CARTIER RACING AWARDS
WERTHEIMER SALUTES GOLDIKOVA & THE QUEEN PAYS TRIBUTE TO HANNON
Goldikova’s joint owner-breeder Gerard Wertheimer last night told guests at the 20th Cartier Racing Awards that he hoped the record-breaking mare could return in 12 months’ time to land another accolade at the glittering event.
The five-year-old was named 2010 Cartier Horse Of The Year and also took the Cartier Older Horse Award at the ceremony in the ballroom of London’s Dorchester Hotel attended by an invited audience of 350, including some of the biggest names in racing plus some owners better-known outside the sport such as Liz Hurley, Lord Lloyd-Webber and actor Nat Parker.
Goldikova, owned and bred by Wertheimer and his brother Alain, also won the Cartier Older Horse Award last year (she is the first horse to win this Cartier award twice) and she stays in training with Freddy Head in 2011, a year that marks a significant anniversary for her connections.
“In 2011, we celebrate 100 years of my family’s stud, which was created by my grandfather Pierre in 1911. We are immensely proud that we have been able to maintain this passion for breeding and racing for three generations.
“Some great champions have emerged. The principal winners in Great Britain have been Lavandin, winner of the Derby in 1956, Green Dancer, Gold Splash and Pas De Reponse.
“Of course I can’t forget my grandfather’s first great horse Epinard, who won the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood in 1923 and is surely giving a nod and a wink to Goldikova, who is seven generations on from him.
“Last but not least, I would like to thank Cartier and their Executive Chairman, Mr Arnaud Bamberger, for the promotion of the Cartier Racing Awards which are always such a big incentive in the racing world. On behalf of Goldikova and the whole team, thank you for this wonderful award. I hope to see you all again in 2011!”
Newly-crowned champion trainer Richard Hannon was the recipient of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit and, although he could not make the awards’ dinner having recently undergone heart bypass surgery, his son Richard junior and wife Jo were on hand to collect the Award.
A film was shown paying tribute to Hannon and among those to pass on their congratulations was his best-known owner, Her Majesty The Queen, via her bloodstock advisor John Warren.
“When I told the Queen that you had received the Cartier Award of Merit, she was absolutely delighted and asked me to send you many, many congratulations,” Warren told Hannon. "She once said to me that you brighten up her day and I'm sure that applies to everyone you train for."
An emotional Hannon junior added: “My family are all extremely proud of dad. On a bright note, it has to be his health. He is in great form and is recovering well from his operation. You all know he wouldn’t miss this for the world. Everything reported on the film, is exactly the man he is.
“He’s given me one quote to give to you - tell Harry (Herbert) that the doctor tells me that after this operation I’ll be 20 years younger, recover and come back as good as gold. In the New Year, you’ll see me racing and you’ll be referring to me as (Richard) junior!”
Others collecting awards included Prince Khalid Abdulla’s racing manager Lord Grimthorpe, who picked up Frankel’s prize for Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and Workforce’s trophy for Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt.
The Henry Cecil-trained Frankel is named after Bobby Frankel, who died a year ago after training many of Abdulla’s best American performers and Grimthorpe commented: “It’s a really special award for what we hope will become a really special horse. It’s no coincidence that Prince Khalid’s absolutely prized two-year-old was sent to an outstanding practitioner and named in honour of another outstanding practitioner. We are lucky to have him.”
J P Magnier, whose mother Sue jointly owns Misty For Me and Starspangledbanner, and Paul Smith, whose father Derrick is also involved in both horses, jointly collected the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Award and the Cartier Sprinter Award.
Owner-breeder the Duquesa de Durcal y Borbon received the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award for Snow Fairy, while owner Dr Ronan Lambe travelled from Ireland to pick up the Cartier Stayer Award for Rite Of Passage.
The evening was compered as usual by Harry Herbert, Cartier’s Racing Consultant, with the awards presented by Arnaud Bamberger, the Executive Chairman of Cartier UK
Herbert, in introducing the awards, said: “I know I speak on behalf of everybody in this room when I say how much Cartier's sponsorship means to our industry - 20 years is a very long time for a company to support any sport and there will be few within racing who have done so for so long and especially at this unbelievably significant level.
"You have created something Arnaud that really is the envy of other racing nations and we hope your generosity will continue for many years to come.”
Bamberger commented: “I am so very happy and proud as we celebrate the 20th presentation of these most prestigious awards.
“I simply cannot believe it was 20 years ago that the late Wing Commander Tim Vigors came and talked to Pilar Boxford who helped set up so many wonderful things for Cartier.
“He had the idea of creating an award that everyone in racing would aspire to win. It goes without saying therefore that all of us here are enormously grateful to Tim. I am sorry that Diana, his wife, was not able to come tonight because she was sick.
“The past 20 years, I have met so many new friends from within the world of racing and I have learnt to appreciate what an intoxicating and thrilling sport it is.
