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt standings on 68 points after finishing second to Amusingly at Longchamp. Orthodox moved into second place on 48 points following his victory in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Bow Echo remained at the head of the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division despite having been retired in August. His victories in the Betfred 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes had earned him 128 points, leaving him 24 points ahead of Constitution River and Gstaad, who both stood on 104.
The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to recognise excellence in European horseracing. The awards included eight equine categories covering Horse of the Year, Older Horse, Sprinter, Stayer, Three-Year-Old Colt, Three-Year-Old Filly, Two-Year-Old Colt and Two-Year-Old Filly.
The 36th Cartier Racing Awards were scheduled to take place at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday, November 18. The equine awards were determined through a combination of Pattern race points, votes from racing journalists and handicappers, and votes from members of the public.
Alongside the eight equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit recognised a person or persons who had made a significant contribution to European racing and breeding over their lifetime or during the previous 12 months.
The Cartier Horse of the Year standings were led by Blue Bolt on 144 points, while Daryz moved to 140 after his historic Longchamp victory, setting up a closely contested race ahead of the Cartier Racing Awards.
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