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Creative Flair, Harajuku Add European Flair To Saturday’s Jockey Club Oaks Invitational

Godolphin's Creative Flair and Flaxman Stable's Group 3 winner Harajuku will invade from across the pond when taking on five American-based contenders in Saturday's second running of the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational going 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

The Jockey Club Oaks Invitational is the final leg of the filly division of the NYRA's Turf Triple series for 3-year-olds, which also consists of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational and Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational. Its male counterpart race, the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational, also is scheduled for Saturday's 11-race card.

Trainer Charlie Appleby enjoyed success shipping Godolphin-owned Althiqa to New York this season, capturing the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game at Belmont Park and Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga.

For the Jockey Club Oaks, Appleby sends out Creative Flair, who was a last-out third in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational in her North American debut. The daughter of Dubawi, who was off a step slow, saved ground under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith down the backstretch, angled several paths wide just past the quarter pole and finished third, beaten two lengths.

“The race didn't ever really set up for her. She jumped a little slowly and got a little bit of a knock,” said Appleby assistant Chris Connett. “The team wanted her to sit a bit closer to the pace than she ended up being and it just didn't pan out. She's had a nice break and seems fresh and well and ready to run a big race for us.”

Creative Flair was a three-time winner in England at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 ¼ miles. She ventured outside England for the first time when a close third in the Group 3 Prix Chloe on July 18 at Chantilly in France.

Connett said Creative Flair is arriving at Saturday's test in good order following her Saratoga effort.

“She traveled back to Newmarket with the rest of the team and had an easy week to 10 days before coming back to full training,” Connett said. “She clearly showed the right signs for Charlie to aim her back here. She's travelled well and I'm really happy with her. All systems go for Saturday.”

Connett said the wide, sweeping turns at Belmont should suit Creative Flair.

“I think this course will help any of the European horses in the race that are used to a slightly more galloping type track,” Connett said. “Hopefully, with a longer straight and ideally sitting a little closer, it should really help.”

An Irish homebred, Creative Flair is out of the Shamardal mare Hidden Gold, whose dam Melikah is a half-sister to the late internationally acclaimed stallion Galileo and 2009 Cartier Horse of the Year Sea the Stars.

Jockey Jamie Spencer ships stateside to pilot Creative Flair from post 1.

Flaxman Holdings' Harajuku will look to give France a second Jockey Club Oaks triumph, after Edisa shipped to capture the inaugural edition in 2019.

Trained by Andre Fabre, the bay daughter of Deep Impact captured the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre on May 1 at Saint-Cloud going 1 5/16 miles over next out Group 1 winner Incarville. She arrives off a narrow fourth in the Group Prix de la Nonette on August 23 at Deauville.

An Irish homebred, Harajuku is out of the Galileo mare Phaenomena, who is a full-sister to Group 1-winner Nightime – the dam of 2020 Cartier Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath and Grade 1-winner Zhukova.

Jockey Stephane Pasquier, who guided Wonderment to a runner-up effort in the inaugural Jockey Club Oaks in 2019, ships from France to engineer the trip from post 7.

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The Chad Brown-trained pair of Higher Truth and Shantisara are two of five other American-based contenders looking to defend their home turf.

Owned by Mike Ryan, Jeff Drown and Team Hanley, Higher Truth is the only filly to compete in all three legs of this year's filly division of the Turf Triple series. The daughter of Galileo was beaten by margins of less than a length in both the Belmont Oaks and Saratoga Oaks. After running third beaten a half-length to Santa Barbara in the Belmont Oaks, she missed by three-quarters of a length to Con Lima in the Saratoga Oaks, finishing second.

Higher Truth will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 2.

Shantisara, owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert V. LaPenta, will see an increase in ground after making the grade in the Grade 3 Pucker Up at nine furlongs on August 14 at Arlington Park. The daughter of Coulsty made her second start in North America in the Pucker Up, which was her first victory on grass. Previously campaigned in France by trainer Frederic Rossi, Shantisara won twice over the all-weather surface at Chantilly and Marseille in her final two starts of last year.

Jockey Flavien Prat will ride from post 6.

Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey will give third-out maiden winner Baby Blythe a considerable jump in class following a seven-length romp on August 14 in a 1 3/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga.

Owned by Donald and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farms, the daughter of American Pharoah displayed a devastating turn of foot around the far turn of her maiden score, going from a close fourth to in front by 5 ½ lengths at the next point of call. Third on debut in December at Aqueduct, Baby Blythe did not race until July 24 when sixth to subsequent stakes-winner Rastafara.

