Frankel named European Horse of the Year

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LONDON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- To the surprise of none, Frankel has been named the Cartier Horse of the Year for the second straight year.

After retiring with a record of 14-for-14 in the wake of his victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot, Frankel already is settling in at Banstead Manor Stud, where he was foaled, to start producing new runners for owner Khalid Abdullah.

He becomes only the second two-time winner of the Cartier Horse of the Year award, symbolic of the tops in European racing, following the mare Ouija Board, who won in 2004 and 2006. Unlike Frankel, who raced exclusively in England, Ouija Board was a successful international campaigner, winning the Hong Kong Vase and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf twice.

Frankel's trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, did not attend the Tuesday night awards ceremony due to illness but said in a statement, "Frankel with his brilliance has been a great ambassador for British Racing and has captured the hearts of so many people, some of whom have never been racing in their lives. Thank you Frankel and to everyone that has voted for him."

The awards are determined by a points system, abetted by input from a panel of experts.

The other Cartier Award winners for 2012:

Two-Year-Old Colt: Dawn Approach

Two-Year-Old Filly: Certify

Three-Year-Old Colt: Camelot

Three-Year-Old Filly: The Fugue

Sprinter: Black Caviar

Stayer: Colour Vision

Older Horse: Frankel

Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Team Frankel