Dubai Battaash and Blue Point, two Dubai-owned sprinters, continue to head the pecking order for a prestigious Cartier Racing Award following the release of the latest points standings on Tuesday.
Both speedballs are joint leaders of the category on 48 points, together with Brando, Havana Grey and the recently retired Merchant Navy.
Battaash is raced by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, who in 2015 saw Muhaarar lift the award.
Blue Point represents the Godolphin Stable who last season picked up the Sprinter of the Year Award through Harry Angel.
With Merchant Navy having returned to his native Australia to take up stallion duties, the race looks wide open and can be decided on October 20 at Ascot on British Champions Day.
Battaash, Blue Point, last year’s Cartier Sprinter of the Year-winner, Harry Angel and Brando hold entries for one of the day’s highlights, the £600,000 (Dh2.89 million) British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1.
Despite defeats in the King’s Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot and the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York, Battaash is currently the top-rated older horse in the world as per the Timeform ratings, with 136 points.
However, he is likely to face a big test from the Charlie Appleby-trained Blue Point who broke the six-furlong record at Ascot in 2017 blitzing home in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes.
Blue Point’s most recent Ascot win came in the King’s Stand Stakes, when he outsprinted Battaash over five furlongs.
Meanwhile, Roaring Lion stormed to the head of the standings for Cartier Horse of The Year following a sensational weekend of European racing that featured eight G1 contests across three countries.
Cartier Sprinter of the Year
Battaash 48 points
Brando 48
Havana Grey 48
Merchant Navy 48
Blue Point 46