“Not only have we honoured over 150 champions within the various divisions but also through the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit, we have honoured 20 very special people who during their lives have made such a remarkable contribution to racing.
“For me personally, one of the greatest highlights was in the year 2000 when I presented Her Majesty The Queen with a special millennium award in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
“I would like to say a big thank you to The Daily Telegraph and especially to a man who is here tonight, Jeremy Deedes, who was then the managing director.
“My thanks also go to the Racing Post and all of their team whose help over the years has given our awards the profile that they so richly deserve within the industry itself.
“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Harry for all you have done to help us since you started - you have guided us so well and your enthusiasm has been truly infectious especially during these recent difficult economic years. You have also provided so much humour to our evenings despite your extremely poor impersonation of me.
“All of you here tonight are involved with the sport which is truly magical, a sport that has glamour and excitement - in short everything that is Cartier.
“Thank you so much for coming tonight and here is to the next 20 years.
Herbert and Bamberger gave each other surprise awards.
The full speeches of the 2010 Cartier Racing Awards winners are below.
Copyright free images of the winners can be supplied by Racenews - please email racenews@racenewsonline.com or ring Mark Popham on 07980 691256
For more information, please contact Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant (01488 669166), Sima Bibi of Cartier (020 7408 5740) or Mark Popham of Racenews (020 7704 0326)
Copyright images of the winners can be supplied by Racenews - please email
Cartier Horse Of The Year & Cartier Champion Older Horse
GOLDIKOVA (IRE)5 b m Anabaa (USA) - Born Gold (USA) (Blushing Groom (FR)
2010 form: 111211 Owner/Breeders: Wertheimer et Frere Trainer: Freddy Head FR
Gerard Wertheimer: “My lords, ladies and gentleman, last year you had a very quick speech from me but this time I’m prepared and it might be a bit longer!
“When I was here a year ago receiving the award for the best older horse we had not made our decision whether we would keep Goldikova in training in 2010. To find myself in front of you all again tonight is very comforting since it means that the decision we made to keep Goldikova in training was the right one.
“Everything has already been said about Goldikova being a great champion but three events during this year remain firmly in my mind.
“Firstly, her victory at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes. We are very proud to have a succeeded in winning this Group One race at the marvellous and celebrated Royal Meeting against two of the best horses, Paco Boy and Rip Van Winkle.
“The second event is to have beaten by one the record of Dahlia in winning 11 Group One races and to have surpassed Miesque’s 10 Group Ones, two great horses who have left their mark, was amazing.
“Thirdly, to have made history by winning her third Breeders’ Cup. Goldikova is now internationally famous and has won the hearts of the public on the great racetracks of the world.
“The applause for Goldikova tonight was most wonderful.
“It is also the best award possible for her whole team from the start - Freddy Head and his whole family and Olivier Peslier, the most remarkable jockey.
“In 2011, we celebrate 100 years of my family’s stud, which was created by my grandfather Pierre in 1911. We are immensely proud that we have been able to maintain this passion for breeding and racing for three generations.
“Some great champions have emerged. The principal winners in Great Britain have been Lavandin, winner of the Derby in 1956, Green Dancer, Gold Splash and Pas De Reponse.
“Of course, I can’t forget my grandfather’s first great horse Epinard, who won the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood in 1923 and is surely giving a nod and a wink to Goldikova, who is seven generations on from him.
“Last but not least, I would like to than Cartier and their Executive Chairman, Mr Arnaud Bamberger, for the promotion of the Cartier Racing Awards which are always such a big incentive in the racing world. On behalf of Goldikova and the whole team, thank you for this wonderful award. I hope to see you all again in 2011!”
Freddy Head: “On my behalf and on Goldikova’s behalf, I want to thank all the team at Chantilly, Olivier (Peslier), Gerard and Alain Wertheimer for sending me that great mare and keeping her in training. I thank you all.”
Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
FRANKEL (GB)
2 b c Galileo (IRE) - Kind (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
2010 form: 1111 Owner: Khalid Abdulla
Trainer: Henry Cecil Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel’s owner Khalid Abdulla, said: “Thank you to Cartier and we really need you. Prince Khalid will be absolutely delighted to get this award; it’s a really special award for what we hope will become a really special horse. It’s no coincidence that Prince Khalid’s absolutely prized two-year-old was sent to an outstanding practitioner and named in honour of another outstanding practitioner. We are lucky to have him.”
Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
MISTY FOR ME (IRE)
2 b f Galileo (IRE) - Butterfly Cove (USA) (Storm Cat (USA))
2010 form: 01211 Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien IRE Breeder: March Thoroughbreds
J P Magnier, son of part-owner, Sue Magnier, said : “My lords, ladies and gentleman, I’m delighted to accept this award of behalf of Doreen and Michael Tabor, Gay and Derrick Smith and my parents. Misty For Me is obviously an exceptional filly and played a role in Galileo’s phenomenal year. Most importantly we must thank the team at Ballydoyle and Aidan, who managed to keep her fresh to the very end and she did us proud.
