THE WORLD THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSE RANKINGS CONFERENCE – 2004
The inaugural World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings Conference took place in Hong Kong SAR, China in December 2004. The Conference was held under the auspices of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), and superseded the International Classifications Conference, which had been held annually since 1977 under the direction of the European Pattern Committee.
The Conference compiled the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, the end of season assessment of those horses which had raced in or been trained in countries whose racing season ran from 1st January to 31st December 2004, and also the first edition of the IFHA’s listing of the World’s Leading Horses, which ranks the best horses to have raced anywhere in the world in 2004.
Ghostzapper earned top billing in both
publications with his three-length success in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade
1) at Lone Star Park in October. As well as being the highest-rated horse in
the world during 2004 for that performance over 10 furlongs (2000m),
Ghostzapper, who was unbeaten in 2004, was also rated the joint-top miler, and
the highest-rated on Dirt, having gained a runaway success in the Philip H
Iselin Breeders’ Cup Handicap (Grade 3) in August, prior to his win in the
Woodward Stakes (Grade 1) in September.
The principal global category-toppers of
2004 are as follows: -
GHOSTZAPPER (USA) Rated 130 Trained by Robert J Frankel in USA
Won four races in 2004 including the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic (2000m Dirt) and Woodward Stakes (1800m Dirt).
SMARTY JONES (USA) Rated 128 Trained by John C Servis in USA
Won three races in 2004 including two of the three legs of the American Triple Crown, Gr.1 Kentucky Derby (2000m-Dirt), Gr.1 Preakness Stakes (1900m-Dirt) and was runner up in the third leg, the Gr.1 Belmont Stakes (2400m-Dirt).
OUIJA BOARD (GB) Rated 120 Trained by Edward Dunlop in GB
Winner of four races including three Group One events, the Oaks (2400m-Turf), Irish Oaks (2400m-Turf) and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m-Turf).
SILENT WITNESS (AUS) Rated 123 Trained by Tony Cruz in HK
Undefeated in his career and winner five times in 2004 including the three legs of the HK Champion Sprint Series and gained his second victory in the Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (1000m-Turf) in December.
PICO CENTRAL (BRZ) Rated 123 Trained by Paulo H Lobo in USA
Four wins in 2004 including three Group One victories, Carter Handicap (1400m-Dirt), Metropolitan Handicap (1600m-Dirt) and Vosburgh Stakes (1200m-Dirt).
GHOSTZAPPER (USA) Rated 123 Trained by Robert J Frankel in USA
Won four races in 2004 including the Woodward Stakes (1800m Dirt).
LONHRO (AUS) Rated 123 Trained by John Hawkes in AUS
Won four races in 2004 including three Group One events, C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m-Turf), Darley Australian Cup (2000m-Turf) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m-Turf).
RAKTI (GB) Rated 123 Trained by Michael Jarvis in GB
Gained two Group One victories in 2004, Prince of Wales's Stakes (2000m-Turf) and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m-Turf).
The World's Top Ranked Intermediate Distance Performer [I]
GHOSTZAPPER (USA) Rated 130 Trained by Robert J Frankel in USA
Won four races in 2004 including the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic (2000m Dirt).
The World's Top Ranked Middle Distance Performer [L]
DOYEN (IRE) Rated 127 Trained by Saeed bin Suroor in GB
Won twice in 2004 including the Gr.1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (2400m-Turf).
RULE OF LAW (USA) Rated 120 Trained by Saeed bin Suroor in GB
Won two Group Races in 2004 including the
St Leger (2900m-Turf).
The IFHA World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are the official assessment of the top performers. In 1977, France, Great Britain and Ireland published the first internationally agreed assessment of racing merit on behalf of the European Pattern Committee under the banner of the International Classifications. In 1985, Germany and Italy joined the system, to be followed by North America (both Canada and the United States) and Japan in the mid 1990s. The International Classifications continued to expand, with more and more countries becoming involved. During 2003, responsibility for the Classifications was transferred from the European Pattern Committee to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, and the initial WTRR Conference, held in Hong Kong SAR, China in December 2004, was attended by delegates from Argentina, Australia, Hong Kong SAR, China , Macau SAR, China , New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to those from the eight countries who were first involved.
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse
Rankings will be published twice each year, and will comprise those horses
which have been rated at 115 or above by the WTRR Conferences. The January
publication will include horses aged three years old and upwards which have
either raced in, or been trained in, countries whose racing season runs from 1st January to 31st
December, while the August edition will include those horses which
have raced in or been trained in countries who race from 1st
August to 31st July (1st July to 30th June in
South America).
The Rankings will also appear on the IFHA website (www.ifhaonline.org), along with tables showing the top 10 horses in individual countries and the winners of Group / Grade 1 races, together with their race ratings.
In addition, a list of the top 50 horses
will be published five times each year to give updates on the leading
performers worldwide. These listings will be produced in January (following the
December WTRR Conference), April (following the Dubai World Cup meeting),
August (following the July WTRR Conference), October (following the Prix de
l’Arc de Triomphe meeting) and November (following the Breeders’ Cup meeting).
These assessments will also appear on the IFHA website. To merit inclusion, a
horse must have achieved its rating within the previous six months.