Horseracing: Sakhee wins French award

Sakhee has scooped the prestigious Hermes Flat Horse Of The Year Award for 2001.

The Hermes Awards are voted for by readers of the Paris-Turf, Equida, Trot Information and Courses et Elevage et l'Eperon and journalists in France.

Sakhee fought off competition from his Godolphin stablemate Fantastic Light as well as the likes of Galileo, Aquarelliste, Banks Hill and Johannesburg.

Sakhee's performance in the Arc at Longchamp in October was one of the finest in a top middle-distance race for many years.

The four-year son of Bahri had six lengths to spare over Aquarelliste at the finish, equalling the record for the longest winning margin set by two of the all-time greats - Ribot in 1956 and Sea Bird II in 1965.

Earlier in the season, Sakhee had recorded an equally impressive success in the Group One Juddmonte International at York.

His campaign rounded off with a courageous effort in the Grade One Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont Park in late October, when he went down by a nose to Tiznow on his first outing on a dirt surface.

Sakhee remains in training for 2002 and has the Group One Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on March 23 as his initial target.

A sculpture by Christian Renonciat, from the collection known as the "Les Chevaux Hermes", was presented by Hermes to Diana Cooper, Godolphin's French representative, at the awards' ceremony in Paris, Godolphin's official website revealed.