Thursday, November 18, 2004

GREAT EXCITEMENT AT THE CARTIER RACING AWARDS

Before the awards' ceremony got under way, there were tributes to owner Robert Sangster and trainer Alec Stewart, who both died earlier this year, for their outstanding contribution to racing.

A 285-strong audience of leading owners, trainers, breeders and racing personalities attended the 2004 Cartier Racing Awards, European horseracing's equivalent of the Oscars.

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt
SHAMARDAL (USA)

finishing order
SHAMARDAL
ORATORIO
DUBAWI
WILKO
AD VALOREM

Michael Goodbody, manager of Gainsborough Stud which owns Shamardal, said: "I would like to thank Cartier and The Daily Telegraph for this great award but above all thanks go to Mark Johnston and his great team of people who have kept this horse on the road because he hasn't been the easiest to train - thank you Mark."

Afterwards, he added: "Mark [Johnston - the trainer] has done a fantastic job with Shamardal this year. The colt was supposed to be a wobbler, which is a horse that loses co-ordination and you think they're lame - sometimes it comes right, sometimes it doesn't, but he wasn't.

"He's been a great success and has now gone to Godolphin - I hope that they win everything with him - it's been great fun."

Mark Johnston said: "I am delighted and Shamardal is a magnificent horse - I can't say that I am surprised, he deserved it,

"Shamardal has a very, very similar style of racing to Attraction - he's got so much speed in the first half a mile and we didn't set to train him to do that - it just happened. When they've gone three or four furlongs, you don't take them back. He's brilliant.

"As far as Attraction goes, when she won her maiden and the Listed Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley, we said that she owes us nothing and she's gone on to win four Group Ones this year.

"All credit to Ouija Board while Soviet Song is another great filly and I wouldn't have been surprised if she had won. It looks like all three might be back next year."

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly
DIVINE PROPORTIONS (USA)

finishing order
DIVINE PROPORTIONS
DAMSON
SOAR
MAIDS CAUSEWAY
PLAYFUL ACT

"Teamwork has always been important in producing top racehorses - Pascal [Bary- the trainer] said he must hold the trophy and I speak! Thank you to Cartier and thank you also to all those at the Daily Telegraph who helped us to win this award," commented Alan Cooper, racing manager to the owners, the Niarchos Family.

"Thank goodness we didn't have any seagulls at Deauville in August which Harry talked about earlier on [a reference to Harry Herbert's opening speech when he quoted some of the top 50 excuses told by jockeys to Australian connections which included: "The b*****d was attacked by a seagull]!

"Also thanks to Pascal, his team and Gildas Poeive, who looked after Divine Proportions from the very start - thank you all very much."

Afterwards, Pascal Bary said: "Divine Proportions is a wonderful filly - she was unbeaten in five starts including two Group Ones so I think this year she was the best.

"She beat the colts as well and I hope that she'll be as good, if not better, next year.

"It is difficult to compare fillies from different years - she is unbeaten, has a lovely character and a lot of class.

"I don't know if she'll go for the English or French Guineas but I would like to win a race in England one day."

Alan Cooper added: "Cartier have done a wonderful job for racing. To be nominated for these awards is exceptional and to win is even better. It is a wonderful tribute to Bago and Divine Proportions that they also had Horse of the Year nominations.

"Divine Proportions has been great for Pascal [Bary] and great for the team. Pascal thought that she was a wonderful filly and that we would go the same programme as last year [with Denebola] and he was absolutely right.

"She'll go for one of the classic trials in France for her first start next year, probably the Prix de la Grotte rather than the Prix Imprudence, and then the French or English Guineas - one or the other - and hopefully all will go well."

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
BAGO (FR)

finishing order
BAGO
AZAMOUR
RULE OF LAW
HAAFHD
NORTH LIGHT

Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos Family, said: "I think this year, 2004, we have had an exceptional number of three-year-old colts so it is a particular honour to receive this trophy tonight.

"Once again thank you Cartier, the readers of the Daily Telegraph and everyone else involved with the trophy.

"Also thank you Jonathan [Pease - the trainer] and his team - it's been a difficult year for Bago. The programme didn't go according to plan early on in the year, but the end of the year turned out extremely well. Thanks to Jonathan and everyone else involved for this great success."

