(Covering the period 1st Dec 2007 – 8th Jun 2008)
CURLIN (USA) [130] has retained the crown of top ranked racehorse in the world in the latest edition of the World’s Leading Horses, which covers the period 1st Dec 2007 to 8th June 2008. His impressive romp in the Dubai World Cup (G1) (sponsored by Emirates Airlines) remains the outstanding performance in the world in the past six months as rated by the panel of handicappers/racing secretaries affiliated to the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). He does however face stiff new competition for that crown as the top European horses have now re-emerged from their off season.
WORLD'S LEADING HORSES |
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Top 14 Horses – 1st Dec 2007 to 8th Jun 2008 |
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Rank |
Horse |
Rating |
Trained |
1 |
CURLIN (USA) |
130 |
USA |
2 |
BIG BROWN (USA) |
126 |
USA |
2 |
NEW APPROACH (IRE) |
126 |
IRE |
4 |
TARTAN BEARER (IRE) |
125 |
GB |
5 |
HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (USA) |
124 |
IRE |
5 |
ZARKAVA (IRE) |
124 |
FR |
7 |
DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) |
123 |
IRE |
7 |
SACRED KINGDOM (AUS) |
123 |
HK |
7 |
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) |
123 |
IRE |
10 |
GETAWAY (GER) |
122 |
FR |
10 |
GOOD BA BA (USA) |
122 |
HK |
10 |
RAMONTI (FR) |
122 |
UAE |
10 |
VIVA PATACA (GB) |
122 |
HK |
10 |
WEEKEND HUSSLER (AUS) |
122 |
AUS |
Among the older horses, DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) [123] enhanced his growing reputation by winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the Curragh while SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) [123] made a very good impression on his seasonal debut in defeating YOUMZAIN (IRE) [121] and MACARTHUR (IRE) [119] in the Juddmonte Coronation Cup (G1). SAGEBURG (IRE) [120] showed an impressive turn of foot to win the Prix d’Ispahan (G1) while VODKA (JPN) [120] put up a career best performance and joined South African mare SUN CLASSIQUE (AUS) [120] as joint top older filly/mare in the Rankings by romping home in the Yasuda Kinen (G1).
There are some exceptionally promising horses among the ranks of the European classic generation; champion European juvenile filly ZARKAVA (IRE) [124] is now the highest rated filly in the world and the highest ranked since Makybe Diva (GB) [124] having become the first filly since Divine Proportions (USA) [122] to win both the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) and the Prix de Diane (G1) in breathtaking fashion, remaining unbeaten in the process. Champion European juvenile colt NEW APPROACH (IRE) [126] resumed winning ways and joined BIG BROWN (USA) [126] at the top of the three year old colts Rankings in winning an above average Vodafone Derby (G1) from TARTAN BEARER (IRE) [125] and CASUAL CONQUEST (IRE) [118]. HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (USA) [124] became the first horse since Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) [128] to complete the Stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas (G1) / Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) double and in beating the aforementioned New Approach (IRE) in both those races he becomes top Turf Miler in the world in the current Rankings.
Other notable classic winning performances in the period under review include the unbeaten French colts VISION D’ETAT (FR) [121] (Prix du Jockey Club) (G1), FALCO (USA) [120] (Poule d’Essai des Poulains) (G1) and the American colt DA’ TARA (USA) [119] (Belmont Stakes) (G1). HEATSEEKER (IRE) [120] put up a career high performance in the Californian Stakes (G2) while Australian sprinter/miler APACHE CAT (AUS) [120] continues to improve and extended his exceptional Group 1 winning sequence to five wins recently in the Carlton Draught Doomben 10,000 (G1).
The World's Leading Horses are compiled by the World Rankings Supervisory Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The next World's Leading Horses listing will be released on 3rd July 2008.
For
further details on the World's Leading Horses, please contact:
Nigel
Gray, co-chairman World Rankings Supervisory Committee
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 Racehorse Rankings and World’s Leading Horses are available
on the