(Edited press release)
Dylan Thomas was named Cartier Horse of the Year and top older horse at the 2007 Cartier Racing Awards, presented in the ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in London’s Mayfair Nov. 14.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the 4-year-old Danehill colt raced in group I company seven times this year, four of which he won, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-I).
The Ballydoyle team of O’Brien and owners Sue and John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith had a tremendous year of success with two additional champions. Peeping Fawn took 3-year-old filly honors from Darjina, Mrs Lindsay, Finsceal Beo, and Light Shift, while Sue Magnier and Diane Nagle’s Yeats, successful in the Gold Cup (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot for the second consecutive year, also earned the title of top stayer for the second straight time.
Another Irish trainer, Jim Bolger, last year achieved the feat of capturing the Cartier awards for 2-year-old colt and 2-year-old filly with Teofilo and Finsceal Beo, respectively. This year, he again had the chance of taking both honors.
Bolger's unbeaten dual group I winner New Approach gained the accolade of 2-year-old colt from Rio De La Plata, Kingsgate Native, Ibn Khaldun and Fast Company, while his Saoirse Abu, along with Listen, Fleeting Spirit, and Zarkava, just failed to hold off Natagora, trained in France by Pascal Bary and owned by Stefan Friborg, who was named 2-year-old filly.
Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-I) winner Authorized took honors as 3-year-old colt ahead of Cockney Rebel, Excellent Art, Literato and Soldier Of Fortune.
Red Clubs, winner of the Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) at Haydock Park, collected the sprinter award in a category where the other nominations were Marchand D’Or, Kingsgate Native, Benbaun, Soldier’s Tale and Sakhee’s Secret.
The eight horse awards were decided by a combination of points achieved in Pattern races, the views of racing journalists on Cartier's Racing Panel, and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph.
The Niarchos Family, leading owners and breeders, are the winners of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit, which is presented to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the Cartier Jury, have done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past year.
The Niarchos family's involvement has spanned more than 50 years and has resulted in success in races around the world, having bred or owned the winners of 121 group or grade I contests.