The Donnacha O'Brien trained Fancy Blue has risen to the top of the Cartier Horse Of The Year Awards after a gritty and determined performance in the Group One Nassau Stakes.
The three year old filly now sees herself sit top of the leaderboard with 80 points after back to back black type successes in the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Before that she finished a staying on second in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the step up in trip to 10 furlongs since then has seen her turn into a very classy, Classic winning filly.
She currently sits top by eight points with outstanding stayer Stradivarius, who has landed his third Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and also his fourth consecutive Goodwood Cup.
He sits on 72 points, joint with French-trained Way To Paris, winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Grand Prix de Chantilly this season.
Other big named horses that are still in the mix to become Cartier Horse Of The Year are Ghaiyyath (70) and Barney Roy (68), while Addeybb, Love and Magical are all on 64 points.
Thriller! Fancy Blue wins the Prix de Diane @LonginesEq for @donnacha_obrien and @PCBOUDOT at @fgchantilly! pic.twitter.com/rJgQqZ3OLn
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 5, 2020
Enable is seeking her third straight win in the prestigious award and if she was to land the accolade she would become the first horse to land a hat-trick of Cartier awards.
She still has a fine chance after a decent second to Ghaiyyath in the Coral Eclipse on debut and from there landed her third King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.
In the other category awards, Fancy Blue tops the three year old filly category with her closest opponent being the Aidan O'Brien trained Love after she landed the 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks.
Battaash leads the way in the sprinting Category after his first King's Stands win and fourth consecutive King George Qatar Stakes on Friday.
The three year old colt standings sees two stand out runners at the top of the pile with superstar juvenile Pinatubo and Irish Derby winner Santiago not for passing.
Stradivarius as ever leads the way in the stayers division with his closest rival being the Mark Johnston trained Nayef Road who has finished second to the six year old twice this season in both Group One events.
With the ongoing crisis in the world there will not be an official ceremony this year, but the awards will still be handed out to the winners in November.