Unbeaten Frankel named 2011 Cartier horse of the year

The unbeaten Frankel has been named racehorse of the year at the Cartier Racing Awards.

The three-year-old colt, owned and bred by Khalid Abdullah and trained by Sir Henry Cecil, has won all nine of his races to date.

Frankel's season included victories in the 2,000 Guineas, the St James's Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

He also took the honours in the three-year-old colt category.

It capped a memorable day for Cecil, who had earlier been knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The awards are determined by points earned by horses in Pattern (top-class) races throughout 2011, combined with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists and votes from readers of the Racing Post and the Daily Telegraph.

In the horse of the year category, Frankel saw off competition from Champion Stakes winner Cirrus Des Aigles, Coral-Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes scorer So You Think.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream and 2010 horse of the year Goldikova were also among the nominees.

But there was success for Danedream - trained by Peter Schiergen - on the night, as she won the three-year-old filly category.

Christophe Ferland-trained Dabirsim took the two-year-old colt award after coming through his first season unbeaten in five starts and Maybe, trained by Aidan O'Brien, was named best two-year-old filly after an unblemished juvenile career.

Fame And Glory, also handled by O'Brien, took the honours in the stayer category, and David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead won the sprinter award.

Recently retired trainer Barry Hills was was handed the award of merit for his lifetime contribution to racing. He began training in 1969 and enjoyed more than 3,200 career wins, including 10 Classics.

Hills handed over his training licence to his son son Charlie after York's Ebor Meeting in October.