Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte winner City Of Troy crowned Horse of the Year at 2024 Cartier awards

Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International winner City Of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night 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, achievements which also helped him snare the top three-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 two-year-old colt honours the previous winter.

Charyn was crowned champion older horse after a long and decorated season. Roger Varian's grey won the Doncaster Mile in March before landing the bet365 Mile in April and then went on a winning spree at the highest level, landing the Queen Anne, Prix Jacques le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Rossa Ryan with Kia Joorabchian Cartier Awards 20.11.24

Rossa Ryan with Kia Joorabchian at the Cartier AwardsCredit: Dan Abraham/focusonracing.com

Champion three-year-old filly honours went the way of Donnacha O'Brien's Porta Fortuna, who was beaten a neck in the 1,000 Guineas before showing her class and sharp turn of foot in the Coronation, Falmouth and Matron Stakes.

Bradsell took the champion sprinter title after confirming himself as the fastest horse around with victories in the Nunthorpe and Flying Five. Archie Watson's four-year-old came close to a big-race hat-trick when just denied by Makarova in the Prix de l'Abbaye.

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 six-year-old did not come anywhere near to defeat in seven starts in 2024, landing the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger, Prix du Cadran and Long Distance Cup.

Laurent Feniou presenting Cartier Two Year Old Colt for Shadow Of Light to Hugh Anderson and Charlie Appleby

Laurent Feniou (left) presenting the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt trophy for Shadow Of Light to Hugh Anderson and Charlie Appleby Credit: Dan Abraham/focusonracing.com

Lake Victoria, who was easily the standout of her generation in winning the Moyglare, Cheveley Park and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf 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 and Dewhurst 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 at Doncaster.