Ace Impact, whose racing career encompassed one calendar year and led him from the all-weather surface at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory in October, was named Cartier Horse of the Year at the annual Cartier Awards ceremony Thursday in London. There was no realistic choice for the award beyond Ace Impact, who romped in the French Derby before trainer Jean-Claude Rouget turned his attention to the Arc. There, regular rider Cristian Demuro aboard, Ace Impact rallied powerfully to post a 1 3/4-length win, becoming the first horse since Dalakhani in 2003 to win the Arc and the French Derby in the same year. By Cracksman, Ace Impact also was named the top 3-year-old of the year. He has been retired to stud in France. Mostahdaf, who ran a disappointing race finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, won the Cartier award for top older horse on the strength of Group 1 victories in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the International. Mostahdaf is by Frankel, the sire of Cracksman, Ace Impact’s sire. Mosthadaf, too, has been retired, as has Tahiyra, who was named leading 3-year-old filly. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Tahiyra failed to produce her best finishing third over very soft ground in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Oct. 21 at Ascot but shined bright in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Royal Ascot, the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas, and in the Matron Stakes late this summer, where she beat older horses in her top performance. City of Troy and Opera Singer, both trained by Aidan O’Brien and both exciting prospects for 2 Shaquille is the champion sprinter of 2023 while Trueshan was named the leading staying horse two years after winning the same Cartier award in 2021. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.