Dylan Thomas named best

Dylan Thomas was named Cartier Horse of the Year in Europe on Wednesday night at the annual Cartier Awards dinner in London.

Dylan Thomas won four Group 1 races in 2007, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but could manage only fifth on the soft ground in the Breeders' Cup Turf. A 4-year-old son of Danehill trained by Aidan O'Brien, he edged Manduro - who beat him in their only meeting, the Prince of Wales Stakes - for both Horse of the Year honors and the best older horse award.

Dylan Thomas will have one last race before retirement, the Japan Cup on Nov. 25.

O'Brien dominated the Cartier Awards, as his three-time Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn, a daughter of Danehill, was named best 3-year-old filly, and Yeats, a 6-year-old son of Sadler's Wells trained by O'Brien, took the best stayer award by dint of victories in the Ascot Gold Cup and the Irish St. Leger.

Authorized, a son of Montjeu trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam who won the Epsom Derby and the Juddmonte International, took 3-year-old colt laurels. Red Clubs, winner of the Haydock Sprint Cup, was the surprise winner of the best sprinter award over Kingsgate Native and Sakhee's Secret.

New Approach landed the 2-year-old colt award. A son of Galileo trained by Jim Bolger, he went 5 for 5, with Group 1 wins in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. Natagora, winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes, was named champion juvenile filly. Trained by Pascal Bary, she is a daughter of the Japanese-bred Sunday Silence stallion Divine Light.

The Cartier Awards are determined by points earned in group races plus the votes of British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph. The official European championships will be announced in early January as part of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.