“Distance won't be an issue with her. She has a great turn-of-foot and had a half-sister [Family Way] who won going 10 ½ furlongs at Kentucky Downs,” McGaughey said. “She probably needed her second race since she hadn't run in so long. We got it in her and next time she won.”

Jockey Luis Saez, fresh off a riding title at Saratoga, will ride Baby Blythe from post 3.

Completing the field are Augustin Stables' Be Up [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], a two-time winner for trainer Jonathan Thomas, and Kaleem Shah's Madone [post 5, John Velazquez], a dual graded stakes winning West Coast invader for trainer Simon Callaghan.

The Jockey Club Oaks Invitational is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 11-race card, which also features the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational at 12 furlongs on turf in Race 10; as well as the $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational at 13 furlongs on the main track in Race 4. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Desert Encounter Chasing Third Straight Win In Pattison Canadian International

There's something about Woodbine that is a win-win for Desert Encounter.

“He seems to really enjoy travelling here,” said Ian Russell, travelling head lad for trainer David Simcock, who has accompanied Desert Encounter on his previous forays. “I think when he sees a plane he comes alive because he's looking for the next adventure.”

That affinity for Woodbine and the E.P. Taylor Turf Course will be put to the test again Saturday when Desert Encounter seeks to become the first runner to capture three consecutive runnings of the Grade 1, 1 ½-mile Pattison Canadian International, a $600,000 race for three-year-olds and upward.

The Canadian International was not held last year on a stakes schedule impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That leaves the Irish-bred gelding Desert Encounter, who is owned by Abdulla Al Mansoori and is based in England, as the two-time defending champion by virtue of his Canadian International victories in 2018 and 2019.

Joshua Tree, based in Ireland, is the only three-time winner of the Canadian International with successes in 2010, 2012, and 2013, interrupted by a second-place finish in 2011.

But, at age nine and winless in 15 races since his last appearance here, does Desert Encounter still have what it will take to defeat seven rivals, ranging from two to five years his juniors, in the prestigious event with the likes of Secretariat, All Along, Chief Bearhart, Singspiel, Youth, Snow Knight, Dahlia, and George Royal amongst its honour roll?

“At nine, there's a lot of younger horses running against him; he's got a bit of experience next to them,” said Russell. “For as much as he is older, he's enjoying it, and he's showing us the signs that he still wants to do it. I think watching him in his last run, when he was second at Windsor, he's still got a zest for life.”

Teona, the 3-year-old filly who defeated Desert Encounter that day, has since seen her stock soar with an upset win in last weekend's Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.

That Windsor race, at 1 7/16 miles on turf, came on August 28. His previous Canadian International successes, when the race was run in mid-October, also followed good efforts at Newbury three weeks earlier.

“We couldn't wholly keep the same pattern, but generally everything is just the same,” said Russell.

One change does come as rider Danny Tudhope will pilot Desert Encounter, whose previous Canadian International scores came under Andrea Atzeni. Tudhope will be making his Canadian debut but boasts Grade 1 successes in the U.S. courtesy of Mondialiste in the 2016 Arlington Million and Suedois in the 2017 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

In addition to Desert Encounter, Simcock has been represented by a trio of 2014 stakes winners here in Trade Storm (Grade 1 Woodbine Mile), Sheikhzayedroad (Grade 1 Northern Dancer), and Caspar Netscher (Grade 2 Nearctic). Sheikhzayedroad returned the following year to finish third in the Canadian International.

Walton Street, bred and trained in England and representing the powerful Godolphin, is at seven the closest in age to Desert Encounter and will be making his first trip across the pond for conditioner Charlie Appleby.

“I think the older he's getting, the wiser he's getting,” said travelling head lad Chris Durham. “Charlie always wanted to come here with him. He's happy with him.”

In his most recent outing, the homebred finished third after leading through most of the about 1 ½-miles of good turf in the Group 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin.

That August 8 race was Walton Street's first since a Dubai campaign that kicked off with back-to-back scores and concluded with an admirable fourth-place finish in a very tough renewal of the Grade 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.

“He ran really well in Germany, for his first time out,” said Durham, noting that the runner-up there, Torquator Tasso, has returned to win the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden. “His form looks good.”

Walton Street will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who will be making his first appearance here since winning aboard Joshua Tree in 2012. That was Dettori's third victory in the Canadian International, following Sulmani in the 2004 edition and Mutafaweq in 2000.

Appleby is taking his first crack at the Canadian International but has won Grade 1 races here with Old Persian (2019 Northern Dancer) and La Pelosa (2018 Natalma).

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Invading from south of the border for the Canadian International will be Corelli, Fantasioso, and Bluegrass Parkway.