Afterwards, Alan Cooper added: "Bago is an exceptional horse and Jonathan [Pease] said before he ran that he was something special.

"As a two-year-old, he was unbeaten and then he got sick so he came out later than we expected this year. His two defeats came on ground that didn't suit him and anyway, in the 12-furlong Prix Niel, the race didn't pan out right.

"After that, the ground dried out in France and everything went well in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

"Ouija Board won at Lone Star Park and I fully understand her success in the Cartier Horse of the Year Award as she won Group Ones in England, Ireland and the USA.

"It's very difficult to make comparisons involving good horses, but I think Bago is an exceptional horse.

"He will probably run over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half next year - we might go back to York next year, for the Royal meeting, and run in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes."

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
OUIJA BOARD (GB)

finishing order
OUIJA BOARD
ATTRACTION
QUIFF
GREY LILAS
ALEXANDER GOLDRUN

"I can't tell you what an incredible pleasure it is to pick up this wonderful award. It's been the year of the fillies and there's been two incredible fillies (Attraction being the other) and only one can win it and it's us tonight," commented Lord Derby, Ouija Board's owner.

"Arnaud [Bamberger] - it's a great pleasure, my very good friend, to receive this wonderful award from you.

"But it is all about teamwork and it's been an incredible year - just 12 months ago I couldn't begin to anticipate what was going to be in front of us this year. To be an owner/breeder is just an unbelievable achievement and incredible help and praise goes to my brother Peter Stanley.

"It's just been a great team, with Kieren Fallon, who has ridden her and our trainer Ed Dunlop.

"But the filly is the star of the show, Ouija Board, it's the fillies' year - it's your award."

Cartier Sprinter of the Year
SOMNUS (GB)

finishing order
SOMNUS
THE TATLING
VAR
WHIPPER
TANTE ROSE

Lady Caroline Legard said: "Ladies and gentlemen - thank you, gosh what a privilege to be here and what a horse. We are just the luckiest owners on the planet.

"All thanks go to Tim (Easterby - the trainer) and all the team at Habton - Somnus hasn't been easy to train and they've kept him on the road which is fantastic. Being a gelding, he just could go on to greater things.

"Thank you to all those who voted for him, thank you to Cartier and thank you to the Daily Telegraph, who very generously called us a firm of Yorkshire solicitors [Somnus is listed as being owned by Legard, (Roger) Sidebottom & (Sir Tatton) Sykes]!"

Afterwards, Tim Easterby commented: "Somnus has always been a top horse in every way for me - he was my best two-year-old.

"He's a very, very good horse and an exceptional athlete. If everything goes right, he stays in training.

"I don't know how Soviet Song got out of Yorkshire - she was next to Somnus at the (Doncaster) sales and I loved her. I expressed my wishes but she was on her way to Newmarket."

Cartier Stayer of the Year
WESTERNER (GB)

finishing order
WESTERNER
PAPINEAU
CUT QUARTZ
VINNIE ROE
MILLENARY

"I wish to thank Cartier and also the Daily Telegraph for Westerner being named the Stayer of the Year," said Alec Wildenstein, the owner of Westerner.

"This horse is an extraordinary horse and, thanks to his trainer [Elie Lellouche], he has been a joy to have. I think we'll enjoy him next year and maybe the following year

"It's unique to have a stayer like this and to have bred his grandmother, his mother and now him. Thank you very much."

Afterwards, Alec Wildenstein added: "This is wonderful but the horse deserves the trophy more than me.

"I hope next year Westerner will be just as game. At Ascot [in the Gold Cup] the ground was too fast. We want to win that race and we're going to try to.

"I bred his grandmother and his mother and he is an extraordinary character as he seems to know people.

"The jockeys say that they don't do anything on him, they just ride him and follow what he wants."

Cartier Older Horse of the Year
SOVIET SONG (IRE)

finishing order
SOVIET SONG
DOYEN
RAKTI
REFUSE TO BEND
WARRSAN

Tony Hill, founder of the Elite Racing Club, said: "Wow - well thanks Cartier, thanks the Daily Telegraph and thank you to James Fanshawe (the trainer) for doing such a fantastic job with Soviet Song and most of all may I thank the 15,000 members of the Elite Racing Club.

