THE exploits of two Irish-trained fillies captured the imagination of the public and the members of the selection panel at the 2018 Cartier Awards, the racing industry’s premier accolades. The Jessica Harrington trained Alpha Centauri, a four-time Group 1 winner, was the outstanding filly of her generation in Europe and she duly captured the award in her age and sex category.

Her trainer was scaling mountains in New Zealand as the announcement was made, but there was no concealing the delight of Alpha Centauri’s owner breeder Maria Niarchos-Gouazé accompanied by her niece Electra.