The official listing of the world's best racehorses
(covering the period 1st November 2012 to 28th April 2013)
The highest-rated sprinter in the world in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Black Caviar has already staked a very strong claim to taking that title for a fourth consecutive year, even though she will not be seen in competitive action on a racecourse again. Her ultra-impressive victories in the appropriately named Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1) in February, the Hacer Group William Reid Stakes (G1) in March and the Darley T. J. Smith Stakes (G1) in April saw her maintain her perfect record, extending her winning sequence to 25, and also capture her 15th G1 success, in the process surpassing Kingston Town's Australian record of 14 victories in the top grade. In addition, Black Caviar is the highest rated filly/mare, the highest rated sprinter and the highest rated Australian trained horse since the instigation of the World Rankings in 2004.
2012 American Horse of the Year WISE DAN (USA) [129] made a successful seasonal debut when taking the Maker's 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland in April. The highly versatile gelding, who is a G1 winner on both Turf and Dirt, as well as being the winner of a G3 on Keeneland's artificial surface by more than 10 lengths last year, won decisively under top weight, without needing to run to the level which saw him take the 2012 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita last November.
ANIMAL KINGDOM (USA) [126] , who finished second to Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile despite suffering a troubled run, underlined the strength of the form when running out the decisive winner of the Dubai World Cup (sponsored by Emirates Airline) (G1) at Meydan in March.
Also in Dubai, ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE) [124] reproduced the rating he had achieved in both 2011 and 2012 when victorious in the Dubai Sheema Classic (presented by LONGINES) (G1) , while SHEA SHEA (SAF) [120] ran out the impressive winner of the Al Quoz Sprint (sponsored by Emirates NBD) (G1) .
The highest rated performance on the Dirt in 2013 to date was achieved by GAME ON DUDE (USA) [126] , who trounced his rivals by 7.75 lengths in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in California in March. The top performance on the grass in North America so far this year was put up by POINT OF ENTRY (USA) [123] , who equalled his best run in 2012 when taking the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) in February.
In Hong Kong, reigning Horse of the Year AMBITIOUS DRAGON (NZ) [124] showed he is as good as ever with a smooth success in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (HK G1) at Sha Tin, while the progressive MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) [122] produced a career-best performance to take the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (G1) by a decisive 1.75 lengths at the same venue.
Another horse to replicate his form of 2012 was top New Zealand runner OCEAN PARK (NZ) [122] , who stormed to a 3.5 length success in the Lindauer New Zealand Stakes (G1) at Ellerslie in March.
In Australia, ex-European RELIABLE MAN (GB) [122] returned to his best in the Santos Coffee Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick in April, while ALL TOO HARD (AUS) [122] swept to a 3.25 length victory in the Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (G1) at Caulfield in February.
PASTORIUS (GER) [122] captured the first Group 1 of the European season, taking the Prix Ganay (G1) at Longchamp by a length from MAXIOS (GB) [120] .
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