Corelli, who began his career in England for owner/breeder George Strawbridge, moved to New York and trainer Jonathan Thomas and finished third in Monmouth Park's Grade 1 United Nations over 1 3/8 miles of firm turf in his best performance. This year, the six-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding is 2-for-4 including his first graded stakes score here last time out in the Singspiel.

Shipping up from his Saratoga base for trainer Jonathan Thomas, Corelli rallied strongly in the Grade 3 Singspiel over 1 ¼-miles of the E.P. Taylor course for a going-away 1 ¾-length score under a heads-up ride by the returning Kazushi Kimura.

“He exited that race in good order, and had two nice works out of it,” said Thomas.

“We're really pleased with him,” he added, while acknowledging that Saturday's 1 ½-mile distance is “a little question mark.”

In his only North American try at the distance, Corelli ended a well-beaten fifth over soft going in Saratoga's Grade 1 Sword Dancer.

“He ran a very good race going a mile and three, and then he ran a mile and a half on bottomless ground,” said Thomas. “It's a little bit of a learning curve for us. He seems to be a mile and a quarter horse on the turf; those are rare distances. But he got over the track there beautifully, and he's starting to relax nicely in his races and finish up, so we're taking a shot.”

Corelli acquitted himself well when travelling 1 ½ miles and thereabouts in the English phase of his career, although not in group company, and will be looking to provide the U.S. a victory in this race won by Europeans in all but one of the last 10 renewals. The outlier was Bullards Alley, the Kentucky shipper who was a major upsetter in in the 2017 edition over a soggy turf course.

Fantasioso was scratched from last Saturday's Calumet Turf Cup, a 1 ½ mile turf race at Kentucky Downs, and has readjusted his sights while seeking his first win since leaving his native Argentina.

A proven marathoner, the six-year-old horse's best effort in this hemisphere was a second-place finish in the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup over two miles of yielding going.

Ignacio Correas IV trains Fantasioso and is a co-owner along with Jeffrey Bloom's Bloom Racing Stable LLC.

Bluegrass Parkway, supplemented to the Canadian International at a cost of $12,000, which includes the regular entry fee, captured the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup over 1 ¼-miles of firm going at Ellis Park but also scratched from the main event.

A five-year-old gelding who was bred in Kentucky by Mike Ryan and is trained there by Mike Maker, Bluegrass Parkway was recording his first stakes win there.

Joel Rosario, coming off an astounding Kentucky Downs meeting, has the mount.

The local contingent for the Canadian International is comprised of English Conqueror, Belichick, and Primo Touch, the first, second and fifth finishers from the Singspiel.

English Conqueror, owned and bred by JWS Farms and trained by Darwin Banach, is a 4-year-old gelding who came up with the best effort of his career despite a less than ideal trip. In his only previous effort over the Canadian International course and distance he was a well-beaten third in last year's Breeders' Stakes.

Belichick, who ended a length behind English Conqueror in the Singspiel, was a comfortable winner of the Breeders', the third leg of the Triple Crown for Canadian-bred three-year-olds. Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods and conditioned by Josie Carroll, the Lemon Drop Kid colt will be ridden by Luis Contreras.

Primo Touch has started since the Singspiel, going coast-to-coast over 1 ¼-miles of turf in allowance company, and is expected to set the pace again here.

All Canadian International entrants carry 126 pounds under the weight-for-age terms.

$600,000 Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Corelli – Kazushi Kimura – Jonathan Thomas
2 – Walton Street – Frankie Dettori – Charlie Appleby
3 – Desert Encounter – Danny Tudhope – David Simcock
4 – Bluegrass Parkway – Patrick Husbands – Mike Maker
5 – Primo Touch – Daisuke Fukumoto – Harold Ladouceur
6 – Fantasioso – Joel Rosario – Ignacio Correas IV
7 – Belichick – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
8 – English Conqueror – Antonio Gallardo – Darwin Banach

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Shedaresthedevil Returns In Locust Grove; Sconsin, Bell’s The One Rematch In Open Mind

Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) hero Shedaresthedevil headlines Saturday's 37th running of the $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/16-miles, the Locust Grove could be used to launch fillies and mares to a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Longines Distaff (G1) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. The Locust Grove is carded as Race 10 with a post time of 10:42 p.m. First post is 6 p.m. The race shares the Saturday night spotlight with the $300,000 Iroquois (G3), $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), $300,000 Open Mind and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

Shedaresthedevil, the 15-1 upset winner of last year's Kentucky Oaks, has been perfect in four starts beneath the Twin Spires. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil surpassed $2 million in earnings with a victory in last month's $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar. Shedaresthedevil began her career at Churchill Downs in 2019 where she had a 3 ¼-length debut win for trainer Norm Casse. Following a three-race stint with California-based conditioner Simon Callaghan, she was transferred to Cox in early 2020.

