The official listing of the top horses in the world
(covering the period 1st February to 28th July 2010)
HARBINGER (GB) [135] holds a commanding lead at the top of the World Thoroughbred Rankings following his stunning 11 length victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Betfair) (G1) at Ascot.
|
World Thoroughbred Rankings Top 11 horses |
|||
Rank |
Horse |
Rating |
Trained |
1 |
Harbinger (GB) |
135 |
GB |
2 |
Canford Cliffs (IRE) |
127 |
GB |
3 |
Quality Road (USA) |
126 |
USA |
3 |
Workforce (GB) |
126 |
GB |
5 |
Paco Boy (IRE) |
125 |
GB |
5 |
Rip Van Winkle (IRE) |
125 |
IRE |
5 |
Zenyatta (USA) |
125 |
USA |
8 |
Byword (GB) |
124 |
FR |
8 |
Dick Turpin (IRE) |
124 |
GB |
8 |
Fame And Glory (GB) |
124 |
IRE |
8 |
Lope de Vega (IRE) |
124 |
FR |
Contesting his first event at the top level, Harbinger captured his fourth consecutive Group race in as many months in sensational style and in course record time, leaving a high-class field, including Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) winner CAPE BLANCO (IRE) [119] and Investec Derby (G1) winner WORKFORCE ((GB) [126], toiling in his wake.
CANFORD CLIFFS (IRE) [127] has taken over as the top 3yo of the year to date with his cosy neck triumph in the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood over the 2009 winner, RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE) [125]. In the process, Richard Hannon’s charge completed a hat trick of Group 1 wins, following his victories in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot.
Hannon is also responsible for Canford Cliffs’ closest pursuer in the 3yo miling ranks in DICK TURPIN (IRE) [124], who put up a career best performance in taking the Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Chantilly by four lengths.
Sidelined ESKENDEREYA (USA) [123] retains his position as the leading three-year-old on a non-Turf surface courtesy of his 9.75 length victory in the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct back in April.
However QUALITY ROAD (USA) [126] retains his position as the leading Dirt performer overall, courtesy of his successes in the Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park in February and the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park in May.
The leader on Artificial surfaces is also unchanged, with the mighty mare ZENYATTA (USA) [125] filling top spot on the strength of her victory in the Vanity Handicap (G1) at Hollywood Park in June, a performance which took her perfect record to 17.
BEHKABAD (FR) [122] gained his maiden Group 1 victory in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp. Stepping up to 2400m for the first time, Behkabad defeated PLANTEUR (IRE) [120] by three-quarters of a length, with the remainder of the field five lengths and more in arrears.
In the sprint division, STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS) [121] completed a notable double when following up his success in the Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Ascot with a brave defeat of King’s Stand Stakes (G1) winner EQUIANO (FR) [120] in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
Meanwhile in South Africa, J J The Jet Plane (SAF) [120] showed he was back to his best with a five and a half length win in the Mercury Sprint (G1) at Clairwood, following on from his success in the Golden Horse Casino Sprint (G1) at Scottsville in May. The five year old had also taken these two prestigious events in 2008.
In Japan, NAKAYAMA FESTA (JPN) [120] produced the best performance of his career so far to take the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin.
The World Thoroughbred Rankings are compiled by the World Rankings Supervisory Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
For further details on the World Thoroughbred Rankings, please contact:
Nigel Gray, co-chairman World Rankings Supervisory Committee
Garry O'Gorman
Senior Flat Handicapper, Irish Turf Club
Telephone +353 5997 26596
Email gaogorman@eircom.net
Tom
Robbins, chairman North American Ratings Committee
Executive Vice President, Racing & Industry Relations, Racing Secretary, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Telephone +1 858 792 4230
Email tomr@dmtc.com
*******
The full list and further information on the World Thoroughbred Rankings are available on the IFHA web site http://www.ifhaonline.org/
The next edition of the World Thoroughbred Rankings will be released on 9th September 2010.