WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS SPECIAL. Wednesday, January 13, 2010

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1 WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS SPECIAL Wednesday, January 13, 2010 It s official he was in a different league to the rest in 2009

2 2 Wednesday, January 13, 2010 racingpost.com WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS An insight into how the rankings are put together FOR the second year running, the World Thoroughbred Rankings the annual league table of horses rated 115 and above which are published today, has been drawn up on the basis of form shown at any time, anywhere, in the calendar year 2009, writes Howard Wright. Until last year, for four years covering performances in , two separate listings were published, in January and August. The first covered horses raced or trained in countries that operated to northern hemisphere seasons, from January to December, and was dominated by horses from Europe, the USA and Japan. The second applied the same qualifications to southern hemisphere countries, whose seasons mainly run from August to July, and largely featured horses raced or trained in Australia, Hong Kong, the UAE and South Africa. The original change came about in 2004, when the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities took over responsibility for what had been known as the International Classifications since An attempt was made to clear up confusion by compensating for differences in the racing seasons of the two hemispheres, since southern hemisphere racing jurisdictions in particular felt the merit of their best horses was not fairly represented in the traditional January classification, which came midway through their season. However, further confusion surfaced when performances such as those by Makybe Diva in the early November Melbourne Cup and Sacred Kingdom in December s Hong Kong Sprint escaped the January listing, and were not formally assessed until the following August, by which time northern hemisphere horses were halfway through another season. Last year, after southern hemisphere countries accepted the need for a single annual listing, the IFHA went back to the original calendar-year format. A new title was also adopted by dropping the word racehorse from the tag World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings that had been used since Since the last annual rankings were published in January 2009, World Thoroughbred Rankings detailing the top 50 horses on ratings achieved in the previous six months have been published on seven occasions. Details are available on the IFHA website, ifhaonline.org Panel struggles to rate Oxx star higher than fourth best David Carr on the rankings that failed to rate the dual Classic winner as high as many expected JUST a few weeks ago he was the best-ever, the horse of a lifetime, even a century. Now he is not even the best we have seen in the past dozen years at least officially. There was no Oscar-style whose name is in the envelope? anticipation when the identity of the overall champion was revealed in the World Thoroughbred Rankings yesterday having one horse winning everything bar the Eurovision Song Contest tends to take the excitement out of end-of-season awards and the question was not who? but how high? Very high indeed would have been the expectation of anyone who read all the tributes to Sea The Stars on his retirement, as the great and the good queued up to find superlatives for the colt who captured every imagination as he went unbeaten from the 2,000 Guineas to the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe. And the rating of 136 which the international panel of handicappers came up with is a very high one, the best so far this century and 6lb above last year s joint table-toppers Curlin and New Approach. Yet not that high. The threeyear-old hailed as the best I have ever seen by bright minds ranging from HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh to BBC polymath Clare Balding is 1lb behind French star Peintre Celebre, who was very good in 1997 but is not remembered as having quite the same je ne sais quoi or even va va voom and would be odds-on to come out second-best in a straw poll ranking the two, even one conducted among cheeseeating, beret-wearing Jean-Marie Le Pen fans. World Thoroughbred Rankings Top-ranked horses Turf Dirt/Artificial Champion Sea The Stars 136 Zenyatta 128 4yo+ colt Conduit/Youmzain 125 Fabulous Strike/Kodiak Cowboy 120 4yo+ filly Goldikova 130 Zenyatta 128 3yo colt Sea The Stars 136 Summer Bird 123 3yo filly Stacelita 122 Rachel Alexandra 127 2yo Euro colt St Nicholas Abbey 124 Vale Of York 118 2yo Euro filly Special Duty 117 Four-year-olds+ Sprint Sacred Kingdom/Scenic Blast 122 Fabulous Strike/Kodiak Cowboy 120 Mile Goldikova 130 Zenyatta 128 Intermediate Vision D Etat 123 Zenyatta 128 Long Conduit/Youmzain 125 Extended Yeats 122 Cloudy s Knight 128 Three-year-olds+ Sprint Rocket Man 121 Quality Road/Zensational 119 Mile Rip Van Winkle 129 Rachel Alexandra 127 Intermediate Sea The Stars 136 Summer Bird 123 Long Sea The Stars 131 Summer Bird 121 Extended Mastery/Wajir 117 Man Of Iron 116 Distance categories: Sprint 5 6.5f (NthAm 5 7.9f); Mile f (NthAm f) Intermediate f; Long f; Extended 13.51f+ The World Thoroughbred Rankings are published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. They cover 3yo+ rated yo+ rated (2yo 110+) on behalf of the European Pattern Committee are not part of the World Rankings The first European rankings were published in 1977; North America joined in Rankings include all countries from 2008 But that is not what the international handicappers panel has done. As they explain in their statement of handicapping practice, using the paraphrased words of Geoffrey Gibbs, the World Thoroughbred Rankings are now a retrospective measurement of performances, not necessarily the inherent ability of a particular thoroughbred. While those two things may be synonymous for an exposed handicapper who has run four dozen times and whose merit is fully established, they can be different for top-level horses who tend to be much more sparingly campaigned, whose great talent means they often don t need to give of their best to win and whose innate ability can be very hard to judge. So it was the form of Peintre Celebre s astonishing Prix de l Arc de Triomphe win that fully earned him a mark of 137 in the then International Classifications, scoring by fully five lengths from Pilsudski, who was