Ouija Board named Europe’s best
Dual classic winner OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]), who
shipped to America to easily capture the Breeders’ Cup Filly
& Mare Turf (G1) in her last start, was named Horse of the
Year at the 2004 Cartier Racing Awards. Held at the Four Seasons
Hotel in London on Wednesday evening, the awards ceremony is
Europe’s equivalent of the Eclipse Awards.
Owned by Lord Derby and trained by Ed Dunlop, Ouija Board
captured both the English (Eng-G1) and Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) this
year and finished a fast-closing third against males in the Prix
de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). She recorded a 4-0-1 mark from five
starts in 2004 and also won the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
award. The homebred lass is expected to remain in training at
four.
Fillies more than held their own against male rivals, taking
both Horse of the Year and Top Older Horse honors. The four-year-old
SOVIET SONG (Marju), winner of the Sussex S. (Eng-G1) over males,
also captured the Falmouth S. (Eng-G1), Matron S. (Eng-G1) and
Ridgewood Pearl S. (Ire-G2) this season and just missed when
second in the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1) against the boys. The James
Fanshawe trainee is slated to race again in 2005.
Arc hero BAGO (Nashwan), who was in the running for Horse of
the Year honors, took home the Cartier Three-Year-Old award for
the Niarchos Family. A three-time Group 1 winner this year in
France, Bago is trained at Chantilly by Jonathan Pease and will
remain in training next year.
The juvenile categories went to a pair of highly promising and
undefeated runners. SHAMARDAL (Giant’s Causeway), who recorded
three highly impressive victories in England this year for
trainer Mark Johnston, won the Two-Year-Old Colt award. DIVINE
PROPORTIONS (Kingmamo), who recorded two Group 1 wins in France
while posting a five-for-five mark, earned the Two-Year-Old Filly
prize. Trained by Pascal Bary, Divine Proportions was also
nominated for Horse of the Year.
In the other horse categories, SOMNUS (Pivotal), who capped an
excellent season with a victory in the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1)
at Longchamp, was named Top Sprinter. The Cartier Top Stayer
award went to WESTERNER (Danehill), a two-time Group 1 winner in
France this year.
David and Patricia Thompson, owners of Cheveley Park Stud in
Newmarket, were honored with the Cartier Daily Telegraph Award of
Merit, which goes to the person or persons who have done the most
for European racing and/or breeding over their lifetime or within
the past 12 months.