The Top Ranked Horses in the World

WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS

The official listing of the top horses in the world
(covering the period 1st January to 1st July 2012)

FRANKEL (GB) [140] cemented his position as the best racehorse on the planet with a spectacular 11 length success in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain raiser, the Queen Anne Stakes (G1).

World Thoroughbred Rankings

The Leading Horses

Rank

Horse

Rating

Trained

1

Frankel (GB)

140

GB

2

Black Caviar (AUS)

130

AUS

3

Cirrus Des Aigles (FR)

128

FR

4

I'll Have Another (USA)

126

USA

4

Monterosso (GB)

126

UAE

6

Bodemeister (USA)

125

USA

6

Cityscape (GB)

125

GB

6

Excelebration (IRE)

125

IRE

6

Hay List (AUS)

125

AUS

6

Orfevre (JPN)

125

JPN

6

So You Think (NZ)

125

IRE



Unbeaten in 11 starts, and officially rated the top horse in the world since taking the Qipco Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood by five lengths last July, Frankel's new rating of 140 is the highest recorded since the instigation of the World Thoroughbred Rankings in 2004. In addition, it is the second highest rating allocated since official international figures were first published in 1977; only Dancing Brave (USA) [141] owned, like Frankel, by Prince Khalid Abdulla, has been rated higher.

BLACK CAVIAR (AUS) [130] led the World Rankings in early 2011, and shared top spot with Frankel in May and June 2011, since when only Frankel has been rated above her. She also maintained her unbeaten record, not needing to be at her sparkling best to capture the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) in her first race outside her native Australia. In the process, she brought her unbeaten run to 22.

The other feature sprint of the meeting was also captured by a long distance traveller, as LITTLE BRIDGE (NZ) [120] struck a blow for Hong Kong when gaining his first international Group race success in the King's Stand Stakes (G1).

The two principal middle-distance events at Ascot also produced top class performances, with SO YOU THINK (NZ) [125] holding off CARLTON HOUSE (USA) [119] in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), and the improving SEA MOON (GB) [123] putting up his best effort yet to take the Hardwicke Stakes (G2).

ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE) [124], who defeated Sea Moon in the 2011 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), showed he is as good as ever with a four and a half length victory in the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec) (G1) at Epsom. Over the same course and distance, CAMELOT (GB) [124] confirmed himself the clear leader among the European 3yos with an impressive victory in the Investec Derby (G1), and showed his versatility when following up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) at the Curragh in much softer conditions. Already the winner of the Qipco 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket, Camelot has the opportunity to bid to become the first winner of the British Triple Crown since Nijinsky (CAN) in 1970.

The top ranked 3yo filly in Europe so far is VALYRA (GB) [120], who beat Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) victress BEAUTY PARLOUR (GB) [118] in the Prix de Diane-Longines (G1).

In Hanshin, 2011 Japanese Triple Crown winner ORFEVRE (JPN) [125] re-established himself as the top horse in Japan with a smooth victory in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1), defeating Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (G1) winner RULERSHIP (JPN) [123] by two lengths.

The top performance in North America since the last publication of the World Rankings was put up by GAME ON DUDE (USA) [122], who trounced the opposition in the Californian (G2) by seven and a quarter lengths. ACCLAMATION (USA) [121] produced the best effort on turf in America so far this year when taking the Charles Whittingham Memorial (G1) at Hollywood Park for the third successive year, while 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) winner ROYAL DELTA (USA) [119] bounced back to her best with an eight length romp in the Fleur de Lis (G2).

The Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) went to RON THE GREEK (USA) [120], who got up close home to deny WISE DAN (USA) [124] and NATES MINESHAFT (USA) [119].

 

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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
Head of Handicapping and Race Planning, Hong Kong Jockey Club
Telephone +852 2966 8337
Email nigel.c.gray@hkjc.org.hk


Garry O'Gorman
, co-chairman World Rankings Supervisory Committee
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

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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/

The next edition of the World Thoroughbred Rankings will be released on 9th August 2012.