good enough to land the Japan Cup, Champion Stakes and its Irish equivalent that year, with another two and a half back to Borgia, who went very close in the Breeders Cup Turf next time out. Whereas what was breathtaking about Sea The Stars win in the same race last October was the way he came from a decidedly unpromising position and showed such an amazing burst of speed, rather than the intrinsic merit of a two-length beating of Youmzain. Similarly at Newmarket, at Epsom, at Sandown, at York and at Leopardstown which was where he achieved his highest rating in the Irish Champion Stakes he did comfortably more than enough to win and generally looked to have something to spare. But you get nothing in this game for consistently high figures. Chances are that had he been seriously pressed Sea The Stars might have been up to rivalling the mark of 141 which Dancing Brave earned in 1986, the highest awarded RPR CHAMPIONS 2009 World Sea The Stars 138 Turf Sea The Stars 138 Dirt/AW Gladiatorus 129 Europe Sea The Stars 138 Filly/mare Goldikova 121 4yo+ male Gladiatorus 129 4yo+ turf Goldikova 131 Older f/mare Goldikova 131 3yo c turf Sea The Stars 138 3yo c dirt/aw Summer Bird 127 3yo f turf Sariska 123 3yo f dirt/aw Rachel Alexandra 129 Eur 2yo c St Nicholas Abbey 123 Eur 2yo f Special Duty 117 Sprinter Sacred Kingdom 125 Miler Goldikova 131 1m2f Sea The Stars 138 Middle dist Sea The Stars 138 Stayer Yeats 125 Unless specified, ratings refer to anywhere in the world on any surface in 2009 since the current ratings system was introduced in the 1970s, rather than languishing in fourth place overall with Generous (137) also ahead of him, which is yet another reason to rue his retirement to stud we will never know quite how good he might have been. BUT rather as Ruby Walsh recently dismissed talk of Kauto Star s rating being well adrift of Arkle as opinion, so Christopher Tsui is decidedly unlikely to lose much sleep over the handicappers verdict which is a matter solely for the record books with stallion duties in the offing he had not exactly been looking for a mark to get him in the Lincoln, had he? He knows his colours were carried by something very, very special, and any breeder who decides not to use Sea The Stars because of his official rating is not safe to be allowed in charge of a mare. The ratings unveiled for the two-year-olds have more than just academic interest, partly as they frame the weights for the European Free Handicap run over 7f at Newmarket in April. Imagine if runaway Racing Post Trophy winner St Nicholas Abbey were to turn up on the Rowley Mile and defy his mark of 124, giving away lumps of weight to smart rivals over a shorter trip than at Doncaster and on likely better ground, then we would know we really had another superstar on our hands. It won t happen. He is probably more likely to run in the Triumph Hurdle than the Free Handicap! But the juvenile rankings are seen as a signpost to the Classics, and those who have backed him into favouritism for both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby ought be aware that in this decade his rating has been bettered only by New Approach who had a fine three-year-old season Johannesburg and Fasliyev. And the fact that he is one of only two to be rated above 120 suggests either that his is a crop short of top-notchers or that there are plenty of potential improvers among no fewer than 56 with a mark higher than 110. Remember, this time last year Sea The Stars was lurking in 26th place on 112. The rise of another of the sport s biggest stars to the top of the table gives a cause for congratulations to that muchmaligned bunch the racing authorities. Their decision a few years ago to expand opportunities for the top fillies so as to encourage them to stay in training has been made to look inspired by the exploits of crack miler Goldikova. She returned better than ever at the age of four and at the end of another Breeders Cup-winning season she is on a mark of 130, making her the highest-rated filly since Bosra Sham and the first of her sex to be ranked the top older horse around since Miesque. It was a good year for the girls on the other side of the Atlantic too, as unbeaten Breeders Cup Classic winner Zenyatta (128) was rated the best American filly or mare since the rankings were expanded to include the USA in 1995, and Rachel Alexandra (127), who is five from five in Grade 1 company, the best three-year-old filly anywhere since Bosra Sham. WAS PEINTRE CELEBRE BETTER THAN SEA THE STARS? VOTE ONLINE BY 5PM TODAY

3 Racing Post Wednesday, January 13, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARDS SEA THE STARS AND CO: THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS, PAGE 4 Racing Post handicapper Paul Curtis with a look at how the older performers earned their figures THE World Thoroughbred Rankings bring confirmation of what was an outstanding year for top fillies, Goldikova becoming the first of her sex to top the 4yo+ lists since Miesque in 1988 with a mark of 130, while the unbeaten Zenyatta (128) becomes the highest-rated American-trained mare since their inclusion in Goldikova was virtually assured of top spot after her brilliant performance in winning the Jacques le Marois by six lengths last August. Her official mark makes her the best of her sex since Bosra Sham was rated 131 in 1996/97. While the rest of her form doesn t quite match that level, she won both the Prix Rothschild and Breeders Cup Mile (recording RPRs of 124 in both) in such style that there s little doubt she s deserving of such a mark and recognition as one of the great fillies. Goldikova and Zenyatta also headed the 2008 lists as best of their sex with marks of 125, and both stepped up on that form last year, Zenyatta s 128 coming from her impressive last-to-first success in the Breeders Cup Classic. Four previous successes last year hadn t really told us anything new about her ability, as she confirmed her position as by far the best of her sex on an artificial surface, but this first start against the boys proved her the dominant force on her favoured surface. The clash between Zenyatta and star three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra (WTR 127) never materialised, but may not have proved satisfactory in any case given their best form was on different surfaces. There does seem to have been a conscious decision to have Zenyatta the higher, though, 4lb having been added to her Breeders Cup figure using the official marks for Gio Ponti (125) and Twice Over (123). It s good that such allowances are made, rather than the figures being purely mathematical, but this compares with the 3lb added to Sea The Stars Arc figure and suggests a desire to have Zenyatta rated above the three-year-old. The fluidity of ratings is demonstrated by the treatment of early rankings leader Gladiatorus. His impressive success in the Dubai Duty Free was initially rated 126, had moved up to 127 by early summer, but has now been downgraded to 125. He clearly wasn t the same horse after and there has to be a bit of doubt over such a standout Goldikova rules in golden era for older top fillies performance, but there still isn t much wrong with the Dubai form at face value. Runner-up Presvis won a Group 1 in Hong Kong on his next start and third-placed Alexandros was beaten a nose in the Lockinge, and the decision to downgrade was possibly influenced by the 125 allotted to leading turf colts Conduit and Youmzain. This pair also demonstrate the continuity in the rankings, the King George and Breeders Cup Turf winner repeating his three-year-old mark and Youmzain reproducing his 2008 mark of 125, having also rated 124 in For our money Youmzain wasn t quite at his best last year, returning an RPR of 125 when runner-up RPR Top 4Y0+ Overall Goldikova 131 Gladiatorus 129 Well Armed 128 Zenyatta Company 127 Conduit Gio Ponti Scenic Blast Paco Boy 126 Aqlaam 125 Macho Again Sacred Kingdom Tartan Bearer Twice Over Yeats Youmzain Topspeed Top 4Y0 Europe Goldikova 131 Youmzain 125 Conduit 124 Kingsgate Native 122 Bronze Cannon 121 Geordieland Ask 120 Dar Re Mi Tartan Bearer Magadan 119 Spanish Moon Vision D Etat La Boum 118 Campanologist 117 Laa Rayb War Artist Alandi 116 Aqlaam Benbaun Famous Name in the Arc for the third time, having previously rated 128 and 126. Others to confirm this solidity include Queen Anne winner Paco Boy (124) and King George runner-up Tartan Bearer (122), both repeating their three-year-old marks from 2008, while Pipedreamer proved a good guide to top domestic form in again returning a mark of 118. Another of note is Getaway, who gained deserved Group 1 success in his native Germany last year without needing to show improved form; he is rated 122 in the latest rankings compared to 121 and 122 from the previous two years. HAVING had to settle for a share of staying honours with stablemate Septimus last year (though not on RPRs) with his mark of 122, a repeat sees Yeats recognised as outright Champion Stayer for surprisingly the first time. Also runner-up to Septimus in the 2007 rankings and Deep Impact in 2006, Yeats finally gets deserved recognition as an outstanding stayer in his retirement year. An admirable racehorse, he has returned official marks of between 120 and 122 in the last five rankings, which mirrors his RPRs through that period of between 124 and 126. Sprinting honours are shared by Sacred Kingdom and Scenic Blast with a mark of 122, the Hong Kong Champion having rated outright turf Champion on 123 last year and de facto World Champion (123) in 2007 when southern hemisphere-trained horses were excluded from the end of year rankings. That s a remarkable record for a sprinter to carry his form over three campaigns and, although official figures mirror RPRs in suggesting he wasn t quite at his peak last year, the manner of last year s two Group 1 successes suggests the ability may still be there and he s probably the best around. RPRs have Scenic Blast narrowly ahead of Sacred Kingdom with marks of 127 and 125 on last year s form (Sacred Kingdom rated 129 at peak), but like Gladiatorus s Dubai form, he s come nowhere near repeating his Royal Ascot defeat of subsequent July Cup winner Fleeting Spirit. If there s no upturn in America next year he may need downgrading. Looking ahead to the forthcoming season, it will be interesting to see what Tartan Bearer can achieve granted a clear run at things. He improved with each run last year to eventually match his Derby runner-up RPR of 125 when chasing home stablemate Conduit in the King George. A rematch with French performers Vision D Etat and Never On Sunday, whom he split in the Prince Of Wales s Stakes, would be interesting. A late mover up the rankings was Mawatheeq, who progressed rapidly last autumn from a handicap win off 102 to split Twice Over and Sariska in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and earn his WTR figure of 121. The drop to 1m2f looked against him there after his impressive Grosvenor Casinos Cumberland Lodge Stakes win, and it would come as no surprise were he to take higher rank this year.

4 4 Wednesday, January 13, 2010 racingpost.com WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS THREE-YEAR-OLDS Take Sea The Stars out of the form book and we d be hailing the Ballydoyle duo as strong champions Rip Van Winkle: would have been a worthy champion if not for Sea The Stars Paul Curtis compares the WTR with his Racing Post s for the Classic generation SEA THE STARS gains due recognition as an outstanding champion with a World Thoroughbred Rankings figure of 136, officially rating him the best horse of the decade, 2lb ahead of Dubai Millennium in 2000, and the best since Peintre Celebre s 137 in That s a position with which we generally concur, although our rating of 138 goes a little further in ranking Sea The Stars the best three-year-old since Racing Post s began, and joint-best turf horse alongside 1999 Champion Daylami. Those who hailed Sea The Stars an all-time great may quibble with his official mark, ranking him as it does only ninth-best since classifications began, but historic comparisons are undoubtedly flawed six of those rated above him achieved their figure in the first ten years of the emerging, Euro-based classification. The parameters for inclusion in the rankings have changed a number of times since, and there s no doubt that the WTR have become compressed since North American horses were first included in 1995, while modern handicappers are a far more questioning bunch. The fallibility of such comparisons is perhaps best illustrated by looking at the average rating of the Overall Champions for each of the past three decades for the 1980s, slipping to for the 1990s and down to for the past decade. In this context Sea The Stars rating of 136 is all the more meritorious and, given the current level of figures, probably bares comparison with those lofty figures awarded the early champions. As was the case on the track last year, Rip Van Winkle (129) and Fame And Glory (128) follow Sea The