The Official Listing of the top horses in the world
(covering the period 7th March to 6th September 2009)
Irish trained three year old SEA THE STARS (IRE) [135] consolidated his position as the top racehorse in the world with his recent victories in the Juddmonte International (G1) and the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion (G1) according to the latest edition of the World Thoroughbred Rankings, compiled by the panel of handicappers/racing secretaries affiliated to the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities).
WORLD'S LEADING HORSES |
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Top 10 Horses – 7th March to 6th September 2009 |
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Rank |
Horse |
Rating |
Trained |
1 |
SEA THE STARS (IRE) |
135 |
IRE |
2 |
GOLDIKOVA (IRE) |
130 |
FR |
3 |
FAME AND GLORY (GB) |
129 |
IRE |
3 |
RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE) |
129 |
IRE |
5 |
GLADIATORUS (USA) |
126 |
UAE |
6 |
CONDUIT (IRE) |
125 |
GB |
6 |
MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) |
125 |
IRE |
6 |
RACHEL ALEXANDRA (USA) |
125 |
USA |
6 |
ZENYATTA (USA) |
125 |
USA |
10 |
PACO BOY (IRE) |
124 |
GB |
10 |
WELL ARMED (USA) |
124 |
USA |
Sea The Stars (IRE) brought his Group 1 tally to five with those two wins, putting up his finest performance yet in defeating multiple Group 1 winning colts FAME AND GLORY (GB) [129] and MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) [125] at Leopardstown. Aidan O’Brien, who trains the second and third, is also responsible for RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE) [129], who continued his upward progress in defeating PACO BOY (IRE) [124] in the BCG Sussex Stakes (G1).
French filly GOLDIKOVA (IRE) [130] put up the best performance by a filly/mare this century in romping away with the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (G1) in scintillating fashion defeating AQLAAM (GB) [120], who has since confirmed the merit of this form in annexing the Prix du Moulin (G1). In the United States, crack three year old filly RACHEL ALEXANDRA (USA) [125] recently defeated the colts for the third time in 2009 when taking the Woodward (G1), but it was her effort in the Haskell Invitational (G1), in which she beat SUMMER BIRD (USA) [122], that marked her finest performance to date and confirmed her status as the top three year old filly on any surface in 2009. Summer Bird (USA) has since then assumed the mantle of top three year old colt on dirt when winning the Shadwell Travers (G1) in impressive fashion.
There have been a number of other notable performances warranting inclusion in the Top 50 listing in the last month. GETAWAY (GER) [121] confirmed his status as top horse in Germany with victory in the Grosser Mercedes-Benz Preis von Baden (G1) while in North America the two best sprinters look to be FABULOUS STRIKE (USA) [119] on the east coast following his victory in the Alfred G Vanderbilt (G2) at Saratoga, and three year old west coast colt ZENSATIONAL (USA) [119] on the strength of his victory in the Pat O’ Brien (G1) at Del Mar. Among the older colts in the United States, RICHARD’S KID (USA) [119] put up a career best effort in winning the Pacific Classic (G1) as did MACHO AGAIN (USA) [119] in running up to Rachel Alexandra (USA) in the Woodward (G1), while two distaffers who have come to the fore recently following wide margin victories in Group 1 company are CARELESS JEWEL (USA) [119] in the Alabama (G1) and ICON PROJECT (USA) [119] in the Personal Ensign (G1).
The World Thoroughbred Rankings (formerly known as ‘World's Leading Horses’) are compiled by the World Rankings Supervisory Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The next edition of the World Thoroughbred Rankings will be published on 7th October 2009.
Head of Handicapping and Race Planning, Hong Kong Jockey Club
Telephone +852 2966 8337
Email nigel.c.gray@hkjc.org.hk
Senior Flat Handicapper, Irish Turf Club
Telephone +353 5997 26596
Email gaogorman@eircom.net
Tom
Robbins, chairman North American Ratings Committee
Vice President (Racing), Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Telephone +1 858 792 4230
Email tomr@dmtc.com
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The full list and further information on the World Thoroughbred Rankings are available on the IFHA web site http://www.ifhaonline.org/