Enable has been named Europe’s Horse of the Year, becoming just the third horse to win the title twice.
The John Gosden-trained five-year-old, who was first crowned champion in 2017, follows Ouija Board (2004, 2006) and Frankel (2011, 2012) as a dual winner of the prize following another exceptional campaign.
While she suffered a shock defeat in last month’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Enable won the Eclipse, King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks, to take home not just the Horse of the Year accolade, but also the Cartier award for 2019 Older Horse.
Enable, who stays in training in 2020, also ensured Gosden landed the Horse of the Year Award for the fifth time in the past six years after Kingman (2014), Golden Horn (2015), (Enable 2017) and Roaring Lion (2018).
Gosden had a busy time accepting awards with Too Darn Hot judged best in the Three-Year-Old Colt division, Star Catcher champion Three-Year-Old Filly category and Stradivarius claiming the Stayer prize.
Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation landed two awards, with Blue Point taking the Sprint prize and Pinatubo in the Two-Year-Old Colt category.
Pinatubo ended 2019 unbeaten in six starts and boasting a rating of 128.
Enable’s owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah gained a third title this year courtesy of the unbeaten Quadrilateral, who was named leading Two-Year-Old Filly.
The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit for 2019 went to jockey Pat Smullen, who was forced to retire in May on medical advice.
The nine-times Irish champion was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018 and has thrown all his efforts into helping others who face the same condition.
His fund-raising drive has resulted in over Euro 2.5million being raised for Cancer Trials Ireland.
“Bountiful talent combined with a courageous running style make her a joy to watch and it is no wonder that Enable is so popular with everyone in racing,” Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant, said.
“It is exciting that Prince Khalid Abdullah is keeping her in training for 2020, when she could become the first three-time winner of the Cartier Horse of the Year.
“Pat Smullen is an inspirational figure. As well as his brilliance in the saddle, his dedication to help others who face the same health issues tells us what an outstanding human being he is.”