Stars home in the three-year-old rankings and serve to underline his brilliance. Take Sea The Stars out of the form book and we d be hailing the Ballydoyle duo strong champions in their own right if we overlook their lateseason reverses. Rip Van Winkle would have been a clearcut winner of the Coral- Eclipse, and he would have followed up with easy wins in the BGC Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, while Fame And Glory would have headed to the Arc an outstanding unbeaten dual Derby winner. All being well, the pair will get the chance to underline Sea The Stars form this year. Sea The Stars had top spot pretty much secured after the Eclipse, but his top rating comes from the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion when comfortably beating Fame And National Champions Ireland Sea The Stars 136 France Goldikova 130 USA Zenyatta 128 Britain Conduit/Youmzain 125 UAE Gladiatorus 125 Japan Company 122 Dream Journey Germany Getaway 122 Hong Kong Good Ba Ba 122 Sacred Kingdom Australia Scenic Blast 122 So You Think Viewed South Africa Pocket Power 121 Singapore Rocket Man 121 Saudi Arabia Big City Man 119 Italy Turati 116 Norway Appel Au Maitre 114 Glory and Mastercraftsman. Here was another Ballydoyle colt whose record would look much the better but for Sea The Stars and whose length second to him in the Juddmonte International a race run in a good time despite it being effectively a match looks to have been rather devalued with an official mark of 124 (RPR 129). The official handicappers have actually done well to get Sea The Stars as high as they have on their figures. The 8lb gap to Fame And Glory is 3lb more than the regulation 5lb allowance for the two-and-ahalf-length margin, showing that it s not all slide rule stuff and there is an attempt to interpret the result to reflect a horse s true superiority. America had a star threeyear-old of its own last year in top filly Rachel Alexandra. In an ordinary year her mark of 127, 4lb ahead of star 2007 filly Rags To Riches, would have made her distaff champion outright. But this was no ordinary year for fillies and mares, with older stars Goldikova (130) and Eclipse Awards rival Zenyatta (128) both rated above her, and RPR Top 3YO Overall Sea The Stars 138 Rip Van Winkle 132 Fame And Glory 131 Mastercraftsman 129 Rachel Alexandra Summer Bird 127 Cavalryman 125 Quality Road Zacinto Zensational 124 Courageous Cat 123 Delegator Sariska Gitana Hernando 122 Stacelita Weiner Walzer Goldikova becoming the highest-rated filly or mare since Bosra Sham (131) in 1996/97. As was the case with Sea The Stars, ratings can only go so far in ranking these outstanding performers who can boast quantity as well as quality. These were no one-hit wonders with the American pair mirroring Sea The Stars in going through 2009 unbeaten, Rachel Alexandra rating the best American-trained threeyear-old filly and Zenyatta best American-trained filly or mare outright since their inclusion in We have the American pair the other way around, with Rachel Alexandra on 129 and Zenyatta on 128. Having raced almost exclusively on different surfaces, splitting them isn t easy, but the little collateral form there is just gives Rachel the nod. It will be interesting to see which way the vote goes in the Eclipse Awards next week. Top spot among the threeyear-old fillies on turf goes the way of Stacelita, who retains her post-prix de Diane figure of 122 despite failing to repeat that in two autumn runs. She Topspeed Top 3YO Europe Sea The Stars 132 Mastercraftsman 130 Rip Van Winkle 127 Cavalryman 124 Fame And Glory 123 Delegator 121 Total Gallery Midday 120 Sariska Le Havre 119 Silver Frost Cashelgar 118 High Heeled Stacelita Elusive Wave 117 Gan Amhras Lord Shanakill is ranked 2lb superior to Sariska and Midday. This is another area where we differ slightly. RPRs mirror the official figures awarded Stacelita and Midday, but we have Sariska above the pair on 123 by dint of her impressive Darley Irish Oaks success. Like Stacelita, Sariska failed to repeat that form in two subsequent starts and it may be that soft ground is important to her. However, having twice beaten Midday at Epsom and the Curragh, it s hard to see why she shouldn t rate above that rival. Similarly, later-season form involving Dar Re Mi suggests there shouldn t be the 2lb gap between her and Stacelita. ALTHOUGH lacking a star domestically, 2009 proved a good year in terms of depth for threeyear-olds, with a total of 23 attaining the benchmark figure of 115+, the highest since Pick of them was the progressive Zacinto, who looks deserving of his position after reversing Totesport.com Celebration Mile form with Delegator (121) when Previous RPR Champions 1996 Mark Of Esteem Peintre Celebre Intikhab Daylami Dubai Millennium Sakhee Rock Of Gibraltar Dalakhani, Hawk Wing Ghostzapper Hurricane Run, Ghostzapper Deep Impact Manduro Curlin, New Approach, Raven s Pass 131 chasing home Rip Van Winkle in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Delegator, a mid-summer recruit, rates Godolphin s highest rated three-year-old on turf since Shamardal (125) in 2005, but he won t rate their best four-year-old going into next season, with Arc third Cavalryman (125) making the switch for the forthcoming campaign. A typically progressive colt for Andre Fabre last year, he improved with pretty much every race and there are similarities between his form and that of Doyen, who went on to become 2004 turf champion after making the same switch at the end of his three-year-old campaign. Mastery, third to Cavalryman in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, proved a welcome domestic Classic winner for Godolphin, their first since Rule Of Law in But, while he rates a slightly belowpar winner with a mark of 117, the other domestic Classics stood up well. Clearly, the presence of Sea The Stars had something to do with that, but the fillies races were up to scratch too. Sariska was the best Oaks winner since Ouija Board (120, 2004) and Ghanaati a good 1,000 Guineas winner. Her Newmarket performance may only have been of average standing, certainly compared to that of Finsceal Beo two years ago, but there was nothing ordinary about her performance when following up in the Coronation Stakes and she s well worth her official mark of 118. There may be no Sea The Stars but, with a number of 120+ three-year-olds, including the likes of Rip Van Winkle, Fame And Glory, Cavalryman and Sariska set to return this year, there s plenty to look forward to.