The now 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil is 3-for-4 to start her 2021 campaign including a one-length score in the $500,000 La Troienne. Jockey Florent Geroux has been aboard Shedaresthedevil for her last eight starts and will be reunited with the eight-time winner Saturday from post No. 7.

Also entered in the Locust Grove is last year's $200,000 Falls City (G2) winner Envoutante. Owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Kenny McPeek, Envoutante finished second to Shedaresthedevil in the La Troienne. Following that race, Envoutante was victorious in the $150,000 Shawnee. The 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo has been away from the races since June 26 when she finished third to arguably the nation's top Distaff contender Letruska in the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (G2).

Envoutante has recorded five victories through 13 starts with stout purse earnings of $571,438. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from post 5.

The field for the Locust Grove from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Crystal Ball (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset)
High Regard (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver)
Lady Kate (Adam Beschizza, Eddie Kenneally)
Matera (Ricardo Santana Jr. Cox)
Envoutante (Hernandez, McPeek)
Our Super Freak (David Cohen, Cherie DeVaux)
Shedaresthedevil (Geroux, Cox)

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One and Fred Schwartz' Sconsin, two of the top prospects for this year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), are set to duel once again in Saturday's $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

Saturday's Open Mind was carded as Race 3 of 11 with a post time of 6:56 p.m. It is the first of five stakes events on the card and shares the spotlight with the $300,000 Iroquois (Grade 3), $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

Three months ago, Bell's the One and Sconsin faced one another in the $110,000 Roxelana where Bell's the One scored the three-quarters of a length victory at odds of 2-1. Trained by Neil Pessin, the accomplished mare Bell's the One has recorded nine victories from 19 lifetime starts and topped more than $1.1 million in purse earnings with her victory in the $200,000 Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga.

The six-furlong Honorable Miss was the first time in Bell's the One's career she was the post time favorite. Jockey Corey Lanerie, who has ridden Bell's the One in 14 prior starts, has the mount Saturday from post No. 5.

Four-time winning filly Sconsin, trained by Greg Foley, was made the 7-5 favorite in the Roxelana but was passed in deep stretch by Bell's the One. Sconsin's 2021 campaign has included a victory in the $150,000 Winning Colors (G3) by 3 ¼ lengths under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Her most recent start was a fourth-place finish behind Gamine in the $500,000 Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga. Gaffalione has the call from post 2.

The Open Mind field also includes two-time stakes winner Mundaye Call and Honorable Miss pacesetter and third-place finisher Ain't No Elmers.

The complete field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Mundaye Call (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)
Sconsin (Gaffalione, Foley)
Ain't No Elmers (Adam Beschizza, Bret Calhoun)
Jungle Juice (IRE) (Alex Achard, Anna Meah)
Bell's the One (Lanerie, Pessin)

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Tamaroak Partners' homebred Bango will attempt to score his seventh victory beneath the historic Twin Spires in Saturday night's fist running of the $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs.

The Louisville Thoroughbred Society, named for the downtown Louisville-based private club that opened its doors in March, was carded as Race 7 at 9:05 p.m. The first of 11 races will begin at 6 p.m.

Trained by Greg Foley, Bango has recorded six of his eight lifetime scores at Churchill Downs. Bango will enter Saturday's six-furlong affair following three-consecutive victories in the $150,000 Aristides, $110,000 Kelly's Landing and $75,000 Good Lord. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard Bango for his narrow victory in the Kelly's Landing, has the call from post No. 5.

Another accomplished sprinter that will enter the Louisville Thoroughbred Society with a three-race win streak is Griffon Farms and trainer Michelle Lovell's homebred Just Might. The seven-time winning son of Justin Phillip spent the summer at Colonial Downs in Virginia where he was victorious in the $100,000 Da Hoss Stakes on turf and $100,000 Chesapeake Stakes on dirt. His last victory at Churchill Downs came in June when he defeated six rivals in the $110,000 Mighty Beau at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.

Just Might's regular jockey Colby Hernandez is riding Saturday at Woodbine so Rafael Bejarano retained the mount from post 3.

The full field for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Dennis' Moment (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans)
Endorsed (Julien Leparoux, Mike Maker)
Just Might (Bejarano, Lovell)
Derby Date (Adam Beschizza, Jack Sisterson)
Bango (Gaffalione, Foley)
Mighty Mischief (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen)

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Irish Champion Victory Sends St Mark’s Basilica To Top Of Cartier Horse Of The Year Standings

Irish Champion Stakes winner St Mark's Basilica is the narrow leader in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings following the latest points update for the Cartier Racing Awards.