"I really just had no idea when I first started this club that it would be so successful but there we are. Thank you very much."

Afterwards, James Fanshawe commented: "It's a great award to win against strong competition and it's marvellous for Soviet Song and the Elite Racing Club.

"She has always shown quality at home and was disappointing last year. There was a lot of me saying [how good she is] and her not doing it. Johnny Murtagh and Soviet Song was the crucial partnership which came right, making her unbeatable.

"I hope that she will come back next year - she's having a holiday at the moment and we'll see how things are going in the new year. She didn't run her race in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and came back a bit sore.

"She's a great filly with a great turn of foot and I hope that we can find a few more like her."

Matthew Budden, manager of the Elite Racing Club, remarked: "It is a real thrill to win this award - to be up against such distinguished competition and come out on top is everything you dream about.

"We are a large racing club and to have a horse like this is the pinnacle of what you can achieve. The members will be delighted - we have had a lot of interest from them before the Cartier Awards.

"She is a really tough, genuine proper Group One horse and we are very proud of what she has achieved.

"She has got a minor injury and we don't know whether she will be able to race again - the hope is that she will be able to carry on next year and, if she does, then we hope she will surpass what she has done this year and, if she doesn't, then she will be a great addition to our breeding programme."

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AWARD OF MERIT

DAVID & PATRICIA THOMPSON - CHEVELEY PARK STUD

"For once I'm lost for words - my son [Richard] is pleased about that!," commented Patricia Thompson.

"I really think this marvellous award is a great compliment to the Cheveley Park team so ably managed by Chris Richardson and I would also like to say thank you to Sir Michael Stoute (trainer and a director of the stud)for his words of wisdom over the last 20 years

"And last but not least my husband for my access to his chequebook!"

Patricia Thompson was accompanied on stage by her son Richard, daughter Katie and Chris Richardson.

Afterwards, she added: "I am absolutely thrilled and it is a shame my husband is not here [unfortunately he was unable to attend due to illness] - this award is totally unexpected and much appreciated.

"I can't believe the nice things they said about us [on a tribute film featuring among others trainers Sir Michael Stoute, John Gosden, William Haggas and Sir Mark Prescott] - I got rather embarrassed actually!

"We go back further than they said with my first horse in 1967 and my father was a breeder - until we did it ourselves, I didn't appreciate the hard work involved!

"We have a marvellous team led by Chris Richardson and thanks to them we've learnt how to do it properly.

"Russian Rhythm was amazing and we did buy her, but all the others have been home-bred and that is much more fulfilling. Russian Rhythm is the backbone of the future for us."

Cartier Horse of the Year
OUIJA BOARD (GB)

finishing order
OUIJA BOARD
SOVIET SONG
BAGO
ATTRACTION
DIVINE PROPORTIONS

Lord Derby said: "I can't believe that I'm back up here again - this is just unbelievable - it has been such an emotional evening at the end of an incredible year.

"But I think we should say Happy Birthday Guy [Roxburghe, owner of Attraction] - it's a tough call and I hope you're having a great time out in St Barts!

"All year we've been writing to each other, the letters have gone: Congratulations, good luck you,' and it's come back: Thank you, good luck to you,' and so on, to and fro all year.

"And then we've been saying to each other, thank goodness, you don't go an inch over a mile, we don't go below a mile and a quarter, so we'll never meet. We'd rather forgotten about this end of the season.

"She's just been an incredible filly - she's the horse of a lifetime and it's all down to the team around her and our good friends here tonight. I'm a regular Telegraph reader and I've a feeling the wife's going to Cartier in the morning!

"Thank goodness for a great trainer - let's hope his rather extended string next year can do as well. Thank you."

Lord Derby, his wife Cassie, brother Peter Stanley and trainer Ed Dunlop all accepted the Cartier Horse Of The Year Award.

Afterwards, Lord Derby added: "I feel sorry for Guy Roxburghe (Attraction's owner) but Ouija Board is an incredible filly and it's a wonderful story. Also Attraction did win the Cartier two-year-old filly award last year.

