Crowning Champions
November 20th 2010 00:05
Since 2004 the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities has been assessing racehorse performance from all around the globe. The January publication provides the premier assessment of horses aged three years old and upwards who race in, or are trained in, countries with a racing season that runs from January 1 to December 31.
The top ranked IFHA horse over these years have been:
2009: Sea The Stars
2008 Curlin & New Approach (equal on 130)
2007 Manduro
2006 Invasor
2005 Hurricane Run
2004 Ghostzapper
The Eclipse Awards are the American (Horse of the Year) equivalent. In the same period the winners have been:
2009 Rachel Alexandra
2008 Curlin
2007 Curlin
2006 Invasor
2005 Saint Liam
2004 Ghostzapper
The Cartier Racing Awards are the European (Horse of the Year) equivalent. In the same period the winners have been:
2009 Sea The Stars
2008 Zarkava
2007 Dylan Thomas
2006 Ouija Board
2005 Hurricane Run
2003 Dalakhani
The World Thoroughbred Champion of 2007 (IFHA) Manduro from Germany has to date been the only number one ranked thoroughbred to not also hold the number one position in their own racing precinct. The European Champion of 2007 was Dylan Thomas who Manduro defeated by 1 1/4 lengths in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Ascot. Dylan Thomas subsequently won the 2007 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and was then crowned as European Horse of the Year 2007.
Of the joint World Champions of 2008 Curlin was crowned as American Horse of the Year - but co-winner New Approach was ranked below the brilliant Zarkava who was crowned as European Horse of the Year. In my opinion there were few horses better than Zarkava in 2008 and her 4th position on the World Rankings was something of a puzzle - though seemingly rectified by the Cartier Racing Awards.
The 2010 Cartier Racing Awards Horse of the Year has been awarded to the star mare Goldikova - a winner of twelve Group One races and three consecutive Breeders’ Cup Mile races (2008,2009,2010). No ‘shooting-star’ is this Champion who has won in Europe and America against the best, season after season.
My prediction for the Eclipse Awards for the American Horse of the Year 2010 is Zenyatta - who should have been proclaimed as best horse in season 2009, but was controversially beaten by Rachel Alexandra.
The IFHA award for World Thoroughbred Champion of 2010 is set to be awarded to the retired Harbinger, who has clearly led the field on 135 ever since his breathtaking win in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. It was a (singularly) brilliant performance, but I am not sure that it places him above horses like Blame (Breeders’ Cup Classic winner) and Workforce (Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner). And not forgetting that Goldikova is ranked equal 10th with Zenyatta and Australian Champion So You Think - surely an anomaly with the ranking of these three champions.
Zenyatta - will she belatedly win the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 2010?
The top ranked IFHA horse over these years have been:
2009: Sea The Stars
2008 Curlin & New Approach (equal on 130)
2007 Manduro
2006 Invasor
2005 Hurricane Run
2004 Ghostzapper
The Eclipse Awards are the American (Horse of the Year) equivalent. In the same period the winners have been:
2009 Rachel Alexandra
2008 Curlin
2007 Curlin
2006 Invasor
2005 Saint Liam
2004 Ghostzapper
The Cartier Racing Awards are the European (Horse of the Year) equivalent. In the same period the winners have been:
2009 Sea The Stars
2008 Zarkava
2007 Dylan Thomas
2006 Ouija Board
2005 Hurricane Run
2003 Dalakhani
The World Thoroughbred Champion of 2007 (IFHA) Manduro from Germany has to date been the only number one ranked thoroughbred to not also hold the number one position in their own racing precinct. The European Champion of 2007 was Dylan Thomas who Manduro defeated by 1 1/4 lengths in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Ascot. Dylan Thomas subsequently won the 2007 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and was then crowned as European Horse of the Year 2007.
Of the joint World Champions of 2008 Curlin was crowned as American Horse of the Year - but co-winner New Approach was ranked below the brilliant Zarkava who was crowned as European Horse of the Year. In my opinion there were few horses better than Zarkava in 2008 and her 4th position on the World Rankings was something of a puzzle - though seemingly rectified by the Cartier Racing Awards.
The 2010 Cartier Racing Awards Horse of the Year has been awarded to the star mare Goldikova - a winner of twelve Group One races and three consecutive Breeders’ Cup Mile races (2008,2009,2010). No ‘shooting-star’ is this Champion who has won in Europe and America against the best, season after season.
My prediction for the Eclipse Awards for the American Horse of the Year 2010 is Zenyatta - who should have been proclaimed as best horse in season 2009, but was controversially beaten by Rachel Alexandra.
The IFHA award for World Thoroughbred Champion of 2010 is set to be awarded to the retired Harbinger, who has clearly led the field on 135 ever since his breathtaking win in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. It was a (singularly) brilliant performance, but I am not sure that it places him above horses like Blame (Breeders’ Cup Classic winner) and Workforce (Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner). And not forgetting that Goldikova is ranked equal 10th with Zenyatta and Australian Champion So You Think - surely an anomaly with the ranking of these three champions.
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