Dalakhani won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

The Aga Khan's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and French Derby winner, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, also claimed the Three-Year-Old Colt award at the London ceremony.

Alamshar, also owned by the Aga Khan and the only horse to defeat Dalakhani, was second in the colt category.

Falbrav, runner-up for the Horse of the Year award, took the Older Horse prize.

The five-year-old, trained by Luca Cumani, had a fabulous season that included Group One wins in the Juddmonte International, Coral-Eclipse, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Prix d'Ispahan.

CARTIER AWARD WINNERS 2003 Horse of the Year: Dalakhani Older Horse: Falbrav Three-Year-Old Colt: Dalakhani Three-Year-Old Filly: Russian Rhythm Stayer: Persian Punch Sprinter: Oasis Dream Two-Year-Old Colt: One Cool Cat Two-Year-Old Filly: Attraction Order of Merit: Lord Oaksey

Cheveley Park Stud's Russian Rhythm, who rattled up a Group One three-timer in the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Vodafone Nassau Stakes, beat Six Perfections to the Three-Year-Old Filly award.

The remarkable 10-year-old Persian Punch, the most popular Flat horse in training, lifted the Stayer award.

The David Elsworth-trained gelding took his career earnings past the £1m mark this year with wins in the Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup, Jockey Club Cup and a Sandown Listed event.

The Sprinter award went to the John Gosden-trained Oasis Dream, thanks to wins in two Group Ones - the Darley July Cup and the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Another dual Group One winner, Aidan O'Brien's One Cool Cat, was the Two-Year-Old Colt award winner while the unbeaten Attraction, trained by Mark Johnston, collected the Two-Year-Old Filly prize.

The Daily Telegraph Order of Merit was presented to former champion amateur jockey Lord Oaksey.