Wednesday 15 November 2017 10:02, UK
Both John Gosden and Frankie Dettori are eagerly anticipating a clash between their stable stars Enable and Cracksman in 2018.
Enable claimed both the Horse of the Year title and the Three-Year-Old Filly Award at the Cartier Racing Awards ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Tuesday evening following a stellar season that yielded five Group One wins, culminating in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Stablemate Cracksman sidestepped the Arc in favour of the Champion Stakes at Ascot and after claiming a seven-length verdict there, he was named Three-Year-Old Colt of the year leaving Gosden to savour the prospect of pitching the pair against each other in 2018.
Gosden told Racing UK: "She's a wonderful filly, a gorgeous filly to be around. She's very kind, very sweet, she knows her space - she's tall and elegant.
"She's a phenomenal filly - we're lucky to have her, lucky to have Frankie to ride her and lucky to have the champion three-year-old colt as well.
"One day they will meet maybe in the Arc, maybe before, I don't know, but we dream of keeping them happy, healthy and sound until next year."
Dettori was not surprised to see Enable take the main prize and admits it could be difficult to choose which horse to ride if the pair do take each other on this season.
Dettori said: "It's amazing. Obviously I knew Enable had every chance of getting Horse of the Year, but the bonus was Cracksman getting Three-Year-Old Colt of the year.
"It's amazing in racing how a few months can change your season and to have two horses achieve so much in September and October is fantastic.
"I'm glad I've got 11 months (until the 2018 Arc) and don't have to decide (which to ride) before then. We have so much to look forward to in 2018, so let's keep our fingers crossed and enjoy it."
Aidan O'Brien's US Navy Flag was named Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt of the year, while stablemates Happily (Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly) and Order Of St George (Cartier Stayer Award) were also winners.
All three are owned by the Coolmore team and MV Magnier, son of John, believes they have plenty to look forward to next year.
He said: "It's going to be exciting, it will definitely keep us warm during the winter. With Saxon Warrior, he was very impressive when he won the Racing Post Trophy. He is very tough and Ryan (Moore) gave him a great ride.
"US Navy Flag, look what he did this year, and Happily - her entire family kept on improving with age. We've a long winter to get through, but with Aidan and his entire team, they're in the right hands and we've a lot to look forward to."
Paul Smith, son of Coolmore's Derrick Smith, was also keen to pay tribute to five-year-old Order Of St George.
He said: "He's tough and very versatile. He's placed in an Arc over a mile and a half and is an Ascot Gold Cup winner over two miles and four furlongs and acts on any ground. It's every (owner's) dream, you want a horse like that."
Sir Michael Stoute received the Cartier/The Daily Telegraph Award of Merit and he pointed to Breeders' Cup and Japan Cup hero Pilsudski and Singspiel, who also won the Japan Cup and Dubai World Cup, as particular highlights along with handling Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate for the Queen.
He said: "I think because Pilsudski and Singspiel both stayed in training as five-year-olds and won across the world, I was attached to them as any others. Estimate was great for people on the periphery of racing.
"I love what I'm doing so I'm one of the fortunate people, I love the job."
Star sprinter Harry Angel received the Cartier Sprinter Award for the Clive Cox team while Eclipse and Juddmonte International hero Ulysses was named Cartier Older Horse for 2017.