5 Racing Post Wednesday, January 13, TWO-YEAR-OLDS Racing Post handicapper Simon Turner on how the top juveniles earned their figures AFTER the outstanding achievements of Sea The Stars it s inevitable that the two-year-old class of 2009 will come under extra scrutiny. Is there another superstar lurking among this year s European Thoroughbred Rankings? Statistically speaking it s very unlikely, but champion two-year-old Sir Nicholas Abbey certainly has the right attributes and maintains the Irish stranglehold in this division, providing them with a fifth straight top-rated juvenile. The son of Montjeu is unbeaten in three starts, showing an improved level of form from race to race, culminating in his most impressive performance in the Racing Post Trophy. It s that effort that earned St Nicholas Abbey his champion two-year-old status, and an official mark of 124 from the committee. His section-topping rating marks him down as the joint-fourthbest champion two-year-old of the past decade behind Johannesburg and New Approach, who both earned a 126, and Fasliyev (125). There are mixed messages about the overall strength of last year s juveniles. Some 56 horses earned rankings of 110 or higher, one of the better totals of the past decade; however, just two of those earned rankings of 120 or higher, only the second time in the past decade that fewer than three horses have attained such a level of form. This time last year, Sea The Stars was well hidden in the rankings on a mark of 112 in joint 26th place, a level of form that no fewer than 36 horses have matched or bettered in this year s Free Handicap. The other horse to make the 120s was Passion For Gold (120), who just sneaked in by virtue of his heavy-ground rout of the Criterium de Saint- Cloud field in November. Admittedly, it s hard to gauge accurately the true merit of impressive end-ofseason performances in bad ground, especially when there is such emphasis on stamina, but here is an example of a race that may have been overestimated. A Racing Post of 118 recognises Passion For Gold s win as a much-improved performance, while reflecting the lack of depth there was to the race. The bronze medal goes to Jan Vermeer (119), who also earned his rating in France in November, this time in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. A fluent four-length defeat of the consistent Emerald Commander (112) in deep ground was clearly a performance of quality, though only time will tell how reliable the form proves to be, with Prix Marcel Boussac winner Rosanara (114) clearly well below form in third. Canford Cliffs (118) provided one of the most memorable juvenile performances of 2009 in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. He got close to that form again in the Prix Morny behind Arcano, the second of a quartet of horses rated 118. The others were Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Siyouni and Breeders Cup Juvenile winner, Vale Of York. It s not hard to draw comparisons between Canford Cliffs and Three Valleys, who routed his Coventry field in 2003 but never surpassed that level again. Richard Hannon s star two-year-old is certainly worth his mark but the LOWDOWN ON THE BEST TEN HORSES IN THE WORLD, PAGES 6-7 Could Ballydoyle chart-topper be next superstar in the making? RPR Top 2YO Europe St Nicholas Abbey 123 Siyouni 119 Awzaan 118 Beethoven Canford Cliffs Jan Vermeer Passion For Gold Kingsfort 117 Hearts Of Fire Fencing Master Pounced Special Duty Xtension Arcano 116 Chabal Radiohead Showcasing Steinbeck Vale Of York unbeaten Arcano, not seen again after his narrow Deauville win, appeals as a horse with a longer shelf life at the top table. Of the other 118-rated pair, Siyouni looks well worth his rating given his improved performance on Arc day, as does Vale Of York, who is likely to race in the US this year. It s some time since either the Middle Park or Dewhurst winners did not make the top seven, but this year both have been rated on a mark of 117, which reflects the fact that both races lacked the star performances that have almost been commonplace in recent times. Perhaps Awzaan (117), who stretched his unbeaten run to four when taking the Middle Park, has been slightly harshly dealt with in a year where the second and third in Topspeed Top 2YO Europe Beethoven 118 Fencing Master 117 Jan Vermeer Xtension 116 Canford Cliffs 115 Jealous Again Steinbeck Arcano 112 Siyouni Buzzword 110 Joshua Tree Lady Of The Desert Showcasing Mister Manannan 109 Music Show Our Jonathan Atasari 108 Orpen Grey Special Duty Taajub the rankings owe their positions to late-season wins in deep ground. Here is an unbeaten horse who kept beating what was put in front of him, including three Group 2 winners at Newmarket. ANRPR of 118 demonstrates there is little wrong with Awzaan s official figure, but he is deserving of a higher place in the overall pecking order in our opinion. He sits joint third in the RPR table and looks the sort to do better again at three. Similar comments are applicable to some of the Dewhurst principals, though perhaps not Beethoven, who produced an effort out of keeping with the balance of his form when winning at Newmarket. His subsequent failure to match that form at the Breeders Cup, coupled with the record of British and Irish two-year-olds that have ventured to the US in their juvenile year, strongly suggests he ll struggle to improve. At the other end of the spectrum are Dewhurst runnerup, Fencing Master (116) and fourth-placed Steinbeck (115), who both came into the race unbeaten after just one run. In running so well in a fiercely competitive Group 1 both stablemates marked themselves down as potential stars of 2010, to strengthen Aidan O Brien s hand further. Newmarket s October Group 1 action did provide a champion though, in the shape of Cheveley Park winner Special Duty. A ranking of 117 looks a fair reflection of her win but rates her as joint-second-lowest champion filly in the past decade, with only Rumplestiltskin (116) earning a lower mark. That said, the fact she shares her place in the list with subsequent triple Group 1 winner Divine Proportions suggests it needn t hold her back. One of the other standout efforts of the year came from Jealous Again (115), who romped away with the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot for US trainer Wesley Ward before joining Godolphin. She has not been seen since, but the trail blazing tactics which worked so well for her and Windsor Castle winner Strike The Tiger may ensure we see a more global challenge for top-end British two-yearold races in the future. This could have a lasting impact on two-year-old racing as we know it. COMING TODAY ON RP RANKINGS SPECIAL Do you agree with the World Thoroughbred Rankings for last year s Flat stars? Relive the season s highlights in our video feature and judge for yourself Featuring the expert views of Racing Post s handicapper Paul Curtis and top Post writer Lee Mottershead BE IN THE KNOW

