2008 CARTIER AWARD WINNERS Horse of Year: Zarkava (above) Older Horse: Duke Of Marmalade 3-y-o colt: New Approach 3-y-o filly: Zarkava Stayer: Yeats Sprinter: Marchand d'Or 2-y-o colt: Mastercraftsman 2-y-o filly: Rainbow View

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava has been named horse of the year at the Cartier Racing Awards.

The unbeaten three-year-old filly won all five or her starts in 2008, adding to two wins as a juvenile.

Zarkava was retired to stud last month by her owner, the Aga Khan, who hailed her as a "supreme athlete".

She beat Breeders' Cup winner Raven's Pass, Derby victor New Approach, Duke Of Marmalade and dual Guineas champion Henrythenavigator to the honour.

Zarkava also won the three-year-old filly award, ahead of Goldikova, Lush Lashes, Halfway To Heaven and Natagora.

Her victories ranged from the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over a mile, the 10-furlong Prix de Diane and the 12-furlong Prix Vermeille, to her crowning glory, the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

New Approach, trained by Jim Bolger, was named top three-year-old colt, having captured the two-year-old colt award last year.

606: DEBATE She has done a lot for horse racing by winning in the style she did and remaining unbeaten Intense Focus

Mastercraftsman took the two-year-old colt honours, with Rainbow View, the John Gosden-trained daughter of Dynaformer, winning the fillies' equivalent.

Champion trainer Aidan O'Brien's five-time Group One winner Duke Of Marmalade won the older horse award, while another product of the Ballydoyle stable, Yeats, took the stayer award for the third consecutive year. Marchand d'Or was top sprinter.

The eight horse awards were decided by a combination of points achieved in certain races, the views of racing journalists chaired by Brough Scott and votes from readers of the Racing Post and the Daily Telegraph.

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