Light Cartier horse of the year

Fantastic Light was crowned horse of the year at the 11th annual Cartier Awards last night.

Godolphin`s five-year-old, retired after his victory in the Breeders` Cup Turf at Belmont Park last month, pipped stable-companion Sakhee to the title of the season`s best older horse.

Jockey Frankie Dettori paid tribute to the horse on the Godolphin website: 'I was a lucky so and so to ride such a great horse as Fantastic Light.

'It is a wonderful team, Godolphin. I am very lucky to ride such great horses. I would like to thank all those people who looked after Fantastic Light, throughout the travelling and riding him in the mornings.

'They always kept me well away from him in case I tried him a little bit hard to make sure he was really good! Thank you for a great award and a great night.'

Also honoured at a ceremony in London was the Aidan O`Brien-trained dual Derby winner Galileo, who was hailed as top three-year-old colt, and stable-companion Johannesburg (best two-year-old colt).

John Magnier, proprietor of the pair`s Ballydoyle stable and co-founder of the powerful Coolmore Stud, received the Daily Telegraph Award of Merit.

Dettori also paid tribute to Coolmore last night, saying that the two sides` rivalry made them both better.

'I would like to say thank you to John Magnier and Coolmore for making our rivalry a good rivalry -making each other the better team and better horse people.'

And Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: 'I would like to pass on Sheikh Mohammed`s personal congratulation to John Magnier and his team for the award he has received tonight - but we will be trying to beat you next year.

'It was fitting recognition for his immense contribution to worldwide racing.'

Other equine winners were Banks Hill (best three-year-old filly), Mozart (best sprinter), Persian Punch (best stayer) and Queen`s Logic (best two-year-old filly).

The awards are decided by a combination of points earned in Pattern races, votes by journalists on the Daily Telegraph, The Times and the Racing Post and votes by Telegraph readers.