6 6 Wednesday, January 13, 2010 racingpost.com WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS BEST IN THE WORLD WE ARE THE CLASS OF 2009 World Champion Sea the Stars 136 Euro Champion Sea The Stars 136 Champion female Goldikova 130 Dirt/AW Champion Zenyatta 128 Older Horse (4-Y-O +) Goldikova 130 Older Female (4-Y-O +) Goldikova Y-O Sea The Stars Y-O Dirt/AW Rachel Alexandra Y-O Female Rachel Alexandra Y-O Female Turf Stacelita Y-O Male St Nicholas Abbey Y-O Female Special Duty 117 Sprinter Sacred Kingdom/Scenic Blast 122 Miler Goldikova 130 Middle-Distance Sea The Stars 136 Stayer Yeats 122 SEA THE STARS 136 Best performance Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes Owner Christopher Tsui Trainer John Oxx, Ireland Jockey Michael Kinane Created history as he swept all before him in a recordbreaking unbeaten three-yearold season that earned him comparisons with the greatest horses ever to have raced. Looked good in beating his own age group in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom, but it was when he started taking on and beating older rivals that he showed his true, outstanding talent. Had to dig deep for victory in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte International at York, but oozed class as he took the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown by a very comfortable two and a half lengths his best performance, according to the World Thoroughbred Rankings and Racing Post s. Showed an amazing turn of speed to come from a decidedly unpromising position in the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe, becoming the first horse to win the Guineas, Derby and the Arc. RPR verdict World champ, turf champ, champ 3yo, middle-distance An outstanding world champion by any measure. He completed the best unbeaten three-year-old campaign since 1899 and dominated every horse he came up against, young or old, over trips from 1m to 1m4f. His effortless Irish Champion Stakes success rates as the best threeyear-old performance in RPR history. GOLDIKOVA 130 Best performance Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard Jacques le Marois Owners Wertheimer Brothers Trainer Freddie Head, France Jockey Olivier Peslier Top-notch French miler who emulated compatriot Miesque, a former mount of her trainer Freddie Head, with back-toback victories in the Breeders Cup Mile. Both wins at Santa Anita were achieved with a brilliant turn of speed which earned her success with something to spare, the latest coming despite having the worst of the draw on the outside. Had recorded a Group 1 hat-trick earlier in 2009, landing the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, the Prix Rothschild and the Prix Jacques le Marois a sixlength romp and her best performance both at Deauville, but raced too freely behind a strong pace in the 7f Prix de la Foret at Longchamp. RPR verdict Leading filly or mare, champ miler, champion older horse Four Group 1 wins last term, but the Prix Jacques le Marois stands out on the figures. She was magnificent that day, pulling a massive six lengths clear of subsequent Prix du Moulin winner Aqlaam, and the winning RPR of 131 ranks her as the best filly or mare in RPR history. Obviously, she therefore rates as a very worthy distaff champion in 2009, even considering the unusually strong competition. Her Prix Jacques le Marois figure also landed her the leading older horse honours on both official and RPR lists, but she shares the leading miler title with Rip Van Winkle on RPRs. ZENYATTA 128 Best performance Breeders Cup Classic Owners Mr & Mrs Jerome S Moss Trainer John Shirreffs, USA Jockey Mike Smith Outstanding mare who did not make her debut until the November of her three-yearold career, but developed into an absolute superstar and was retired undefeated in 14 races. The first 13 of those were against her own sex, seven of them in Grade 1 contests including in the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita in She took on the colts for the one and only time when returned to Santa Anita for the Breeders Cup Classic 12 months later and put up an astonishing display, missing the break and having only one behind her going into the final turn, before powering home to pass five rivals in the final furlong and win a shade comfortably. RPR verdict Dirt/aw champ Career record of 14 from 14 is most impressive, although the first 13 of those were restricted to her own sex. She stepped up a notch when required in the Breeders Cup Classic on her final start, when getting the better of leading American turf performer Gio Ponti. We re yet to know how good the bare form is until Gio Ponti backs it up and, with that niggling doubt, the officials decided to rate the winner for a rather generous three-length margin of superiority. On all known form, Zenyatta would probably have the legs of the best horses of either sex on a synthetic surface. There is little between her and Rachel Alexandra on our figures, but for us it is the three-year-old who ranks as the best non-turf performer. RACHEL ALEXANDRA 127 Best performance Kentucky Oaks Owners Stonestreet Stables LLC & Harold McCormick Trainer Steve Asmussen, USA Jockey Calvin Borel Showed herself a remarkable three-year-old filly as she ran away with the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in May, coming home fully 20 lengths clear. She then got the better of the colts by becoming the first of her sex to win the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, since 1924, beating Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird by a length at Pimlico. And she went through the rest of the season unbeaten, gaining notable victories in the Haskell Invitational (by six lengths) at Monmouth Park and the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga, but missed a clash with Zenyatta in the Breeders Cup as her owners did not want to run her on the Pro-ride surface at Santa Anita. RPR verdict Dirt/AW 3yo, 3yo filly Back in May her Kentucky Oaks victory earned her a higher RPR than that of the Kentucky Derby winner and that was