The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. There are eight equine awards – the Cartier Horse Of The Year, the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.

The 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards will be awarded in November. Cartier continues its ongoing support with the presentation of the Cartier Racing Awards.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained St Mark's Basilica boasts 160 points having recorded his fourth G1 victory of the season when getting the better of Tarnawa and Poetic Flare in a thrilling battle for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 11. St Mark's Basilica had already enjoyed G1 success this year in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and Coral-Eclipse.

Jim Bolger's homebred Poetic Flare finished a creditable third at Leopardstown and the dual G1 winner is hot on the heels of St Mark's Basilica with 156 points.

Other leading Cartier Horse Of The Year contenders include Palace Pier (144) who cemented his status as the world's best miler when defeating Poetic Flare in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15.

Hurricane Lane completed a G1 hat-trick when capturing the final British Classic of the season, the Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster on September 15. The Godolphin colt had previously won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris and has 140 points.

English and Irish Oaks heroine Snowfall has 136 points but suffered a shock defeat in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 14 as she finished second to the Roger Varian-trained Teona.

Mother Earth (128), trained like Snowfall by Aidan O'Brien for a Coolmore partnership, endured a luckless passage when third to No Speak Alexander in the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11.

Juddmonte International winner Mishriff has 108 points ahead of Godolphin's Adayar (100) who has already captured the Cazoo Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes this term.

Palace Pier (144) also leads the way in the Cartier Older Horse standings ahead of Mishriff (108). The Aidan O'Brien-trained Broome has 88 points having finished second in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy on Arc Trials day at Longchamp, a contest which saw Jerome Reynier's Skalleti (80) finish fourth. Love (80), who was runner-up in the G2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes at the Curragh on September 12, also has 80 points.

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St Mark's Basilica (160) is a narrow leader over Poetic Flare in the Cartier Three-Year-Old category. Hurricane Lane (144) and Adayar (100) are also challenging for the award and the duo could clash in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 3.

Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category with four of the top five contenders. Snowfall leads the race with 136 points, ahead of Mother Earth on 128, with the Andrew Balding-trained Alcohol Free on 96 points. O'Brien is also responsible for Joan Of Arc (64), who finished seventh in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille last time out and Santa Barbara (64), an easy winner of two G1 events in America this summer.

The Cartier Sprinter Award is headed by the Ed Walker-trained Starman on 64 points. The four-year-old landed the G1 Darley July Cup earlier this season and finished a short-head second on his latest start to Emaraaty Ana (52) in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 4.

Dragon Symbol (56) is still chasing a first G1 success but continues to run well in defeat and took fourth in the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on September 12 – a race won by the Eddie Lynam-trained Romantic Proposal (40).

Subjectivist (60) remains the leader in the Cartier Stayer division following his success in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Godolphin's Hurricane Lane has 48 points in this division following his Cazoo St Leger victory at Doncaster, ahead of Cedric Rossi's Skazino (48).

Stradivarius is bidding to win the Cartier Stayer Award for the fourth successive year and has 40 points, having landed his second G2 Doncaster Cup at Doncaster on September 10. G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan and Spanish Mission both have 36 points.

There is nothing to separate Native Trail and Perfect Power at the top of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt category. Godolphin's Native Trail is unbeaten in three starts and produced a seismic performance to capture the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh on September 12, defeating Point Lonsdale (40) and Ebro River (40).

Meanwhile, the Richard Fahey-trained Perfect Power (48), followed up success in the G2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot with a smart victory in the G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville in August.

David Loughnane's G2 scorer Go Bears Go, G2 Unibet Richmond Stakes winner Asymmetric and the Richard Hannon-trained Lusail, who was fourth in the G2 Champagne Stakes on September 11 at Doncaster, are others in contention with 32 points each.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Agartha (40) tops the Cartier Two-Year-Old category following a second-placed finish to Jessica Harrington's Discoveries (36) in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on September 11.

Also in contention are the Andrew Balding-trained Sandrine (32), who won the G3 Albany Stakes and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes earlier this term. Kirsten Rausing's homebred was second to Zain Claudette (24) in the G2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York last month.

The Cartier Racing Awards are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35%).

The participation of the public plays a crucial role in determining the winners of each year's Cartier Racing Awards and gives horseracing fans the chance to put forward their favourite horses in a meaningful way.

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

The 10 most recent recipients have been John Gosden, Pat Smullen, Richard Hannon, Barry Hills, Team Frankel, Jim Bolger, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Jack Berry and Aidan O'Brien.

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