PRINCESS Zahra Aga Khan was presented with the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt award by the Racing Post’s Alan Byrne for Vadeni, who captured the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby and the Coral-Eclipse in addition to finishing second in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The colt will remain in training.

Jean-Claude Rouget said: “Vadeni did something special in the Prix du Jockey Club and that was why we decided to go to Sandown, where he won well too. After that, we gave him a little break and he was a bit short of condition at Leopardstown, before running well again in the Arc. I hope that we can be champion next year.”

Inspiral picked up the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award following an excellent season that saw the Cheveley Park-homebred score in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes and Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois. Champion jockey William Buick presented the award to Cheveley Park owners Patricia Thompson, Katie Woodward and Richard Thompson, along with managing director Chris Richardson.

Richardson said: “It’s exciting that Inspiral will be racing next year. It is very satisfying for us all at Cheveley Park Stud to have bred Inspiral. To have her win back-to-back Cartier awards is truly special, and thankfully gets me off the hook for now, following the tremendous season we are enjoying with the National Hunt horses over the jumps!”

Owner/breeder John Fairley and trainer John Quinn received the Cartier Sprinter award from the 2022 Magnolia Cup-winning rider Ashleigh Wicheard for Highfield Princess, who posted a trio of sensational victories in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes and Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Flying Five Stakes.

Fairley said: “Well, she deserved it, didn’t she? Whether the owner deserves it is another matter! I wouldn’t have been at all surprised if Cartier hadn’t brought the horse in to take the award herself. What an amazing year we have had with her. Three Group 1s in three different countries and a trip to the Breeders’ Cup as well.”

Coolmore double

Coolmore partnerships received two awards, with Kyprios taking the Cartier Stayer prize following an unbeaten 2022 that included an unprecedented sequence of victories in the Group 1 Gold Cup, Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and Qatar Prix du Cadran.

Coolmore manager Christy Grassick, who was presented with the award by The Irish Field’s editor Leo Powell, said: “On behalf of all the partners in Kyprios, and most importantly to Eva Haefner, I have to say, these awards are so precious to us all to be honest.”

Blackbeard added to the Coolmore haul as he was crowned the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt thanks to Group 1 wins the Darley Prix Morny and Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes. Racing manager Kevin Buckley was given the award by model and television presenter Rosie Tapner.

Buckley said: “We could not be more delighted to get an award at such a prestigious evening, which recognises the fact that Blackbeard was such a top-class two-year-old.

“Blackbeard danced every dance. Winning the Middle Park was sensational, but equally winning the Prix Morny, in which emulated his sire No Nay Never, was a very satisfactory moment.”

Lezoo

Andrew Rosen received the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly award from Anna Lisa Balding for Lezoo, who he shares in ownership with Marc Chan. The daughter of Zoustar rounded off a progressive season with a decisive success in the Group 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes.

Rosen said: “After watching that video that opened the show, I can see why Marc Chan and I love horses and we love horseracing. We are truly honoured and incredibly happy that Lezoo has won this year’s Cartier award. I was introduced to horseracing by my father, who raced the 1974 champion filly Chris Evert. I also, along with my family, bred and raced Chris Evert’s grandson, champion Chief’s Crown.

“It has been almost 40 years since then. I know how hard it is to get one, and what it means when you do. This is my happiest moment in horseracing. Hopefully we can do it again next year.”