an indicator of things to come. She was a league above every filly she encountered in 2009 and when she took on the colts, she beat them too. In the Haskell Invitational she was six lengths too good for leading three-year-old dirt colt Summer Bird, and that piece of form, along with a couple of other pieces of form which have absolutely no upper-bound, permit her the number one spot above Zenyatta on the RPR dirt/aw list. ST NICHOLAS ABBEY 124 Best performance Racing Post Trophy Owners D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor Trainer Aidan O Brien, Ireland Jockey Johnny Murtagh Bought for 200,000gns as a yearling, this colt from the family of Group 1 winners Aristotle, Ballingarry and Starborough looked highly promising in landing his first two races, a maiden and the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh. And he more than confirmed that when stepped up in class for the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, quickening clear to score by three and threequarter lengths. Recent Post winners High Chaparral, Brian Boru, American Post, Motivator and Authorized all went on to Classic success and St Nicholas Abbey is currently favourite for both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby. RPR verdict Champ 2yo Juvenile division looked a bit of a muddle until this one came along and burnt off his Racing Post Trophy rivals at the end of October. That success gave him a healthy lead over his contemporaries on both the official and RPR lists, and he rates a worthy two-year-old champion. SPECIAL DUTY 117 Best performance Cheveley Park Stakes Owners Khalid Abdullah Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, France Jockey Stephane Pasquier Top-class two-year-old filly who is winter favourite to give owner/breeder Khalid Abdullah a second victory in the 1,000 Guineas after Wince back in 1999, and trainer Criquette Head-Maarek a fourth after Ma Biche, Ravinella and Hatoof. Beat the colts to land the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons- Laffitte in July and was caught

7 Racing Post Wednesday, January 13, REACHING THE DECISION ON HANDICAPPING, PAGE 9 CHAMPIONS The best in the business (from left to right): Sea The Stars, Zenyatta, St Nicholas Abbey, Yeats, Goldikova, Rachel Alexandra, Special Duty, Sacred Kingdom, Stacelita and Scenic Blast Ascot the following month. Back home he saw off the foreign challengers in the Sprint at the international meeting again in December. RPR verdict Joint-champ sprinter Looked an absolute worldbeater a couple of seasons ago, and it was a shame he didn t make the journey over to Royal Ascot back then. He was injured in 2008 and never quite regained that old sparkle in He ranks as the second-best sprinter in the world by RPR last term judged on his win in the KrisFlyer International Sprint. The officials rate that race up alongside Scenic Blast s King s Stand, but we have it 2lb off. SCENIC BLAST 122 Best performance King s Stand Stakes Owners Elio Anthony Galante & Partners Trainer Daniel Morton, Australia Jockey Steven Arnold in the final strides by Arcano in the Prix Morny at Deauville the following month. Then scored an impressive victory in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, a fourth winner of the race for her trainer who said: In my yard I have nothing that can go with her. She s got the heart of Ravinella and the class of Ma Biche and Pas De Response. She s very special. RPR verdict 2yo filly Had a stack of black-type scorers behind when running away with the Cheveley Park Stakes on her final start and split a pair of smart colts the time before that. A solid champion juvenile filly. STACELITA 122 Best performance Prix de Diane Owners M Schwartz & Ecurie Monastic Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, France Jockey Christophe Lemaire Looked a very promising filly in the spring and scored a most impressive all-the-way six-length win on her step up to Group 1 company in the Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp in May. Showed that was no flash in the pan as she drew comparisons with Zarkava by taking the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly in June, and she made it six wins from six races in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp though she actually passed the post in second place and was awarded victory on the controversial disqualification of Dar Re Mi. Could manage only seventh when taking on the colts in the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe, leading briefly over a furlong out but finishing around five lengths behind Sea The Stars. RPR verdict 3yo turf filly Showed an awful lot of early promise, but Zarkava comparisons turned out to be wide of the mark after a disappointing conclusion to the season. Her four-length Prix de Diane success was the piece of form which sealed her top spot on the official list of leading threeyear-old turf fillies, but Irish Oaks heroine Sariska was best on RPRs. YEATS 122 Best performance Ascot Gold Cup Owners Mrs John Magnier & Mrs David Nagle Trainer Aidan O Brien, Ireland Jockey Johnny Murtagh High class at middle distances and won the 1m4f Coronation Cup in 2005, but is outstanding over staying trips and made history by becoming the first four-time winner of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last June. Ran very nearly as well as he had ever done judged on Racing Post s when gaining that fourth success at the age of eight, scoring by three and a half lengths from Patkai who was half his age. Well beaten on soft ground in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh, but ran a fair third in the Prix du Cadran on Arc day at Longchamp and was then retired. RPR verdict Stayer Fourth successive Gold Cup victory ranks him as one of the greatest stayers of all time. His three-and-a-half length win over Patkai in the 2009 renewal entitled him to the honour of outright staying champion on both ORs and RPRs. SACRED KINGDOM 122 Best performance KrisFlyer International Sprint Owner Sin Kang Yuk Trainer PF Yiu, Hong Kong Jockey Brett Prebble Earned the nickname The Hong Kong Bomb with a string of top efforts in his home country, coming to wider attention when thrashing the overseas raiders in the Group 1 Sprint at the international meeting at Sha Tin in Gained his first overseas victory in the Krisflyer International Sprint at Kranji in Singapore last May but could manage only fifth place behind Art Connoisseur in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal The latest top