Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid wins Cartier Award of Merit

Geoffrey Riddle reports the award is given to those who have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or the past 12 months.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, right, the UAE's Minister of Finance, has enjoyed an excellent season at the racecourse. PA

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, the UAE’s Minister of Finance, was handed the prestigious Cartier Award of Merit in London on Tuesday night.

‘Long-term investment in bloodstock’

It has been a resurgent and golden season on the racecourse for the UAE’s Minister of Finance. He started the year by being crowned the leading owner for the season in the UAE. On Saturday at Doncaster, he achieved the same accolade in Britain, and his European campaign was capped at a glittering ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel. Sheikh Hamdan received votes from 17 judges on the panel. Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant, said: “Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been rewarded this year for his long-term investment in bloodstock and I am thrilled the Cartier jury gave him the award.”

Dunlop pays tribute

Leading the tributes was John Dunlop, the retired trainer who gave Sheikh Hamdan so much success, including saddling Erhaab to win the Derby at Epsom in 1994. “Newmarket has become his second home in many ways,” Dunlop said. “When the results go the wrong way, he has always been marvellously philosophical.”

Taghrooda

Taghrooda has been the leading lady during the season, and she was named the European Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year. Taghrooda provided Sheikh Hamdan with a 12th British Classic title when she won the English Oaks in June. It was the owner’s first Classic since 2010 and brought to a halt seasons of relative underachievement on the track.

Kingman

Taghrooda was stabled with Kingman at John Gosden’s yard in Newmarket. Kingman was named the top three-year-old colt and European Horse of the Year, and Taghrooda will now visit Kingman in the breeding sheds. “It was a profoundly fulfilling season for Sheikh Hamdan and sending her to Kingman is quite extraordinary,” Gosden said. “Sheikh Hamdan has put an amazing amount into European racing.”

Sole Power

Dubai World Cup Carnival regular Sole Power was named European Sprinter of the Year, beating Slade Power, his stablemate at Edward Lynam’s yard. Sole Power won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August. “This year has been great – I’m not looking forward to New Years Eve,” Lynam said. “Sole Power goes to Hong Kong and stays in training.”

The Others

Leading Light was the top European stayer, while Noble Mission, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who co-owns Kingman, was crowned champion older horse. Gleneagles was adjudged the top juvenile colt and Tiggy Wiggy the top juvenile filly.

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