Ramonti Confirms His Class As He Chases Cartier Awards Recognition

Godolphin's fantastic miler Ramonti made it three Group One wins for the season with a characteristically tenacious victory under Frankie Dettori in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 29, to keep himself firmly in contention for Cartier Racing Awards honours.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained five-year-old has 128 points in the race to be crowned Cartier Older Horse, 20 points less than current leader Dylan Thomas, after holding the late charge of the three-year-old Excellent Art for the second time this season.

The Cartier Racing Awards, now in their 17th year, are European horseracing's most prestigious accolades, and will be presented during a glittering ceremony in London on November 14, 2007. The coveted eight horse awards celebrate the champions of the Turf, plus one person.

Horseracing's equivalent of the Oscars, the Cartier Racing Awards 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 excellence.

Ramonti's excellent five-race campaign has seen him win three of the biggest mile races in Europe - the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the BGC Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, while taking runner-up spot in both the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

The Godolphin horse appears locked in a three-way battle for the Cartier Older Horse Award, with Cartier Horse Of The Year possibilities as well, with King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Dylan Thomas and the brilliant Andre Fabre-trained Manduro (120), whose career was sadly cut short due to injury, while the trio are also in the running for the Cartier Horse of The Year Award.

Crack French filly Darjina (112), owned by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, was unable to enhance her already glittering record as she came home last of the seven runners in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on unsuitably soft ground. She still trails four-time Group One winner Peeping Fawn (142) in the contest for the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award.

English and Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo (88), winner of the 2006 Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Award, will attempt to close the gap on the leading pair in the Three-Year-Old Filly division when she contests the Group One Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, October 6.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Listen (56) shook up the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly category when defeating the highly-regarded French raider Proviso by a length in the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile at Ascot on September 29, with dual Group One winner Saoirse Abu (76) third.

Epsom Derby winner Authorized (112) heads to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 7, in pole position to claim the Cartier Three-Year-Old Award, and is also a leading contender for the coveted Cartier Horse Of The Year Award, having added the Juddmonte International Stakes at York to his Epsom triumph.

Authorized will not have it all his own way in Europe's big end of season showpiece as he faces a strong field including fellow three-year-old Soldier Of Fortune (88), stunning winner of the Budweiser Irish Derby and successful in the Group Two Prix Niel Casino Barriere d'Enghien over the Arc course and distance on September 16.

Prix du Jockey Club Mitsubishi Motors victor Lawman (89) and dual 2,000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel (72) have both retired to stud, while Ladbrokes St Leger hero Lucarno (80) is finished for the campaign.

There is no change in the points standings in the Cartier Two-Year-Old colt category with Jim Bolger's unbeaten colt New Approach leading the way with 56 points. With Group One contests at Longchamp and Newmarket this week, the picture could change dramatically.

Yeats (72) appears on course for a second Cartier Stayer Award to go with the one he collected last year after an unbeaten campaign that has seen him collect a second Gold Cup at Ascot as well as securing success in the Irish Field St Leger, and the brilliant Ballydoyle stayer is pencilled in for a trip to Longchamp this weekend for either the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe or Prix du Cadran.

The Kevin Prendergast-trained Haatef's triumph in the Group Two John Guest Diadem Stakes at Ascot on September 30, was not enough to trouble the leaders in the points table for the Cartier Sprinter Award, headed by Group One Betfred Sprint Cup winner Red Clubs (56), who is closely followed by French speedster Marchand D'Or (52). Soldiers Tale has 36 points and two-year-old Kingsgate Native, Dutch Art and Sakhee's Secret are all on 32 points. Many of the leading contenders will line up in the five-furlong Group One Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp in Paris on Sunday.

Harry Herbert, Cartier's racing consultant, said today: 'The competition for Cartier Racing Awards is really hotting up now as the season moves towards a thrilling climax.

'The air of excited anticipation is palpable as we head to Longchamp and Newmarket this weekend for a real feast of racing, which epitomises what the Cartier Racing Awards are all about.

'Ramonti threw down a real challenge for the Cartier Horse Of the Year Award by winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and it will be interesting to see whether the likes of Authorized and Soldier Of Fortune can rise to it.'

Points Awarded In Pattern Races Up To And Including September 30

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly

• SAOIRSE ABU 76
• LISTEN 56
• NATAGORA 40
• ELLETELLE 28
• FLEETING SPIRIT 28

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt

• NEW APPROACH 56
• MYBOYCHARLIE 48
• HENRYTHENAVIGATOR 36
• KINGSGATE NATIVE 36
• RIO DE LA PLATA 32

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt

• AUTHORIZED 112
• LAWMAN 89
• SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 88
• LUCARNO 80
• COCKNEY REBEL 72

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly

• PEEPING FAWN 142
• DARJINA 112
• FINSCEAL BEO 88
• LIGHT SHIFT 68
• MRS LINDSAY 56

Cartier Stayer

• YEATS 72
• GEORDIELAND 48
• ALLEGRETTO 36
• SEPTIMUS 32
• HI CALYPSO 24

Cartier Sprinter

• RED CLUBS 56
• MARCHAND D'OR 52
• SOLDIERS TALE 36
• DUTCH ART 32
• KINGSGATE NATIVE 32

Cartier Older Horse

• DYLAN THOMAS 148
• RAMONTI 128
• MANDURO 120
• NOTNOWCATO 73
• YEATS 72