Dylan Thomas Voted Horse of the Year
By Tom Krish

Nov 15 , 2007

Dylan Thomas after winning the Arc de Triomphe race

The Cartier awards were presented in London late in the afternoon on Wednesday. The ‘horse of the year’ honours went to Dylan Thomas. Winner of four Group I races in 2007, Dylan Thomas, a Danehill progeny, raced in Group I competition every month from April until October. His most notable win came in the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris on October 7. Dylan Thomas could not handle the slop in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Monmouth Park in late October.

Dylan Thomas is trained by Aidan O’Brien and will race in the (turf) Japan Cup at Tokyo Race Course on November 25. It is a Grade I event worth $4.8 million (about Rs19 crore) over 2,400 metres.

Dylan Thomas won in another category. He was also voted the best older horse in Europe. He beat Manduro and Ramonti who had productive campaigns this year.

Peeping Fawn is the best three year-old filly. She was second to Light Shift in the Oaks at Epsom in early June. An Aidan O’Briem pupil, Peeping Fawn won the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and followed it with a splendid win in the Irish Oaks when gaining sweet revenge on Light Shift. Peeping Fawn is scheduled to race next year.

The title of ‘best stayer’ went to Yeats, another Aidan O’Brien trainee. Yeats is a son of Saddler’s Wells. He won the Ascot Gold Cup in 2006 and 2007. He was victorious in the 2005 Coronation Cup at Epsom. On Arc day, Yeats was a disappointment in the Prix du Cadran.

The unbeaten New Approach from Jim Bolger’s barn was voted the top freshman colt. New Approach, ridden by Kevin Manning, topped off a sparkling season by winning the Grade I Dewhurst at Newmarket. Teofilo, the top two year-old in 2006, also came from Jim Bolger’s stable.

Natagora won the best two year-old filly award. She is based in France and trained by Pascal Bary. Natagora edged out Saorise Abu from the Jim Bolger establishment.

Authorized, the winner of the Derby at Epsom, is the best three year-old colt. Authorized, a Montjeu colt, had two major losses. He was beaten in the Coral Eclipse in July at Sandown Park. He redeemed himself with a smart victory in the Juddmonte International at York and beat Dylan Thomas in that Grade I race. Authorized was an inexplicable and an abject failure in the Arc de Triomphe early in October. The Derby win, however, was very impressive.

Red Clubs was voted the top sprinter. His most noteworthy success came in the Group I Betfred Sprint at Haydock Park. Red Clubs beat Benbaun and Kingsgate Native in the voting.

While on a visit to Hollywood Park, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed that Rags To Tiches will race next year. She won the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. She beat Curlin in the Belmont Stakes in June.

	2007 Cartier Award winners     Horse of the Year   Dylan Thomas     Older Horse   Dylan Thomas     Three-year-old colt   Authorized     Three-year-old filly   Peeping Fawn     Stayer   Yeats     Two-year-old colt   New Approach     Two-year-old filly   Natagora     Cartier/Daily Telegraph   Award of Merit   The Niarchos family

She had frequent bouts with fever and had several training interruptions after her Belmont victory. She was beaten in the Gazelle Stakes by Lear’s Princess. It was found after the Gazelle that Rags To Riches had suffered a hairline fracture of her off-fore pastern. She is likely to be voted top three year-old filly in 2007.

Todd Pletcher sounded optimistic. “She’s recovering. Another set of x-rays will be taken soon. We hope to have her next month. She is coming back. No question about it.”

Dylan Thomas is now a confirmed starter in the (turf) Japan Cup on November 25. Grand Couturier has been withdrawn because of an injury. Grand Couturier beat English Channel in the Sword Dancer Handicap at Belmont Park. English Channel went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Monmouth Park.

Artiste Royal will be the only America-based horse in the Japan Cup turf.

Student Council will go in the Japan Cup (dirt) on November 24.

Cutlass Reality, 25, has been euthanized. He was suffering from laminitis. Cutlass Reality won two Grade I races, the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Californian Stakes in 1988. He earned over 1.4 million dollars. He sired Cactus Creek, It’s A Reality and Reality Changes. Dave McGlothlin, manager of Harris Farms where Cutlass Reality lived, said, “He was a blue collar stallion. He never really had that exceptional runner. He just had a lot of very solid durable horses.”

The race-fixing charges involving Kieren Fallon, Darren Williams and Fergal Lynch-the trial continues in London.