IN front of a packed ballroom at the Dorchester Hotel on Thursday, the unbeaten Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact was crowned Horse of the Year at the 33rd Cartier Racing Awards.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget for the Chehboub family’s Gousserie Racing and Serge Stempniak, the son Cracksman is the first French-trained winner of the prestigious award since Treve in 2013. Unbeaten in six starts, Ace Impact unleashed a scintillating turn of foot to take the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby, and again showed exceptional acceleration in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Ace Impact also received the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Award. His awards were accepted by Pauline Chehboub, and she was joined by the colt’s trainer and his jockey, Cristian Demuro. Ace Impact is about to embark on a career as a stallion at Haras de Beaumont.

Angus Gold, representing Sheikha Hissa, accepted the award for Shadwell homebred Mostahdaf, trained by John and Thady Gosden, who was named Cartier Older Horse following his victories at Royal Ascot and York. Among those he beat in the category was Inspiral, who narrowly missed out on a third consecutive Cartier Racing Award.

Best filly

Tahiyra, a fifth generation homebred for the Aga Khan, won the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award following a superb campaign for Dermot Weld. She recorded wins in the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Matron Stakes. Pat Downes paid tribute to all who nurtured the career of Tahiyra, “from being a discussion around a table to her successes on the racecourse”.

Shaquille received the Cartier Sprinter accolade after breath-taking displays in the Group 1 July Cup and Commonwealth Cup. Co-bred by his owner Martin Hughes, the Julie Camacho-trained colt is now set for a stallion career at Steve Parkin’s Dullingham Park.

Having been crowned Cartier Stayer in 2021, Trueshan claimed the award for a second time in one of the most keenly-contested categories. Such was the surprise of the gelding’s team at winning the award that his trainer, Alan King, was not in attendance. The hugely popular seven-year-old Trueshan was at his best with victory in the Group 1 Prix du Cadran.

Coolmore double

City Of Troy, owned by Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, took the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Award following an unbeaten season for Aidan O’Brien that culminated in success in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. He beat off Vandeek, Henry Longfellow and Rosallion, and Christy Grassick was on hand to accept the trophy.

Kevin Buckley stepped up to collect the award after Opera Singer was named the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Award winner. This was on the back of a progressive campaign that included an emphatic success in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac. She is owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Westerberg.

Luckiest owner

The recipient of the Cartier and The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit for 2023 is Jeff Smith. One of the most popular owner/breeders in the sport, his famous purple and light blue silks have been worn by some of the best-known horses of modern times, including Chief Singer, Lochsong, Persian Punch and, most recently, Alcohol Free.

Summing up his near half-century as “having been incredibly lucky”, he was also the recipient of an extended standing ovation.

Laurent Feniou, managing director of Cartier UK, welcomed guests and award winners, and said: “I am delighted to celebrate another outstanding group of horses at the 33rd Cartier Racing Awards. Ace Impact displayed his brilliance throughout the year, culminating with a magnificent victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and he is a deserving recipient of the Cartier Horse of the Year Award. Cartier are honoured to be able to recognise these champions of the sport.”

Highlights from the 33rd Cartier Racing Awards will be shown on Sky Sports Racing at 4.30pm on Sunday, November 12th.

Award winners

Cartier Horse of The Year & Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt

ACE IMPACT (IRE)

Cartier Older Horse

MOSTAHDAF (IRE)

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly

TAHIYRA (IRE)

Cartier Sprinter

SHAQUILLE (GB)

Cartier Stayer

TRUESHAN (FR)

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt

CITY OF TROY (USA)

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly

OPERA SINGER (USA)

Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit

JEFF SMITH

Cartier jury

IN addition to the equine awards, the Cartier and Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the 16-strong Cartier Jury, has or have done the most for European racing and/or breeding, either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

The members of the jury this year were Marcus Armytage, Anna Lisa Balding, Ralph Beckett, Sir Francis Brooke, Gina Bryce, Alan Byrne, Mike Cattermole, William Derby, Alex Frost. Harry Herbert, Sam Hoskins, Matthew Imi, Katie Kershaw, Lady Lloyd-Webber, Leo Powell and Nick Smith