First 2007 Cartier Racing Awards Points

>> Finsceal Beo Makes The Early Running

>> Cockney Rebel And Authorized Stake Claims

Finsceal Beo sets the early pace in the race for honours in the 2007 Cartier Racing Awards, European horseracing's most prestigious accolades, which will be presented during a glittering ceremony in London, England, on November 14, 2007.

The Cartier Racing Awards, now in their 17th year, celebrate the champions of the Turf, plus one outstanding individual.

The coveted eight horse awards, horseracing's equivalent of the Oscars, are determined by points earned in Pattern races combined with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists plus votes from readers of the Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph, a system which accurately rewards supreme achievement.

The Jim Bolger-trained Finsceal Beo took the 2006 Cartier Award for Two-Year-Old Filly and has already staked a strong claim for this year's Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award, as well as the coveted Cartier Horse Of The Year Award, after completing the elusive English/Irish 1,000 Guineas double, only the second filly to do so following Attraction in 2004.

Finsceal Beo currently has 88 points, the highest total so far. The Mr Greeley filly captured the Stan James-sponsored Newmarket Classic in devastating style in early May before an audacious bid for a Classic treble just came unstuck on the softer than ideal Longchamp turf, as she was caught close home by Darjina in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas).

Finsceal Beo's subsequent Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas success gives her a lead of 40 points over Vodafone Oaks heroine Light Shift (48 points) in the three-year-old filly category.

The Niarchos Family-owned Light Shift gave Henry Cecil, winner of the Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit at the 2005 Cartier Racing Awards, a hugely popular eighth Vodafone Oaks success on June 1, while providing jockey Ted Durcan with a well-deserved first British Classic triumph.

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Darjina, unbeaten in three outings, has 40 points, while her unbeaten compatriot Coquerelle, winner of the Group One Prix Saint-Alary, is on 32 points and Vodafone Oaks runner-up Peeping Fawn has 30.

Authorized threw his hat in the ring for the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Award with a devastating five-length victory in the Vodafone Derby on June 2, that ended jockey Frankie Dettori's 15-year hoodoo in the Epsom Classic.

The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained colt has 64 points. He is second at the moment in the three-year-old colt division behind dual 2,000 Guineas hero Cockney Rebel who has accrued 72 points but will have plenty of opportunities to close the gap

Geoff Huffer's charge took the Stan James 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in fine style under Olivier Peslier before adding the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh by a length from Creachadoir (36 points), who had also finished runner-up in the French equivalent behind Astronomer Royal (32 points).

Dettori took his second Derby in two days on June 3, when he executed a brilliant front-running display aboard the Jean-Marie Beguigne-trained Lawman (57 points) in the French version, the Prix du Jockey Club Mitsubishi Motors at Chantilly.

The older horse division looks particularly competitive this year with Breeders' Cup Turf winner Red Rocks, 2006 Vodafone Derby hero Sir Percy, the brilliant two-time Cartier Award winner George Washington, prolific mare Red Evie and last season's Irish Derby winner Dylan Thomas among a host of top-class performers remaining in training.

The last named, winner of the Group One Prix Ganay at Longchamp in April, leads what is already looking a tight chase for the Cartier Older Horse Award, with 44 points.

Aidan O'Brien's charge is only four points ahead of the Andre Fabre-trained Manduro, who scored an easy success in the Group One Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp on May 20.

The 2005 Ladbrokes St Leger winner Scorpion landed the Group One Vodafone Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 1, to take his tally to 36 points, while Red Evie's Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes win takes her to 32 points and Notnowcato, narrow conqueror of Dylan Thomas in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 27, has 25 points.

The Rod Millman-trained Sergeant Cecil is one of the most popular horses in training and his success in the Group Two Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup at York in May puts him on 17 points, one more than Allegretto who won the Group Two WBX.COM Henry II Stakes at Sandown on May 29, and the French-trained Lord Du Sud.

The sprinting division, which promises to be a fascinating spectacle this season, sees Group Two Prix du Gros-Chene Mitsubishi Motors first and second, Beauty Is Truth and Peace Offering, leading the way with 20 points apiece.

The Kevin Ryan-trained Amadeus Wolf, winner of the Group Two Duke Of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes is next best on 16 points, the equal of Group Two Betfair Temple Stakes heroine Sierra Vista.

Harry Herbert, Cartier's racing consultant, commented today: 'The very high standard of the Classics so far is encouraging for the rest of the season and it will be fascinating to see how Authorized, Darjina, Cockney Rebel, Finsceal Beo, Lawman and Light Shift progress..

'The Cartier Racing Awards reward excellence and, with so many good older horses waiting to test the mettle of the Classic crop, we can certainly expect more exceptional performances in the coming months.'

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly

• Finsceal Beo 88
• Light Shift 48
• Darjina 40
• Coquerelle 32
• Peeping Fawn 30

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt

• Cockney Rebel 72
• Authorized 64
• Lawman 57
• Creachadoir 36
• Astronomer Royal 32

Cartier Older Horse

• Dylan Thomas 44
• Manduro 40
• Scorpion 36
• Red Evie 32
• Notnowcato 25

Cartier Sprinter

• Beauty Is Truth 20
• Peace Offering 20
• Amadeus Wolf 16
• Sierra Vista 16
• Moss Vale 14

Cartier Stayer

• Sergeant Cecil 17
• Allegretto 16
• Lord Du Sud 16
• Ponte Tresa 10