Out now are the latest Longines World Best Racehorse Rankings with Aussies Nature Strip and James McDonald topping their listings, and US star Flightline the new World Champion.
In scoring a run-away 19¼ length victory in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes to defeat the Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer his was awarded a 139 WTR Ranking, up from 127.
Now historically the highest ever given World Racehorse Ranking for a dirt horse, and 1lb below that of Frankel on 140, it was Cigar in 1996 who was previously the highest on 135.
Having been second the unbeaten British champion Baaeed on 127 in the August ratings, he certainly made his presence felt in entering the World’s Best Racehorse ranking of 126 in July.
In winning the Metropolitan Handicap, the ‘Met Mile’ at Belmont in June by 6 lengths from the Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Happy Saver, Flightline certainly earned this 126 maiden rating.
Unraced at two-years, and winning all three starts as a mature 3yo with victory in the Malibu Stakes at Del Mar on Boxing Day, 26 December 2021, which was outside the 2021 WTR Rankings.
Always starting as the odds-on favourite in all five unbeaten race starts, trainer John Sadlier has placed his runs from 84 to 167 days apart, and he has always been ridden by Flavien Prat.
Already odds-on favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, he’s raced by West Point Thoroughbreds and partners, who paid $1m for him at the 2019 NY Saratoga Select Sale.
By the record-breaking Tapit, from Gr3 winning American Oaks second placed Feathered, by Indian Charlie, his Curlin half-brother Eagles Flight was withdrawn for the recent September Sale.
Always the season’s highest rated World Best Racehorse until the September listings, Baaeed is up to 135, from 128, on winning the Juddmonte International for trainer William Haggas.
In also winning Sussex Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes since June, he’s looking to extend his unbeaten career to 11 wins in taking out the Champion Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot.
Now said ‘Baaeed cannot be compared to his 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning sire Sea The Stars in by-passing the l’Arc,’ he won the Lockinge Stakes this season prior to Royal Ascot.
Unraced at two, and not contesting the ‘classics,’ he won all six starts at three including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Prix de Moulin, and retires to commences stud duties in 2023.
Home bred by Shadwell Estates, and possibly to stand at their Nunnery Stud in Norfolk, he’s from the stakes winning Kingmambo mare Aghareed, with her dam the dual Gr1 winner Luhudood.
Last year’s World Champion Sprinter Nature Strip maintains his Champion Sprinter status on 126, equal third with Traves Stakes winner Epicentre and Life Is Good for the Whitney Stakes.
Nature Strip stared with a 4½ length victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Royal Ascot, having previously won the TJ Smith Stakes and ‘nose’ second in the BC Lightning for ‘royal’ trainer Chris Waller.
Already $2 favourite with Sportsbet for his second $15m Everest on 15 October with champion hoop James McDonald again in the irons, Nature Strip is on track for a third Horse of The Year title.
Five times Sydney Champion jockey James McDonald leads the Longines World’s Best Jockey title on 94 points chiefly through his victory on Nature Strip in the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Second on 72 points is British champion Jim Crowley for his success on Baaeed, with Ryan Moore on 48 for Luxembourg in the Irish Champions, and five-times champion Frankie Dettori on 42.
Rated 125 as the Longines World’s Best rankings is the Travers Stakes and Jim Dandy Stakes winner Epicenter, along with Life Is Good for winning the Whitney Stakes and John A Nerud Stakes.
On 124 is the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pyledriver and Japan’s Titleholder for the Takarazuka Kinen, with Vadeni from France on 123 and Luxembough with 122.
