The standings for the 2011 Cartier Racing Awards have undergone a big shake-up following a fantastic weekend of racing at Longchamp on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2.

Established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing, the Cartier Awards are determined by points earned by horses in Pattern races throughout 2011, combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists and votes from readers of the Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph.

In addition to the eight equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 18-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

European horseracing’s equivalent of the Oscars will be presented on the evening of Tuesday, November 15, during a glittering ceremony before an invited audience at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Danedream (80) surprised many with her stunning five-length victory in Europe’s premier all-aged middle distance contest, for which a very strong field went to post, and is now a contender for honours in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly division. The filly, who became only the second German-trained winner of the Longchamp showpiece, currently is third on points behind QIPCO 1,000 Guineas, Darley Irish Oaks and Darley Yorkshire Oaks heroine Blue Bunting (110) and Immortal Verse (96), who has landed the Coronation Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois. Misty For Me has 78 points.

So You Think (138) had to contend with an unfavourable high draw in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but still ran a great race to finish a staying-on fourth to Danedream. The five-year-old, who has won three Group One contests since joining Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien from Australia this season, now just tops the standings for the Cartier Horse of the Year, followed by the unbeaten Frankel (136), Dream Ahead (112 Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category, 80 Cartier Sprinter category) and Goldikova (112). The son of High Chaparral is also out in front in the Cartier Older Horse category ahead of Goldikova, Midday (100) and Cirrus Des Aigles (92), who went down by a short-neck to Byword in the Group Two Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp on October 1.

Just a neck separated Dream Ahead and Goldikova in the seven-furlong Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, with the former coming with a devastating late run to deny the 14-time Group/Grade One-winning mare. This was a third Group One victory for Dream Ahead in 2011 following his earlier success in Newmarket’s Darley July Cup and the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. He holds a commanding lead in the Cartier Sprinter category ahead of Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Society Rock (64) and King’s Stand Stakes victor Prohibit (61). Tangerine Trees (40) gained a first Group One success in the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp and stands alongside Bated Breath (40).

Goldikova, the 2010 Cartier Horse of the Year and winner of the Cartier Older Horse Award for the past two years, now heads to Churchill Downs on November 5 when she will try and bring down the curtain on her career with a fourth consecutive victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Dream Ahead’s Prix de la Foret success has also put him into a challenging position behind Frankel in the Cartier Three-Year-Old colt division. Frankel is due to make his next appearance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, October 15, while plans appear fluid as to whether Dream Ahead will run again this season before retiring to stud. In the same category, Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach has 108 points, while Prix du Jockey Club scorer Reliable Man is on 72 - both were well beaten in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Longchamp also played host to some high-class juvenile action at the weekend. Dabirsim (72) maintained his unbeaten record when coming with a stunning late run to capture the Group One Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, adding to his victory in the Group One Darley Prix Morny. The Christophe Ferland-trained colt leads the Cartier Two-Year-Old category ahead of Power (64), winner of the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh, Prix Morny runner-up Family One (40) and dual Group Two scorer Caspar Netscher (36).

In the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly category, the unbeaten Maybe (56) leads the way following her victory in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on August 28. Fire Lily (50) lies in second place following her second that day and also her runner-up finish to Elusive Kate in the Group One Total Prix Marcel Boussac. Godolphin’s Group One Shadwell Fillies’ Mile heroine Lyric Of Light has 48 points, with Jaguar Cars Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lightening Pearl and La Collina, who defeated Power when taking the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, are both on 44.

Popular nine-year-old Kasbah Bliss, who has had a highly-distinguished career both on the Flat and over hurdles, gained a deserved first Group One victory when taking the Qatar Prix Du Cadran. He has 42 points and is adrift of Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup winner Opinion Poll (69), Fame And Glory (51), triumphant in the Group One Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, and Duncan (48), who dead-heated in the Group One Irish Field St Leger, in a very tight Cartier Stayer category.

Harry Herbert, Cartier’s Racing Consultant, commented: “We were fortunate to witness some outstanding racing at Longchamp on the first weekend in October and Danedream’s stunning Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory will live long in the memory.

“The 2011 Flat season has provided us with some truly great sport and the best could still be yet to come with the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 15 and the Breeders’ Cup in early November. Dubai Future Champions Day at Newmarket this Saturday will also help determine the 2011 Cartier Racing Awards.

“With Frankel, Goldikova, So You Think and many other leading horses set to run again before the season is out, there is still plenty of drama ahead of the 2011 Cartier Racing Awards.”

For more information, please contact Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant (01488 669166), Silvia Steffen-Ehl of Cartier (020 7408 5740) or Mark Popham of Racenews (020 7704 0326)

CARTIER HORSE OF THE YEAR

SO YOU THINK - 138

FRANKEL - 136

DREAM AHEAD - 112

GOLDIKOVA - 112

CARTIER OLDER HORSE

SO YOU THINK - 138

GOLDIKOVA - 112

MIDDAY - 100

CIRRUS DES AIGLES - 92

CARTIER THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT

FRANKEL - 136

DREAM AHEAD - 112

TREASURE BEACH - 108

RELIABLE MAN - 72

CARTIER THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY

BLUE BUNTING - 110

IMMORTAL VERSE - 96

DANEDREAM - 80

MISTY FOR ME - 78

CARTIER TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT

DABIRSIM - 72

POWER - 64

FAMILY ONE - 40

CASPAR NETSCHER - 36

CARTIER TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY

MAYBE - 56

FIRE LILY - 50

LYRIC OF LIGHT - 48

LA COLLINA - 44

LIGHTENING PEARL - 44

CARTIER STAYER

OPINION POLL - 69

FAME AND GLORY - 51

DUNCAN - 48

KASBAH BLISS - 42

CARTIER SPRINTER

DREAM AHEAD - 80

SOCIETY ROCK - 64

PROHIBIT - 61

BATED BREATH - 40

TANGERINE TREES - 40