A tried and tested points system accounts for 40 per cent of the decision making process, while an expert panel accounts for 30% and readers of two British newspapers, the Daily Telegraph and Racing Post, accounts for the remaining 30%.

Various Gr 1 races are accorded “super category” status and for these events horses are awarded 48 points for winning, 24 for second and 12 for third. The “super category events” are the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Investec Derby, Investec Oaks, Coral-Eclipse Stakes, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO, QIPCO Sussex Stakes, Juddmonte International, QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, QIPCO British Champions Stakes, Prix Ganay, Prix du Haras, Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Turf

Other Gr1 events in Great Britain, France and Ireland are given 32 points for a win, 16 for second and 8 for third, while Gr 2s are given 16, 8 and 4 and Gr 3s 8, 4 and 2.

Gr 1 and Gr 2s in America, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore are accorded points that equate to 75% of the points for British Gr 1s, while Gr 3s are given 50% of the corresponding British Gr 3s. Pattern races (Group or Graded) events in other countries are awarded points equating to 50% of points for the American and Australian equivalent.

Using this system the Equus Horse of the Year Legislate would likely have collected 182 points (both of the classics as well as the Vodacom Durban July that he won would probably be accorded “super category” status, and he also had a Gr 2 win and both a Gr 2 and Gr 3 second), Yorker would have collected 144 presuming the Sansui Summer Cup and L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate would be considered “super” events, while Beach Beauty would have collected 132 points.

All of the Equus Award winners of the corresponding Cartier categories would have been on top using the above points system with the exception of the Champion Stayer Hot Ticket and the controversial Champion Two-Year-Old filly Majmu.

In the Stayer category Wavin’ Flag would have earned either 58 or 42 points, depending on whether the eLan Property Group Gold Cup is accorded super status or not, while Hot Ticket would have collected 40 points. Considering the country’s biggest staying event is a handicap, the voting system might have saved the Gold Cup topweight Hot Ticket.

However, the runaway points winner in the Two-Year-Old fillies category would have been Carry On Alice on 64 points and the voting system would unlikely have saved Majmu, who on 24 points would have been the lowest points scorer among the five fillies nominated.

The Equus Awards could benefit from using a similar system to the Cartier one, although the respective gaps between “Super” events and other Gr 1s, and Gr 1s and Gr2s, are not nearly as wide in South Africa as they are in Europe, so the points system would likely need to be adjusted.

The Cartier points system adds plenty of excitement to the season. For example in the current race for Cartier Horse Of The Year, the brilliant John Gosden-trained miler Kingman is out in front on 208 points, while his contemporary Australia is his nearest rival on 140 points.

However, the latter, who is regarded by prolific trainer Aiden O’Brien as the best horse he has ever trained, could still take in three “super” status events, the Irish Champion Stakes in two weekends time at Leopardstown, The Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 18 and the Breeder’s Cup Turf or Classic on November 1. He is also currently an 8-1 shot for the prestigious Gr 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but his jockey, the six foot tall Joseph O’Brien, had to lose two pounds in weight to ride him in the  Juddmonte and would have to lose a further pound to ride him in the Arc.

Meanwhile, Kingman is on course for the race that has always been his end of season target, the Gr 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 18. Kingman and Australia have only met once, in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and Kingman was victor with Australia beaten 0,6 lengths into third, although the mile is short of the latter’s best trip.

Picture: Kingman – Newbury Racing