Dubai: Muhaarar, a winner of four of his five starts this season, continues to dominate the Cartier Sprinter category in the countdown to this year’s 25th annual Cartier Racing Awards.

Trained by Charlie Hills for owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, the three-year-old son of Oasis Dream heads what is shaping into a competitive division, with 96 points, 48 clear of a quartet of horses that including 2014 winner Sole Power. The chasing pack also includes another Shaikh Hamdan-owned sprinter, Muthmir, Mecca’s Angel and Goldream.

Sole Power has stormed into contention following his stunning victory in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, last week.

A triple Group 1 scorer, Muhaarar’s next start will be in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on October 17, where he is the 5/2 ante-post favourite.

Meanwhile, Epsom Derby (G1) hero Golden Horn collected his third Group 1 victory of the season when slamming his rivals in the Irish Champion Stakes, the highlight of a thrilling weekend’s action at Leopardstown.

The John Gosden-trained colt holds a commanding advantage over Gleneagles (128), who missed the Irish Champion Stakes due to unsuitable ground, in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category. He is set to make his final racecourse appearance in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 4.

Godolphin’s Jack Hobbs earned eight points for his victory in the Group 3 Septmber Stakes at Kempton Park, a race that his trainer John Gosden had chosen as a prep for the Arc, where he will clash with Golden Horn, his vanquisher in the Epsom Derby.

Leading three-year-old colt New Bay (80) and Postponed (80), also advertised their Arc claims with Group 2 wins in the Qatar Prix Niel and Qatar Prix Foy respectively at Longchamp on Sunday.

Treve, winner of the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award in 2013, is making a play for Cartier Older Horse trophy, a category that is headed by fellow French-trained star Solow, trained by Freddy Head.

Leading three-year-old colt New Bay (80) and Postponed (80), who has developed into one of Europe’s leading older middle-distance performers, also advertised their Arc claims with Group Two wins in the Qatar Prix Niel and Qatar Prix Foy respectively on the same afternoon at Longchamp.

Harry Herbert, Cartier’s racing consultant, commented: “We continue to enjoy captivating racing and few sports could match the sheer drama and excitement on display in Ireland, France and the UK over the weekend.

“With attention turning to the major end of season finales in Europe and further afield, we look set for more mouth-watering clashes between now and early November.”

The 25th annual Cartier Racing Awards will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on November 10.