Andy Newton

Blue Bolt and Daryz surge to top of Cartier Horse of the Year standings

by
Andy Newton
7 October 2026

Stellar weekend performances from Blue Bolt and Daryz have catapulted both horses right to the summit of the Cartier Horse of the Year standings-the ultimate equine prize presented at the annual Cartier Racing Awards.

First staged in 1991 to celebrate the very best in the sport, the 36th edition of the awards will take place at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday evening, November 18.

Blue Bolt kept her incredible run going on Saturday, claiming her fourth Group 1 victory on the bounce with a dominant performance in the BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

Trained by Andrew Balding for Juddmonte, the unblemished filly is now six for six this season.

With 144 points earned in Pattern races, she leads both the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Older Horse divisions.

WATCH: Blue Bolt winning the 2026 BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket

Right on her heels is Daryz with 140 points.

He produced a brilliant display in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, staving off Bay City Roller (88) to become the first colt since Alleged in 1978 to pull off back-to-back Arc victories.

Earlier this year, the Sea The Stars colt picked up wins in the Prix Ganay and Prix Aga Khan IV.

He races for Aga Khan Studs and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard-the very same team behind last year’s double crown winner, Calandagan.

WATCH: Daryz winning the 2026 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp

It was an action-packed two days at Longchamp, featuring a major upset in the Cartier Stayer division.

Category leader Scandinavia (136) suffered a surprise defeat in Saturday’s Qatar Prix du Cadran, edged out by a short-neck by Caballo de Mar (90).

Meanwhile, Fairy Glen (44)-who defeated Caballo de Mar in March’s Dubai Gold Cup-strengthened her own stayer credentials on the same card with a gritty win in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu.

Over in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly division

True Love (128) jumped back into top spot following her victory in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de la Foret.

She sits just ahead of two Coolmore rivals who ran brave races in defeat in Paris: Diamond Necklace (124), who finished third behind Daryz in the Arc, and Precise (124), who pushed Miss Scott (40) hard in the Prix de l’Opera Longines.

Another three-year-old filly making waves is Miss Yechance (40).

She made it three wins in a row after leading all the way in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines-where Mission Central (40) took third-to become a key contender in the Cartier Sprinter category.

The two-year-old fillies continue to impress this season

Amusingly (40) proved her class by taking down the colts in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while Green Empress (72) earned top-level honours in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.

Both still have ground to make up on division leader Sun Goddess (116), who locked in her third Group 1 victory with a sharp performance in the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

In the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt category

Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes winner Folsom Blues (68) remains in front.

The son of Blue Point held his position despite finishing runner-up to Amusingly at Longchamp. Orthodox (48) stepped into second place following a strong victory in Newmarket’s Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes.

Bow Echo (128) holds onto his lead in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division.

Even though he was retired in August, his early-season victories in the Betfred 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes, and Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes keep him well clear of joint second-place contenders Constitution River (104) and Gstaad (104)

About the Cartier Racing Awards

Founded in 1991 to honour excellence in horseracing, the Cartier Racing Awards feature eight equine categories:

Cartier Horse Of The Year
Cartier Older Horse
Cartier Sprinter
Cartier Stayer
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly

Determining Europe’s top racing honours comes down to a balanced scoring system: points accumulated in Pattern races make up 30%, while the remaining 70% is split equally between an end-of-season panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from the public (35%).

Alongside the equine honours, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit is awarded by a 15-member jury to an individual or team whose contributions have profoundly shaped European racing or breeding, whether over the past year or across a lifetime.

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

To view the complete archive of past winners, visit the official Cartier Racing Awards page.

About Cartier

A premier name in luxury, Cartier is recognized worldwide for its spirit of curiosity, creative vision, and timeless craft. The Maison showcases its artistry across fine jewellery, high jewellery, watchmaking, fragrances, leather goods, and accessories.

Today, as part of the Richemont Group, Cartier reaches an international audience through its boutique network, retail partners, and online store. www.cartier.com

Cartier Racing Awards Points

Cartier Horse Racing Awards 2026

(Earned in Pattern races up to and including Sunday, October 4, 2026)

Cartier Horse of the Year Points

Blue Bolt 144
Daryz 140
Scandinavia 136
True Love 128
Bow Echo 128
Precise 124
Diamond Necklace 124
Sun Goddess 116
Gstaad 104
Constitution River 104

Cartier Older Horse Points

Blue Bolt 144
Daryz 140
Kalpana 96
Bay City Roller 88
Notable Speech 88

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Points

Bow Echo 128
Constitution River 104
Gstaad 104
Christmas Day 80
Item 80
Rayif 80

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Points

True Love 128
Diamond Necklace 124
Precise 124
Thundering On 72
Venetian Sun 64

Cartier Sprinter Points

Comanche Brave 83
Almeraq 64
Venetian Sun 64
American Affair 40
Miss Yechance 40
Mission Central 40
Cartier Stayer Points
Scandinavia 136
Caballo de Mar 90
Highwayman 48
Fairy Glen 44
Trawlerman 40