Best horse in the world (latest ranking)
May 9th 2008 07:59
Weekend Hussler has been rated as the equal best miler in the world following the release of the World’s Leading Horses which is instigated by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. His co-champion is the brilliant Hong Kong Miler, Good Ba Ba.
Weekend Hussler is now also ranked as equal fifth best horse (all categories) in the world, improving from equal eighth at the previous assessment.
The rankings are:
1. Curlin: champion US performer who recently won the Dubai World Cup after racing wide and treating rivals with contempt (watch the video and see for yourself).
2. Big Brown: unbeaten colt and Kentucky Derby winner. Potential challenger for number one spot.
3. Admire Moon: brilliant Japanese horse who has been voted as the Japanese Racing Association’s horse of the year for 2007.
3. Scared Kingdom: Freak Hong Kong sprinter who just heads Weekend Hussler in this and the sprinting category (world’s best sprinter).
5 Getaway: the German bred stayer who has impressive performances where he is trained in France.
5 Good Ba Ba: from Hong Kong who easily won the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
5. Meisho Samson; brilliant Japanese stayer who won the Group One Tenno Sho Autumn, relegating Melbourne Cup runner-up Pop Rock into fourth place, while Melbourne Cup winner, Delta Blues, finished a distant twelfth.
5. Pop Rock: Japanese stayer with multiple group performances.
5. Ramonti: brilliant front-running French bred horse who began his career in Italy and has subsequently (since being purchased by Godolphin) won multiple Group races in England. Recently won the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup.
5. Viva Pataca: chased home (when favourite) Ramonti in the 2007 Hong Kong Cup. A brilliant performer over many seasons.
5. Weekend Hussler.
(photo by Michelle MacDonald, Bloodhorse.com)
Interesting to note that Sacred Kingdom was bred in Victoria by Kornong Stud and sold for $200,000 at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
These lists are still subjective because we will never get all of the best horses from around the world in the same race. And of course then there would be the matter of grass or dirt track, distance to be raced, and not even contemplating differences between the hemispheres. And even one race would not be enough, there would need to be a series. But not practical. Not as simple as tennis rankings with points allocated for wins over twelve months:
Currently:
1. Roger Federer 6775 points
2 Rafael Nadal 5930 points
3. Novak Djokovic 4750 points
Clear and simple. Federer has an incredible record of success in grand slam tournaments, while Nadal must be ranked as the greatest player on clay. Yet Federer’s ability to win on all court surfaces (not yet a French Open on clay, but he has been runner-up at Roland Garros and won ‘group two’ level clay tournaments) and consistency would validate any way of looking at the figures.
Although the best horses do congregate for the Breeders' Cup, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and other feature races, some of the horses nominated race exclusively against their own age. They race in an Epsom or Kentucky Derby. We will never have a method as clear and simple as tennis rankings to gauge our best horses. There will always be room for some controversy and opinion.
Even accounting for the subjective nature involved in the best horse list I would definitely agree with the top 2 positions, outright as they are and not shared. Curlin first and Big Brown second. But I would rate Weekend Hussler as outright third best. His performances from the sharpest sprints, to the sustained speed of mile racing, with multiple wins at Group 1 level, all identify him as worthy of this position (my Speedratings figures for him place him in such a category).
Weekend Hussler is now also ranked as equal fifth best horse (all categories) in the world, improving from equal eighth at the previous assessment.
The rankings are:
1. Curlin: champion US performer who recently won the Dubai World Cup after racing wide and treating rivals with contempt (watch the video and see for yourself).
2. Big Brown: unbeaten colt and Kentucky Derby winner. Potential challenger for number one spot.
3. Admire Moon: brilliant Japanese horse who has been voted as the Japanese Racing Association’s horse of the year for 2007.
3. Scared Kingdom: Freak Hong Kong sprinter who just heads Weekend Hussler in this and the sprinting category (world’s best sprinter).
5 Getaway: the German bred stayer who has impressive performances where he is trained in France.
5 Good Ba Ba: from Hong Kong who easily won the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
5. Meisho Samson; brilliant Japanese stayer who won the Group One Tenno Sho Autumn, relegating Melbourne Cup runner-up Pop Rock into fourth place, while Melbourne Cup winner, Delta Blues, finished a distant twelfth.
5. Pop Rock: Japanese stayer with multiple group performances.
5. Ramonti: brilliant front-running French bred horse who began his career in Italy and has subsequently (since being purchased by Godolphin) won multiple Group races in England. Recently won the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup.
5. Viva Pataca: chased home (when favourite) Ramonti in the 2007 Hong Kong Cup. A brilliant performer over many seasons.
5. Weekend Hussler.
Curlin rated best horse in the world
(photo by Michelle MacDonald, Bloodhorse.com)
Interesting to note that Sacred Kingdom was bred in Victoria by Kornong Stud and sold for $200,000 at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
These lists are still subjective because we will never get all of the best horses from around the world in the same race. And of course then there would be the matter of grass or dirt track, distance to be raced, and not even contemplating differences between the hemispheres. And even one race would not be enough, there would need to be a series. But not practical. Not as simple as tennis rankings with points allocated for wins over twelve months:
Currently:
1. Roger Federer 6775 points
2 Rafael Nadal 5930 points
3. Novak Djokovic 4750 points
Clear and simple. Federer has an incredible record of success in grand slam tournaments, while Nadal must be ranked as the greatest player on clay. Yet Federer’s ability to win on all court surfaces (not yet a French Open on clay, but he has been runner-up at Roland Garros and won ‘group two’ level clay tournaments) and consistency would validate any way of looking at the figures.
Although the best horses do congregate for the Breeders' Cup, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and other feature races, some of the horses nominated race exclusively against their own age. They race in an Epsom or Kentucky Derby. We will never have a method as clear and simple as tennis rankings to gauge our best horses. There will always be room for some controversy and opinion.
Even accounting for the subjective nature involved in the best horse list I would definitely agree with the top 2 positions, outright as they are and not shared. Curlin first and Big Brown second. But I would rate Weekend Hussler as outright third best. His performances from the sharpest sprints, to the sustained speed of mile racing, with multiple wins at Group 1 level, all identify him as worthy of this position (my Speedratings figures for him place him in such a category).
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