Andy Newton

GOODWOOD GOLD! Bow Echo blitzes to No.1 in Cartier Horse of the Year showdown

by
Andy Newton
5 August 2026

Bow Echo’s sensational win in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes hasn’t just kept his perfect record intact-it’s launched the unbeaten colt straight to the top of the Cartier Horse of the Year standings.

First launched in 1991 to celebrate the very best in flat racing, the 36th annual Cartier Racing Awards will be hosted at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday, November 18.

Take A Bow: George Boughey Star Miler Heading For Cartier Top Honours

In the feature race of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Bow Echo produced a dazzling turn of foot to edge out his fierce rival Gstaad in a thriller.

The victory adds to an already stellar season following triumphs in the Betfred 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.

Trained by George Boughey, the Night Of Thunder colt is now six-for-six-becoming the first horse since Frankel to sweep the Newmarket, Royal Ascot, and Goodwood double-mile treble in a single season.

Bred by the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Bow Echo has stacked up 128 points in Pattern races so far.

That gives him a commanding lead in both the Cartier Horse of the Year and Three-Year-Old Colt categories over Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Gstaad (96).

Other Big Goodwood Winners In Line For Cartier Awards

Goodwood delivered five days of absolute magic, highlighted by Diamond Necklace (96) cementing her own perfect record.

The Coolmore filly dominated older rivals in the Qatar Nassau Stakes, claiming her third top-level win of the year after Classic triumphs in the French 1000 Guineas and Prix de Diane.

She now shares the lead in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly division alongside two other Aidan O’Brien-trained Classic heroines: Betfred 1000 Guineas winner True Love (96) and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Precise (96).

Meanwhile, Scandinavia (88) proved once again why he owns the staying division.

He picked up his seventh straight win by capturing the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, brushing aside 2025 Cartier Stayer Trawlerman (40) for the second time this summer.

While only a head separated them at Royal Ascot, Scandinavia stormed home by eight and a half lengths this time-though a loose horse late in the race may have padded that margin.

Juddmonte Pair Have Strong Claims

Juddmonte fillies and mares are having an incredible run, led by Kalpana (64).

She got her revenge on reigning Horse of the Year Calandagan (80) by decisively beating him in late July’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Sunday saw Blue Bolt (80) score in the same colours at Deauville in the Prix Rothschild.

The Falmouth Stakes winner beat Precise for the second time in a row, keeping her perfect four-for-four record this year intact.

Trained alongside Kalpana by Andrew Balding, the daughter of Blue Point now shares top spot in the Cartier Older Horse standings with Calandagan.

In the sprinting division, Commonwealth Cup winner Venetian Sun (64) holds her lead over Comanche Brave (51), who got the better of her in the July Cup.

Last year’s King Charles III Stakes winner American Affair (24) also made a strong statement, laying down an electric performance in the King George Qatar Stakes for his first win since Royal Ascot.

About the Cartier Racing Awards

Founded in 1991 to honour European racing excellence, the awards feature eight equine categories:

Horse of the Year
Older Horse
Sprinter
Stayer
Three-Year-Old Colt
Three-Year-Old Filly
Two-Year-Old Colt
Two-Year-Old Filly

The winners are determined by a proven scoring model: points accumulated in Pattern races account for 30%, while end-of-season votes from a panel of racing journalists and handicappers (35%) and the general public (35%) decide the rest.

Beyond the track awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit honours individuals selected by a 15-member jury for outstanding lifetime or single-year contributions to European racing and breeding.

The 36th Cartier Racing Awards ceremony takes place at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the evening of Wednesday, November 18.

You can view the full archive of past Cartier Racing Award winners here.

About Cartier

A globally recognized symbol of luxury, Cartier stands out for its open-mindedness, curiosity, and ability to reveal beauty everywhere.

The Maison expresses its vision through fine jewellery, high jewellery, watchmaking, fragrances, leather goods, and accessories-creating pieces defined by exceptional craftsmanship and timeless design.

Part of the Richemont Group, Cartier reaches audiences worldwide through its signature boutiques, authorized partners, and digital channels.

For more information, please contact:

John Corbett

[email protected] / 07795165992

Lauren Roffle

[email protected] / 07776580283