At the annual Cartier European Horse Of The Year Awards ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel, globetrotting Victorian bred mare Asfoora was awarded the honour of becoming Champion Sprinter for 2025, while Aussie bred sire Starspangledbanner produced both the Champion 2YO Colt and Filly of the year.
She is the third Australian-bred horse to receive the honour following in the footsteps of Black Caviar (2012) and Starspangledbanner (2010).
Trained by Henry Dwyer for her breeder Akram El-Fahkri's Noor Elaine Farm, the daughter of Flying Artie enjoyed a stellar year with Group I wins in the Nunthorpe Stakes and Prix de l'Abbaye earning her the award over Lazzat, Arizona Blaze and Big Mojo.
With 12 wins from 29 starts that also include the Group I King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, Asfoora is the best so far by Flying Artie and is from I Am Invincible mare Golden Child.
Noor Elaine can look forward to more success from the family as Golden Child has a yearling filly and colt foal both by Flying Artie, who stands at Blue Gum Farm at a fee of $11,000.
The full list of award winners is below and it’s interesting to note Starspangledbanner had a unique double siring both the Champion 2YO Colt Gstaad and Champion 2YO Filly Precise.
2025 Cartier Awards
Horse of the Year
Calandagan
Three-Year-Old Colt
Delacroix
Three-Year-Old Filly
Minnie Hauk
Older Horse
Calandagan
Sprinter
Asfoora
Stayer
Trawlerman
Two-Year-Old Colt
Gstaad
Two-Year-Old Filly
Precise
