Calandagan Named 2025 Cartier Horse of the Year

Calandagan (IRE), a three-time group 1 winner so far this year who capped his European racing season with a 2 1/4-length win in the Champion Stakes (G1), was crowned Horse of the Year at the 35th Cartier Racing Awards Nov. 19 at the Dorchester Hotel in London. The son of 2014 Cartier 2-year-old colt Gleneagles (IRE) is the fourth horse bred by the Aga Khan Studs to be crowned Cartier Horse of the Year following Daylami (1999), Dalakhani (2003), and Zarkava (2008); and the first since the death of His Highness Aga Khan IV in February. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Calandagan has enjoyed a superb campaign in 2025, including defeating top-class opposition in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) and the Champion. Brigadier Gerard (1972) is the only other horse in history to win both races in the same season. Calandagan also captured the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (G1) in late June in France. Calandagan takes the Horse of the Year award ahead of Champion Stakes runner-up Ombudsman (IRE), who captured the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) and International Stakes (G1), and the other finalists: multiple group 1-winning 3-year-olds Delacroix (IRE) and filly Minnie Hauk (IRE). All four finalists were bred in Ireland. Calandagan, who is being prepared for a start in the Japan Cup (G1), also receives the older horse award. Each season the Cartier Awards honor Europe's top runners. Delacroix lands the 3-year-old colt award, having defeated Ombudsman in the Eclipse Stakes (G1) and captured the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) during a campaign that stretched from March-October. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for a Coolmore-affiliated partnership, the son of Dubawi and North American champion mare Tepin prevails over Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) victor Daryz (FR), Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and St James's Palace Stakes (G1) scorer Field of Gold (IRE), and Epsom Derby (G1) and Irish Derby (G1) winner Lambourn (IRE). Coolmore and O'Brien also are represented by Minnie Hauk, who is the champion 3-year-old filly for 2025 following an admirable season that yielded victories in the Epsom Oaks (G1), Irish Oaks (G1), and Yorkshire Oaks (G1). Having been nominated 12 months ago, Asfoora (AUS) is the third Australian-bred horse to receive the champion sprinter award following Black Caviar (2012) and Starspangledbanner (2010) thanks to her wins in the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) and Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1). Trawlerman (IRE), trained by John and Thady Gosden for owner/breeder Godolphin, is the champion stayer of 2025 following a perfect European season that included a relentless display in the Gold Cup (G1). In addition to taking the two 3-year-old prizes, Coolmore partnerships and O'Brien also dominated the juvenile awards, with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) scorer Gstaad (GB) taking the 2-year-old colt title. Precise (IRE), who captured the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies' Mile (both G1) during a highly progressive autumn, receives the 2-year-old filly award. The recipient of the Award of Merit for 2025 is Brough Scott. The former jockey has gone on to establish himself as a hugely respected journalist and acclaimed author, in addition to becoming the face of racing on TV for three decades and co-founder of the Racing Post. He has worked in the sport for well over 60 years, lending his considerable talents to a host of causes throughout the industry and beyond. Laurent Feniou, managing director of Cartier UK, commented: "My congratulations go to all of the winners at this year's Cartier Racing Awards. It is very pleasing to see Calandagan take the Cartier Horse of the Year award after his outstanding season. "We are honored to present the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit to Brough Scott, someone who has tirelessly contributed across the industry for more than 60 years. Everyone at Cartier is delighted to be able to celebrate another brilliant year of racing and I would like to thank our media partners Racing Post, The Daily Telegraph, and Sky Sports Racing for their continued support of the Cartier Racing Awards." The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horse racing. European racing's top awards are delivered through a combination of points earned by horses in pattern races (30%), combined at the end of the season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35%).