“And of course to the three lads who rode her - Colm (O’Donoghue), Seamie (Heffernan) and Johnny (Murtagh), who did a great job as always. Finally I’d just like to thank Cartier, The Daily Telegraph and Racing Post for another fantastic evening.”
Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Colt
WORKFORCE (GB)
3 b c King´s Best (USA) - Soviet Moon (IRE) (Sadler’s Wells (USA))
2010 form: 2151 Owner: Khalid Abdulla
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel’s owner Khalid Abdulla, said: “I think Prince Khalid is one up on Prince William with two acceptances tonight! Again I have to say thank you to Arnaud and Cartier, their support of the racing industry is spectacular. We know it can go elsewhere so we are incredibly grateful.
“I think if you come into racing you probably dream of winning two races and Workforce managed to do that through the wonderful skill of Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore and we’re very lucky.”
Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
SNOW FAIRY (IRE)
3 b f Intikhab (USA) - Woodland Dream ((IRE) (Charnwood Forest (IRE))
2010 form: 111241 Owner: Anamoine Limited
Trainer: Ed Dunlop Breeder: Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc.
Owner/Breeder the Duquesa de Durcal y Borbon said: “I’d like to first of all thank Mr (Arnaud) Bamberger, Cartier, the Racing Post and the Telegraph, which I read every day. I would like to thank several people, first and foremost La Grange Stables and all their supporting staff and of course Ed, who has done the most marvellous job with Snow Fairy. Ryan Moore is not here tonight but I would like to thank him very much for the three fantastic and magical rides he gave Snow Fairy. A very special thanks to Castle Stables (in Arundel) for all their support and especially to (Ed Dunlop’s parents) John and Sue for all their support at times when I was very nervous and I want to thank them very much.”
Cartier Champion Stayer
RITE OF PASSAGE (GB)
6 ch g Giant’s Causeway (USA) - Dahlia’s Krissy (USA) (Kris S (USA))
2010 form: 1 Owner: Dr Ronan Lambe
Trainer: Dermot Weld IRE Breeder: Newsells Park Stud
Dr Ronan Lambe, the owner of Rite Of Passage, said: “I’d like to thank Cartier for this award, which was particularly special for me because it was my first Group One winner on the Flat. What a race too, in which to achieve your first Group One success. Having seen the race again, I’d like to commiserate with Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team for the premature retirement of Age Of Aquarius - we had been looking forward to some stirring battles over the next couple of years. I’d like to say a special word of thanks to my trainer Dermot Weld. Dermot’s exploits on the international stage are very well known to all of us but to take a horse that was beaten in a Cheltenham bumper and beaten in a Cheltenham novice hurdle and train him to win one of the most historic and prestigious Flat races in the world was an outstanding achievement so thank you very much Dermot.”
Cartier Champion Sprinter
STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS)
4 ch c Choisir (AUS) - Gold Anthem (AUS) (Made Of Gold (USA))
2010 form: 413511
Owner: Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michelle Massey
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien IRE Breeder: Emily Krstina
Paul Smith, son of part owner Derrick Smith, said “A horse like Starspangledbanner likes to keep his races very brief and I think I’ll do the same with my speech. His success is due to a number of people. I’d like to thank Tom Magnier, Michael Kirwan and all the team at Coolmore Australia, the team at Ballydoyle, to Colm, Seamie, the inspired training of Aidan O’Brien and to the man on board. He rode the horse’s sire Choisir to a famous sprint double at the 2003 Royal Meeting, the brilliant Johnny Murtagh. On behalf of all the owners, I’d like to thank Cartier for hosting a fabulous evening and showcasing an industry that really does mean so much to all of us.”
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit 2010
RICHARD HANNON
Richard Hannon junior commented: “I’d like to thank Cartier and The Daily Telegraph for giving this award to my father this evening. It’s very fitting that Mum is here this evening because in many ways I think she is a better trainer than my dad. It’s not possible without all the backroom staff and our owners over the years.
“We’ve had the most fabulous year and it’s been amazing to have all the good horses in one year - Canford Cliffs, Paco Boy and Dick Turpin. It is not just this year but for 30 or 40 years of my father’s career that he’s been so lucky to have so many friends and owners.
“My family are all extremely proud of dad. On a bright note, it has to be his health. He is in great form and is recovering well from his operation. You all know he wouldn’t miss this for the world. Everything reported on the film, is exactly the man he is.
“He’s given me one quote to give to you - tell Harry (Herbert) that the doctor tells me that after this operation I’ll be 20 years younger, recover and come back as good as gold. In the New Year, you’ll see me racing and you’ll be referring to me as (Richard) junior!”
End
Labels: The applause for Goldikova tonight was most wonderful
