THE outstanding three-year-old filly Minding (176), who registered her fourth Group 1 victory of 2016 in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and has a clear lead on pattern race points in the race to be crowned Cartier Horse of the Year in 2016.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Minding has won four Group 1, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Investec Oaks, Dubai Duty Free Pretty Polly Stakes and Qatar Nassau Stakes in 2016, showing her versatility by scoring at a mile, 10 furlongs and 12 furlongs.

She is already a Cartier Award winner, having taken Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly honours in 2015. The daughter of Galileo, with 176 points, also holds a clear lead in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category, with the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Qemah (80), successful in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Sunday lying in second place.

It is much closer in the Cartier Three-Year-Old division, with Galileo Gold (136) currently holding a narrow advantage over The Gurkha (128). The duo have met twice, with Galileo Gold coming out on top by a length and a quarter in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, the placings were reversed recently with The Gurkha taking the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes by a neck from Galileo Gold at Goodwood.

A third meeting between the two outstanding colts is a mouth-watering prospect. Galileo Gold and The Gurkha are also in second and third respectively behind Minding in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings.

Order Of St George (48), successful in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, is still out in front in the Cartier Stayer category, though Big Orange, winner of last week's Qatar Goodwood Cup, moves onto 22 points in the staying division and also has another 20 points for his middle-distance efforts this year.

Royal Ascot winners Quiet Reflection (64), Profitable (56) and Twilight Son (32), plus Darley July Cup hero Limato (32), lead the way in the Cartier Sprinter division.

Group 1 Prix Ganay hero Dariyan (70) currently just prevails in the Cartier Older Horse category ahead of Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup victor Postponed (68).

European horseracing's top awards are determined by a combination of points earned by horses in pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph plus Channel 4 Racing viewers (35%).

Cartier Racing Awards - points in pattern races up to and including Sunday, July 31, 2016

CARTIER HORSE OF THE YEAR

Minding - 176

Galileo Gold - 136

The Gurkha - 128

Harzand - 88

Qemah - 80

CARTIER OLDER HORSE

Dariyan - 70

Postponed - 68

Found - 64

Silverwave - 64

CARTIER THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT

Galileo Gold - 136

The Gurkha - 128

Harzand - 88

CARTIER THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Minding - 176

Qemah - 80

La Cressonniere - 64

Quiet Reflection - 64

CARTIER SPRINTER

Quiet Reflection - 64

Profitable - 56

Twilight Son - 32

Limato - 32

CARTIER STAYER

Order Of St George - 48

Mizzou - 32

Vazirabad - 28

Big Orange - 22