Multiple group 1 winner City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier Awards the night of Nov. 20 at a lavish ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained star enjoyed a stellar summer with dominant wins in three of the season's best middle-distance races—the Epsom Derby (G1), Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1), and Juddmonte International Stakes (G1)—achievements which also helped him snare the top 3-year-old colt award.
City of Troy is in illustrious company as he is just the second horse after Frankel to receive the evening's most coveted award having scooped top 2-year-old colt honors the previous winter.
A homebred for the Coolmore operation, it was announced that City of Troy was retired after a disappointing bid on the dirt in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Undefeated as a 2-year-old, the son of Justify captured three of his five outings this year, stepping outside his division to defeat older rivals in the Eclipse and Juddmonte International.
Charyn was crowned champion older horse after a long and decorated season. The 4-year-old Roger Varian trainee won the Doncaster Mile Stakes in March before landing the bet365 Mile (G2) in April and then went on a winning spree at the highest level, landing the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), Prix Jacques le Marois (G1), and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1).
Champion 3-year-old filly honors went the way of Donnacha O'Brien's Porta Fortuna, who was beaten a neck in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) before showing her class and sharp turn of foot in the Coronation Stakes (G1), Falmouth Stakes (G1), and Matron Stakes (G1).
Bradsell took the champion sprinter title after confirming himself as the fastest horse around with victories in the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) and Flying Five Stakes (G1). Archie Watson's 4-year-old came close to a big-race hat trick when just denied by Makarova in the Prix de l'Abbaye (G1).
Veteran Kyprios stands alone as Aidan O'Brien's most successful horse at group 1 level, and his flawless season culminated in him being named as champion stayer. The 6-year-old did not come anywhere near to defeat in seven starts in 2024, landing the Gold Cup (G1), Goodwood Cup Stakes (G1), Irish St Leger (G1), Prix du Cadran (G1), and British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2).
Lake Victoria, who was easily the standout of her generation in winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), Cheveley Park Stakes (G1), and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) for Aidan O'Brien, scooped the top juvenile filly award.
Godolphin's Charlie Appleby-trained Shadow of Light, who completed a remarkable double in the Middle Park Stakes (G1) and Dewhurst Stakes (G1) this autumn, took the colts' equivalent.
The Award of Merit was given to the highly decorated dual-purpose trainer Jessica Harrington, who enjoyed another superb year on the track with the highlight being another group 1 success with Hotazhell in the Futurity Trophy Stakes (G1) at Doncaster.
