November 19, 2009

The exceptional Sea The Stars was named Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Colt at the 2009 Cartier Racing Awards, which were presented at Claridge's Hotel in London before an invited audience of 200 on Tuesday night.

Sea The Stars swept all before him as he won each of his six races in 2009, all in Group One company. The first two of those victories were in Classic races and he thus became the first horse in 20 years to win both the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom Downs. Few horses in history have possessed that unique ability to win over a mile on the first weekend in May and then stretch their stamina to a mile and a half just five weeks later.

After clinching the Derby, Sea The Stars dropped down to 10 furlongs for his next three starts and emphasised his dominance against the best in Europe with triumphs in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, the Juddmonte International at York and the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Home-bred out of the Tsui family's outstanding mare Urban Sea, Sea The Stars then emulated his dam with victory in Europe's top middle distance race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 12 furlongs at Longchamp, France, in October.

No horse before him had added Arc success to wins in the 2000 Guineas and Derby and that victory stamped him as one of the all-time great champions. Some have called him the greatest all-time racehorse, while others argue he is best for 20, 30, 40 or 50 years.

In the outstanding Cartier Horse of the Year Category, Sea the Stars prevailed from the sensational two-time Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova, dual Breeders' Cup Turf victor Conduit, Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mastercraftsman and the brilliant 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati. Between them, the five nominees gained 16 Group One races in 2009.

Sea The Stars also took the honours in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category from crack miler Rip Van Winkle, Mastercraftsman, runaway Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory and Prix du Jockey Club hero Le Havre.

Hong Kong-based owner Christopher Tsui dedicated the award to his mother Ling, who bred Sea The Stars out of the family's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea. The mare died earlier this year after having her final foal.

"This award belongs to somebody else and I am collecting it on her behalf," said Tsui. "This person is my mother Ling. It was her love and faith for Urban Sea, her relentless passion and dedication to breed from her and her understanding of the thoroughbred that made it all possible.

"Fifteen years ago she was alone in thinking that Urban Sea would become the best broodmare in the world. Today I think it would be fairly difficult to disagree with her. And I am so proud of what she has achieved. Against all odds with only one mare, she was able to make dreams come true."

Goldikova topped a very strong division to clinch the Cartier Champion Older Horse Award. With four Group One wins on the board this year, including that scintillating second Breeders' Cup Mile triumph, the Freddie Head-trained filly saw off Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by Betfair) winner Conduit, as well as Fleeting Spirit, Dar Re Mi and impressive Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes victor Vision d'Etat.

The Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt category was particularly competitive but it was the unbeaten Group One Racing Post Trophy winner St Nicholas Abbey who took the 2009 Award. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt pipped Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere scorer Siyouni, the unbeaten pair of Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes hero Awzaan and Group One Prix Morny winner Arcano, as well as Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf victor Pounced.

Special Duty stormed to success in the Group One Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in October and she has been crowned the Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Filly for 2009. The Criquette Head-Maarek-trained youngster won two from four starts and defeated colts when winning the Group Two Prix Robert Papin. Also nominated were Termagant, winner of the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes, Rosanara, Hibaayeb and Lady Of The Desert.

Sariska won the Investec Oaks at Epsom and cruised to a spectacular victory in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh. In a close-run contest, the Michael Bell-trained Pivotal filly took the 2009 Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Award from 1,000 Guineas and Group One Coronation Stakes winner Ghanaati, and the Henry Cecil-trained Midday, who added the Grade One Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf to a Group One Blue Square Nassau Stakes triumph. Runaway Prix de Diane winner Stacelita and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Elusive Wave were also nominated.

Yeats ensured his place among the greats with a record fourth victory in the Gold Cup at Ascot. The Sadler's Wells eight-year-old, who aroused great emotion when winning the Royal Ascot feature, was named the Cartier Champion Stayer for 2009, thus becoming the first horse to win a Cartier Award four times. In a tough division, he headed Alandi, who defeated Yeats in both the Group One Irish Field St Leger and Group One Qatar Prix du Cadran. Also in the running for recognition were the top-class Ask, Schiaparelli and Askar Tau.

Fleeting Spirit's victory in the Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket, where she defeated a whole host of top-class sprinters from far and wide, sees her receive the 2009 Cartier Champion Sprinter Award. Group One Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye winner Total Gallery was also in contention, as was the popular Borderlescott who secured a second successive win in the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August. Group One winners Art Connoisseur and King's Apostle were also nominated.

John Oxx, the trainer of Sea The Stars, was voted the 2009 Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit winner. The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit is for the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 18-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.