PUNTERS were disgruntled after City Of Troy was crowned Cartier’s Horse Of The Year ahead of Bluestocking, Charyn and Kyprios.
The awards were held at the five-star Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, where some rooms cost over £8,000 a night and the wine menu doesn’t have prices.
In the lavish surroundings, an audience of trainers, socialites and Flat Racing’s bluest blooded clapped City Of Troy’s victory.
Aidan O’Brien’s Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte winner became the second horse after Frankel to take the award a year after being voted the top two-year-old colt.
But unlike the mighty Frankel, his career was peppered with disappointments.
None more so than his almighty flop in the Breeders’ Cup Classic earlier this month when he dragged himself past the post halfway down the field.
While rowdy fan reaction in the Mayfair mansion was not an option, the views on X were far less restrained.
One fan commented: “What absolute rubbish.”
Another added: “Probably end up jumps sire like all he beat.”
Another joked: “Haha, nice one, you had us there for a moment. Now tell us who really won.”
While one said: “How much did Coolmore pay for the rewards?”
Many fans thought Roger Varian’s Charyn, who most recently came fifth in a valuable Group 1 in his Hong Kong swansong, had been deprived of what was rightfully his.
Charyn won FIVE Group and Listed contests this season, including three Group 1s.
One punter said: “Charyn robbed.”
Another added: “Lucky that Rebel’s Romance is a fish not a horse.”
While certain fans thought Kyprios, who returned from the brink of death to become Europe’s most successful stayer, should have been the winner.
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One said: “It should be Kyrpios.”
Kyprios did win the Leading Stayer award, while Charyn won the Older Horse award, and Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna won the three-year-old Filly award.
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