"When Ouija Board hacked up by seven lengths at Epsom, it was a dream come true.

"It's all about teamwork - there's my brother Peter Stanley on the stud and, having planned out the mating for us, brought her up, Ed Dunlop has just trained her beautifully and Kieren Fallon has ridden her superbly throughout - I'm a very lucky owner."

Ed Dunlop declared: "I'd like to thank Lord Derby for allowing us to go to America and also, of course, for keeping her in training as a four-year-old.

"But my team has done a fantastic job and without them we wouldn't be here."

LEE SET TO UNLEASH PROMISING ALMAYDAN AT AINTREE ON SATURDAY

The six-year-old won twice on the Flat in 2002 and was successful twice last season in novice hurdle company at Taunton and Exeter.

He made his chasing debut at Huntingdon on October 31, when he put up a fine performance to defeat the well-regarded Be Fair readily by two and a half lengths.

The Herefordshire-based trainer revealed this morning: "Almaydan is certainly going to run in the Sharp Minds Betfair Novices' Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

"He's come out of his race at Huntingdon well and I'm delighted with him."

Almaydan has made one previous appearance at Aintree, running well to finish fourth in a handicap hurdle under top weight back in May and Lee believes that the Merseyside track suits his charge: "Aintree should suit him well as it is a sharp, left-handed track. I don't think which way round bothers him so much, as he won on a right-handed track last time, but he certainly likes a sharp track.

"He's won on good and good to soft ground, although I wouldn't want it to rain too much more for him."

Since Lee took out a training licence in 1986, some fine horses have passed through his hands including the likes of Aintree Festival winners Macgeorge, Delius and Swardean as well as Cheltenham Festival scorers Super Coin and Space Fair and the trainer believes that Almaydan is well up there with them.

"I seriously think he is one of the best horses I've ever trained - so does the handicapper I might add!"

Subject to the rules of the betfair.com Jockeys' Challenge, Lee is hoping to secure the services of Tom Doyle: "Tom's schooled him and knows him well. It will be the first time he's ridden him in a race, if chosen, but he gets on well with the horse."

This is the second betfair.com Jockeys' Challenge of 2004, with Britain beating Ireland by 56 points to 38 in the first event at Limerick in July. Last year's betfair.com Jockeys' Challenge at Aintree saw Great Britain overcome Ireland by 67 points to 30.

Three of the four races involved in the betfair.com Jockeys' Challenge will be broadcast live on the BBC, including the £50,000 betfair.com Grand Sefton Chase (2.20pm) over the Grand National fences, while a recording will be shown of the first race, the betfair.com Jockeys' Challenge Handicap Hurdle (12.45pm). betfair.com will also be running a market on the challenge.

The winning team receives the betfair.com Perpetual Trophy while the trainer whose horses score most points will get £1,000 and their yard will receive £2,000. The jockey gaining the highest level of points wins dinner, bed and breakfast and a four-ball at a top UK golf course. Additionally, the trainer and jockey scoring most points will be awarded a £1,000 donation to a charity of their choice.

The scoring system is 10 points for a win, 7 points for a second, 5 points for a third, 3 points for a fourth and one point for a fifth place. The team captains will make their selections following tomorrow's overnight declaration stage.

Roy Evans, the Great Britain Team Manager, formed an integral part of Liverpool Football Club's set-up since his playing debut in 1969. Having been an important member of the coaching team during a golden era at Anfield, he served as manager from 1994 to 1998 and nurtured the careers of players such as Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman. He also had a spell as Swindon's manager in 2001.

Ireland's Team Manager Jim Culloty has won the last three renewals of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on the great Best Mate but is currently on the sidelines after breaking his thumb at Exeter on November 2.

Carl Llewellyn, Team Captain for Britain, and Ireland's team captain Graham Lee are two of the most successful jockeys currently riding. Llewellyn has won the Grand National twice, aboard Party Politics in 1992 and Earth Summit in 1998, while Lee recorded a memorable victory in the 2004 renewal of the world's greatest race on Ginger McCain's Amberleigh House.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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