Derby Heroes Level In Cartier Standings

Dylan Thomas joins Vodafone Derby hero Sir Percy at the head of the points in the race to win the 2006 Cartier Racing Award for three-year-old colts, and possibly the Cartier Horse of the Year Award, following his scintillating triumph in the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday, July 2.

The Aidan O´Brien-trained colt found Sir Percy just a short-head and head too good when third at Epsom, but after his impressive three and a half length defeat of Gentlewave (60 points) at the Curragh, the two Derby winners are level on 72 points, with all still to play for.

The Cartier Racing Awards, European racing´s most prestigious accolades which are now in their 16th year, are revealed and presented after the end of the 2006 Flat season at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mayfair, London, England, on Wednesday, November 15.

They honour the champions of the Turf, plus one person, and are European horseracing´s equivalent of the Oscars.

The eight horse awards are determined by points earned in Pattern races (see latest tables below) 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.

Dylan Thomas is bidding to emulate Hurricane Run who took the Curragh Classic en route to securing the Cartier Racing Award for three-year-old colts and the Cartier Horse Of The Year Award in 2005.

Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas and impressive St James´s Palace Stakes victor Araafa is keeping tabs on the leading duo with 62 points, while the brilliant Stan James 2000 Guineas hero George Washington, and Italian Derby winner Gentlewave both have 60 points.

Stan James 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa leads the way in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly standings with 62 points, six ahead of the Prix de Diane one-two Confidential Lady and Germance, while Vodafone Oaks heroine Alexandrova and Coronation Stakes winner Nannina are currently in joint fourth with 52 points. Pride´s defeat of Hurricane Run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 25, sees the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained mare leap to the top of the Cartier Older Horse category with 52 points, four clear of the Andre Fabre-trained pair Manduro, a very consistent performer in Pattern contests, Vodafone Coronation Cup winner Shirocco, recent Ascot Gold Cup hero Yeats and 2004 Cartier Horse Of The Year & recent Royal Ascot winner Ouija Board who has the chance of heading the table after racing in today´s Group One Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

The Tim Pitt-trained Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Les Arcs (32 points) is setting the pace for the Cartier Sprinter, eight points clear of Australian speedster and King´s Stand Stakes victor Takeover Target, but that could change on Friday with the running of the Group One Darley July Cup, Europe´s most valuable sprint, at Newmarket.

The scintillating success of Yeats (48 points) in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot sees Aidan O´Brien´s charge lead the way for the Cartier Stayer award.

Harry Herbert, Cartier´s racing consultant, commented today: 'We have already witnessed plenty of thrilling performances in 2006 and there will be many more before the Cartier Racing Awards are presented in November to the outstanding achievers in European racing.

'We have seen two excellent Derby winners at Epsom Downs and the Curragh and I look forward to seeing Sir Percy and Dylan Thomas renew rivalry. The outcome of any clash between the two could prove decisive in determining at least one Cartier Award.

'Royal Ascot was thrilling, with excellent efforts from Araafa, Nannina, Ouija Board, Takeover Target and Yeats to name but five, and it would be no surprise to see some of the horses we cheered down the new Ascot straight being honoured at the Cartier Racing Awards.'

For more information, please contact Harry Herbert, Cartier´s racing consultant (01488 669166), Florence Paul of Cartier (020 7408 5738), Sarah Carlsen of Cartier (020 7408 5740) or Mark Popham of Racenews (020 7704 0326)

Latest Cartier Awards Points (up to Thursday, July 6, 2006)

CARTIER 3-Y-O COLT

• DYLAN THOMAS 72
• SIR PERCY 72
• ARAAFA 62
• GEORGE WASHINGTON 60
• GENTLEWAVE 60

CARTIER 3-Y-O FILLY

• SPECIOSA 62
• CONFIDENTIAL LADY 56
• GERMANCE 56
• ALEXANDROVA 52
• NANNINA 52

CARTIER OLDER HORSE

• PRIDE 52
• MANDURO 48
• OUIJA BOARD 48
• SHIROCCO 48
• YEATS 48

CARTIER SPRINTER

• LES ARCS 32
• TAKEOVER TARGET 24
• MOSS VALE 20
• BALTHAZAAR´S GIFT 18
• BENBAUN 16

CARTIER STAYER

• YEATS 48
• REEFSCAPE 30
• SHAMDALA 17
• PERCUSSIONIST 16
• DISTINCTION 12

CARTIER HORSE OF THE YEAR

• DYLAN THOMAS 72
• SIR PERCY 72
• ARAAFA 62
• SPECIOSA 62
• GEORGE WASHINGTON 60
• GENTLEWAVE 60