sprinter to come from Australia, who won the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes over 5f at Flemington in January and the 6f Crown Newmarket Handicap there in March. He was highly impressive on his British debut in the King s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, giving his country a third victory in the race in four years as he came home a three-quarters-of-a-length winner from Fleeting Spirit despite idling in front. Sent off favourite to follow up in the July Cup at Newmarket but could finish only tenth behind Fleeting Spirit, and also disappointed in two subsequent appearances in Japan and Hong Kong. RPR verdict Joint-champ sprinter Showed good level of ability in two Group 1 sprints at Flemington early in the year before peaking in the King s Stand. Was breathtaking that day in sauntering away from the strong field, who were headed by subsequent July Cup winner Fleeting Spirit. He ranks as the clear sprint champion by RPR. Though he has failed to regain that form, there s no forgetting the impression he left at Royal Ascot. Pen portraits: David Carr RPR verdicts: Sam Walker

8 8 Wednesday, January 13, 2010 racingpost.com WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS Older horses Definitions Sprint: up to 6.5f Mile: f (USA, Canada and Australasia: Sprint=up to 7f; Mile = 7.1f+) Intermediate: f Long: f Extended: 13.5f+ Abbreviations C=Colt; F=Filly; M=Mare; G=Gelding; H=Horse A=Artificial; D=Dirt; T=Turf; B=Turf & A/D s achieved on Turf unless A B or D indicated VIVA PATACA raced as Comic Strip in GB FELLOWSHIP raced as Walsburys Pride in NZ 130 Goldikova (IRE) 4 F FR A Zenyatta (USA) 5 M USA Conduit (IRE) 4 C GB 125 A Gio Ponti (USA) 4 C USA 125 Gladiatorus (USA) 4 C UAE 125 Youmzain (IRE) 6 H GB Paco Boy (IRE) 4 C GB 124 D Well Armed (USA) 6 G USA Presious Passion (USA) 6 G USA 123 A Twice Over 4 C GB 123 Vision d Etat (FR) 4 C FR Company (JPN) 8 H JPN 122 Dream Journey (JPN) 5 H JPN 122 Getaway (GER) 6 H GER 122 Good BA BA (USA) 7 G HK 122 Sacred Kingdom (AUS) 6 G HK 122 Scenic Blast (AUS) 5 G AUS 122 Tartan Bearer (IRE) 4 C GB 122 Viewed (AUS) 6 H AUS 122 Yeats (IRE) 8 H IRE Ask 6 H GB 121 Casual Conquest (IRE) 4 G IRE 121 Mawatheeq (USA) 4 C GB 121 Oken Bruce Lee (JPN) 4 C JPN 121 Pocket Power (SAF) 7 G SAF 121 Rocket Man (AUS) 4 G SIN Aqlaam 4 C GB 120 Collection (IRE) 4 G HK 120 Court Vision (USA) 4 C USA 120 Dar Re Mi 4 F GB 120 Deep Sky (JPN) 4 C JPN 120 A Einstein (BRZ) 7 H USA 120 D Fabulous Strike (USA) 6 G USA 120 Gloria de Campeao (BRZ)6 H FR 120 Justenuffhumor (USA) 4 C USA 120 D Kodiak Kowboy (USA) 4 C USA 120 Never On Sunday (FR) 4 C FR 120 Presvis 5 G GB 120 Spanish Moon (USA) 5 H GB 120 Viva Pataca 7 G HK 120 Vodka (JPN) 5 M JPN 120 Whobegotyou (AUS) 4 G AUS Alandi (IRE) 4 C IRE 119 D Albertus Maximus (USA) 5 H USA 119 All Silent (AUS) 6 G AUS 119 Apache Cat (AUS) 7 G AUS 119 D Big City Man (USA) 4 C UAE 119 Bronze Cannon (USA) 4 C GB 119 Champs Elysees 6 H USA 119 A Colonel John (USA) 4 C USA Egyptian Ra (NZ) 8 G HK 119 Happy Zero (AUS) 5 G HK 119 A Life Is Sweet (USA) 4 F USA 119 D Macho Again (USA) 4 C USA 119 Matsurida Gogh (JPN) 6 H JPN 119 Quijano (GER) 7 G GER 119 A Richard s Kid (USA) 4 C USA 119 Screen Hero (JPN) 5 H JPN 119 Takeover Target (AUS) 10G AUS Archipenko (USA) 5 H UAE 118 California Flag (USA) 5 G USA 118 Cesare 8 G GB 118 Efficient (NZ) 6 G AUS 118 D Espoir City (JPN) 4 C JPN 118 Fellowship (NZ) 7 G HK 118 Fleeting Spirit (IRE) 4 F GB 118 Heart Of Dreams (AUS) 4 G AUS D Icon Project (USA) 4 F USA 118 A Informed Decision (USA)4 F USA 118 Jaguar Mail (JPN) 5 H JPN 118 Kasbah Bliss (FR) 7 G FR Kingsgate Native (IRE) 4 G GB 118 Maldivian (NZ) 7 G AUS D Music Note (USA) 4 F USA One World (AUS) 5 H HK 118 Pipedreamer 5 H GB 118 Pure Clan (USA) 4 F USA 118 Racing To Win (AUS) 7 G AUS 118 Regal Parade 5 G GB 118 Sahpresa (USA) 4 F FR 118 Sakura Mega Wonder (JPN)6 H JPN 118 Scenic Shot (AUS) 7 G AUS 118 Trincot (FR) 4 C FR 118 Typhoon Tracy (AUS) 4 F AUS 118 Ventura (USA) 5 M USA 118A 118T Sprint Mile Intermediate Long Extended 117 Adlerflug (GER) 5 H GER 117 Alamosa (NZ) 5 H AUS 117 D Asiatic Boy (ARG) 6 H UAE City Leader (IRE) 4 C GB 117 Cowboy Cal (USA) 4 C USA 117 Danleigh (AUS) 6 G AUS Duncan 4 C GB 117 Eastern Anthem (IRE) 5 H GB 117 Famous Name 4 C IRE Faridat (USA) 4 C JPN 117 Forever Together (USA) 5 M USA 117 Geordieland (FR) 8 H GB 117 Grand Couturier 6 H USA 117 Gris de Gris (IRE) 5 H FR 117 J J The Jet Plane (SAF) 5 G GB 117 Joy And Fun (NZ) 6 G HK 117 Kip Deville (USA) 6 H USA 117 Loup Breton (IRE) 5 H FR 117 Lucky Secret (AUS) 6 G AUS 117 Main Aim 4 C GB 117 Marsh Side (USA) 6 H USA 117 Meiner Kitz (JPN) 6 H JPN 117 Mic Mac (AUS) 4 G AUS Monterey Jazz (USA) 5 H USA 117 Patkai (IRE) 4 C GB 117 Predatory Pricer (AUS) 4 C AUS Pressing (IRE) 6 H GB 117 Rahy s Attorney (CAN) 5 G CAN 117 A Rail Trip (USA) 4 G USA 117 Schiaparelli (GER) 6 H GB Sight Winner (NZ) 6 G HK 117 D Success Brocken (JPN) 4 C JPN 117 Swiss Ace (AUS) 5 H AUS 117 Thumbs Up (NZ) 5 G HK D Vermilion (JPN) 7 H JPN 117 Vigor (NZ) 5 G AUS 117 Voila Ici (IRE) 4 C ITY Al Nasrain (JPN) 5 H JPN Bank Robber (AUS) 5 G AUS 116 D Benny The Bull (USA) 6 H USA 116 Black Piranha (AUS) 6 G AUS 116 Borderlescott 7 G GB 116 D Bribon (FR) 6 G USA 116 D Bullsbay (USA) 5 H USA 116 Cannonball (USA) 4 G USA 116 D Casino Drive (USA) 4 C JPN 116 Crossharbour 5 H FR 116 A Dancing In Silks (USA) 4 G USA 116 Dao Dao (AUS) 6 G AUS 116 El Segundo (NZ) 8 G AUS 116 Flamingo Fantasy (GER) 4 C GER 116 A Georgie Boy (USA) 4 G USA 116 Just As Well (USA) 6 H USA 116 D Kane Hekili (JPN) 7 H JPN 116 Karelian (USA) 7 G USA 116 Kirklees (IRE) 5 H GB 116T 116A Mac Love 8 G GB Magical Fantasy (USA) 4 F USA 116 Metal Bender (NZ) 4 G AUS 116 More Bountiful (NZ) 5 G HK 116 Niconero (AUS) 8 G AUS A Parading (USA) 6 H USA 116 Poet 4 C IRE Pompeii Ruler (AUS) 7 G AUS 116 Premio Loco (USA) 5 G GB 116 Purple Moon (IRE) 6 G GB 116 Rebel Raider (AUS) 4 C AUS 116 Road To Rock (AUS) 5 H AUS 116 D Seattle Smooth (USA) 4 F USA 116 D Smooth Air (USA) 4 C USA 116 Spring House (USA) 7 G USA 116 Stotsfold 6 G GB 116 Super Hornet (JPN) 6 H JPN 116 Theseo (AUS) 6 G AUS D Two Step Salsa (USA) 4 C USA Veracity 5 H GB 116 Virtual 4 C GB 116 Vision And Power (NZ) 7 G AUS Zipping (AUS) 8 G AUS Air Shady (JPN) 8 H JPN 115 Alexandros 4 C GB 115 Alpine Rose (FR) 4 F FR 115 Arabian Gleam 5 H GB 115 Asakusa Kings (JPN) 5 H JPN A Awesome Gem (USA) 6 G USA 115 A Balius (IRE) 6 H GB 115 Balthazaar s Gift (IRE) 6 H GB 115 Bankable (IRE) 5 H GB/UAE Continues page 10