Golden Horn named Cartier Horse of the Year

Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn finished second to Found making his final start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but he was judged second to none in European racing during 2015 when named Cartier Horse of the Year on Tuesday in England.

Three-year-old Golden Horn, bred and owned by Anthony Oppenheimer, trained by John Gosden, and ridden by Frankie Dettori, added Group 1 wins in the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes to go with his powerhouse Derby-Arc double, and that was more than enough to garner the Cartier Award.

Solow, Europe’s best miler this year, won the Cartier for champion older horse on the strength of a perfect 2015 campaign for trainer Freddie Head and owners-breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer. Emerging from relative obscurity late last year, Solow scored Group 1 wins in the Dubai Turf, the Prix d’Ispahan, the Queen Anne, the Sussex, and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, a tremendous campaign.

Other Cartier winners include Muhaarar, who was named champion sprinter; Legatissimo, champion 3-year-old filly; Simple Verse, champion stayer; Air Force Blue, champion 2-year-old colt; and Minding, champion 2-year-old filly. Golden Horn also was named champion 3-year-old colt.