New Approach takes pole position in the Cartier Racing Awards

New Approach?s scintillating victory in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on Saturday, June 7, sees Jim Bolger?s charge take an early lead over his 2000 Guineas nemesis Henrythenavigator in the race to be the 2008 Cartier Racing Awards champion three-year-old colt.

The Cartier Racing Awards are now in their 18th year and celebrate the champions of the Turf, plus one person. European horseracing?s most prestigious accolades will be presented during a glittering ceremony at London?s Grosvenor Hotel on Monday, November 17.

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 excellence.

The brilliant Galileo colt, who has 84 points and is already in the running for the ultimate accolade of Cartier Horse Of The Year, was the 2007 Cartier Awards Champion Two-Year-Old. He was defeated by the top-class Aidan O?Brien-trained Henrythenavigator (72 points) in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas in May.

New Approach filled the runner-up berth on both occasions in the mile Classics but, stepped up to a mile and a half at Epsom, the chestnut colt stayed on strongly to defeat Group Two Dante Stakes winner Tartan Bearer (40) by half a length.

Prix du Jockey Club hero Vision d?Etat, trained by Eric Libaud, is third in the category with 48 points, while fellow French Classic winner Falco, trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias, is on 32 points after rocking his rivals with a three-length triumph in the Poule d?Essai des Poulains on May 11.

The Cartier three-year-old filly division is blessed with an abundance of talent this year but chief among them at this stage appears to be the unbeaten French darling Zarkava (72).

The Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Zarkava has three wins on her record this year already, including an easy success in the Poule d?Essai des Pouliches and an imperious victory in the Prix de Diane on June 8, when she drew three lengths clear of Gagnoa (40) without being extended.

Keeping tabs on the seemingly exceptional Zarkava is her classy grey compatriot, Natagora (60), winner of the 2007 Cartier Award for two-year-old filly. Pascal Bary?s charge captured the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas in May before running a fantastic race to finish third against the colts in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on June 1.

Look Here (48) entered calculations when powering across the Epsom finish line for a three and three-quarter lengths win in the Juddmonte Oaks on June 6, giving trainer Ralph Beckett, jockey Seb Sanders and owner/breeder Julian Richmond-Watson their first taste of Classic glory. The O?Brien-trained Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Halfway To Heaven has 34 points.

O?Brien has a strong hand in the Cartier Older Horse category with Duke Of Marmalade (56) holding top position after Group One successes in the Prix Ganay and Tattersalls Gold Cup, while last season?s Irish Derby victor Soldier Of Fortune (32) looks like being a major player in the top middle-distance weight-for-age races following his win in the Juddmonte Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 6.

Premio Presidente della Repubblica winner Saddex (28) was runner-up to Duke Of Marmalade in the Ganay, while Sageburg (40) was third in that race before going on to take the Prix d?Ispahan from Darjina. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Creachadoir has 32 points following his success in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next week should provide a major clue to the outcome of the Cartier Stayer?s Award with dual winner and Cartier Stayer of 2006 and 2007 Yeats bidding to claim a third success, and that race is the probable next stop for the division?s current leader, the unbeaten Coastal Path (24).

The Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old collected his latest success in the Group Two Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp on May 18, defeating Orion Star (12) by an easy five lengths.

Royal And Regal (20) captured the John Porter Stakes in April and has since finished a head runner-up to Geordieland (16) in the Group Two Yorkshire Cup at York and a close third to Finalmente (16) in the Group Two Betfair Henry II Stakes at Sandown on May 29.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained three-year-old Fleeting Spirit (16) stamped herself as a leading contender for Cartier honours in the Sprinter category when blitzing to a five-furlong course record in winning the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock on May 24.

The filly currently shares top billing with the Richard Hannon-trained Assertive (16), winner of the Group Two Duke Of York Stakes at York on May 14, and the Freddie Head-trained Marchand D?Or (16) who took the Group Two Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly on June 1. The Bryan Smart-trained Captain Gerrard (10) was fourth at Chantilly having won the Group Three Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in May.

Harry Herbert, Cartier?s racing consultant, commented today: "The early season Classics have been thrilling and it would be great to see New Approach and Henrythenavigator renew rivalry, perhaps over 10 furlongs.

"We have also seen some wonderful performances from the fillies. St Leger-bound Look Here was impressive in the Oaks, while Fleeting Spirit and Natagora have already shown that they are capable of mixing it with the boys. Zarkava looks like she could be something special and I hope we get to see her take on all-comers later in the year.

"The Cartier Racing Awards reward excellence, as shown by the two-year-old titles won last year by Natagora and New Approach, and with Royal Ascot nearly upon us, we can expect the emergence of further contenders for Cartier honours next week.

"With so many good older horses in training as well as a strong crop of three-year-olds, we can certainly expect more excellent performances in the coming months."