St Mark’s Basilica was crowned Horse of the Year at the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards ceremony held Nov. 10 at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt by Siyouni , who racked up four group 1 wins in an unbeaten 3-year-old campaign, became the sixth horse owned by a member of a Coolmore partnership to win the award but the first since Minding in 2016.
St Mark’s Basilica also took the honors in the 3-year-old colt category after a season in which he won the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1), Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1), Coral Eclipse (G1), and Irish Champion Stakes (G1).
Palace Pier (by Kingman ), owned by Shadwell Estate and trained by John and Thady Gosden, won the older horse award after a superb season which included wins in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1), Queen Anne (G1), and the Prix du Haras de Fresnay Le Buffard Jacques Le Marois (G1).
O’Brien and Coolmore picked up another award when dual Classic winner Snowfall was named 3-year-old filly for 2021. The daughter of Deep Impact recorded the largest winning margin in the history of the Cazoo Oaks (G1) in June when winning by 16 lengths.
The sprinter honors went the best way of Starman for trainer Ed Walker and owner David Ward after an admirable season headlined by success in the Darley July Cup (G1).
The increasingly popular Trueshan (FR) was stayer of the year after his hat-trick in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (G1), Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1), and QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2) for Alan King.
Not surprisingly, the prolific and unbeaten Native Trail was named top 2-year-old colt. Owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Oasis Dream won two group 1s in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (G1) and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1).
Fellow Newmarket-trained Inspiral took the honors in the 2-year-old filly category, a second award of the night for the Gosdens. The Cheveley Park-owned filly won all four of her starts in 2021, culminating in the Bet365 Fillies’ Mile (G1).
The recipient of the Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2021 was trainer David Elsworth. In a racing career spanning almost 67 years, Elsworth has scaled the pinnacles of both flat and jump racing, combining Classic success with victories in the Grand National (G1) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (G1).
