The Top Ranked Horses in the World

WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS

The official listing of the top horses in the world
(covering the period 1st March to 11th September 2011)

Unbeaten three-year-old FRANKEL (GB) [135] continues to set the pace at the top of the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings, with the top six horses maintaining their positions from the previous month's listing.

World Thoroughbred Rankings

Leading Horses 1st March to 11th September 2011

Rank

Horse

Rating

Trained

1

Frankel (GB)

135

GB

2

Black Caviar (AUS)

130

AUS

3

Canford Cliffs (IRE)

127

GB

3

Nathaniel (IRE)

127

GB

3

Rewilding (GB)

127

GB

6

So You Think (NZ)

126

IRE

7

Cirrus Des Aigles (FR)

125

FR

7

Excelebration (IRE)

125

GB

7

Rocket Man (AUS)

125

SIN

7

Twice Over (GB)

125

GB

7

Workforce (GB)

125

GB

 

SO YOU THINK (NZ) [126] has been credited with putting up the top performance since the end of July, in holding off SNOW FAIRY (IRE) [122] by half a length in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown. Returning from a two month break, So You Think reproduced the same high level of form which he had already shown in winning three times this season, and when going down by a neck to the late lamented REWILDING (GB) [127] in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Ascot in June, while Snow Fairy put up a career-best effort in pushing him all the way to the line.

In a month rich in top class performances, CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR) [125], EXCELEBRATION (IRE) [125] and TWICE OVER (GB) [125] all came very close to matching So You Think, and they feature just 1lb behind him in the list.

Cirrus Des Aigles has won his last three races by an aggregate of 21 lengths, and put up his best performance yet when storming away from his rivals to take the Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville (G2) by ten lengths. Progressive three-year-old Excelebration, who had finished just over two lengths behind Frankel in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Ascot in June, resumed winning ways with an emphatic six length victory in the CGA Hungerford Stakes (G2) at Newbury, and followed that up with his first success in the top grade when taking the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) four weeks later.

Twice Over returned to his very best with a game three-quarters of a length triumph over stable companion MIDDAY (GB) [120] in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York, a terrific result for Prince Khaled Abdulla, the owner of both horses, and also the sponsor of the race.

Prix du Jockey Club (G1) winner RELIABLE MAN (GB) [123] took his record to four wins from five starts with a decisive victory in the Qatar Prix Niel (G2), in the process exacting revenge on his Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) conqueror, MEANDRE (FR) [123].

Also among the Classic generation, MASKED MARVEL (GB) [121] reached a new high with his success in the Ladbrokes St Leger (G1) at Doncaster, while IMMORTAL VERSE (IRE) [121] upset the mighty GOLDIKOVA (IRE) [124] in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, and DANEDREAM (GER) [121] completed a wide-margin Group 1 double in Germany, cruising to a six length victory in the Longines Grosser Preis von Baden (G1), having already captured the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) by five lengths.

In North America, TIZWAY (USA) [123] took over as the top horse on a Dirt surface with his three length success in the Whitney Invitational Handicap (G1) at Saratoga. In the process, this improving six-year-old completed a Grade 1 double, having taken the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park in May.

On the Turf, Irish-trained CAPE BLANCO (IRE) [122] also captured his second North American Grade 1 of the season with victory in the Arlington Million (G1), once again accounting for GIO PONTI (USA) [119], who had also chased him home in the Man O' War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

ACCLAMATION (USA) [122] went one better than Tizway and Cape Blanco when winning his third Grade 1 of the season with a head success over TWIRLING CANDY (USA) [121] in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. In so doing he also demonstrated his versatility, adding this prize on the Artificial surface to his top flight Turf triumphs in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (G1) and the Eddie Read Stakes (G1).

 

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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 20th October 2011.