WORLD'S LEADING HORSES 2005

(from 1st May to 1st November 2005)

 

HURRICANE RUN (IRE), the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Lucien Barriere winner, continues to head the rankings of the top racehorses of 2005 after a very extensive month of international racing that included the Breeders' Cup meeting in the U.S.A., the Melbourne Cup in Australia and major events in Europe and Canada.

 

The next three positions remain unchanged: GHOSTZAPPER (USA), undefeated on his last six racecourse outings and top or runner up since the inception of the World’s Leading Horses, retains second place. Third position is shared by the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes winner AZAMOUR (IRE) and WESTERNER (GB), who is likely to contest next month's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase.

 

The form of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-Lucien Barriere was franked following SHIROCCO (GER)’s success in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf and he moves up from 11th to joint fifth to join MOTIVATOR (GB) and SHAMARDAL (USA) (top ranked miler on Turf) in the World's Rankings.

 

Re-entering the World's Leading Horses list is the record breaking Australian trained mare MAKYBE DIVA (GB). She gained two recent Group 1 victories in the Cox Plate (2040m) and carried top weight when winning her third successive Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m). She has now been retired to stud after amassing a record A$14m in prize money and is the only racehorse to win three Melbourne Cups (in 2003, 2004 and 2005).

 

Makybe Diva (GB) becomes the top ranked filly and mare and joins SAINT LIAM (USA), who gained his third Grade One victory of the year by winning the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge, BAGO (FR), STARCRAFT (NZ) (top ranked older miler on Turf) and AFLEET ALEX (USA) in a five way tie for eighth place.

 

Joining the rankings for the first time, at number thirteen, is DAVID JUNIOR (USA) who defeated seven other World Ranked horses to win the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (2000m) at Newmarket. He is ranked alongside DUBAWI (IRE), ORATORIO (IRE), PROCLAMATION (IRE) and SILENT WITNESS (AUS) (top ranked sprinter).

 

Other notable newcomers to this month’s listings are FLOWER ALLEY (USA) and PERFECT DRIFT (USA), second and third respectively in the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge. The Netjets Breeders' Cup Mile winner ARTIE SCHILLER (USA) enters at number twenty-four. RELAXED GESTURE (IRE) won the Canadian leg of THE 2005 World Series Championships, the Pattison Canadian International (2400m), in good style and joins the rankings on the same mark.

 

A once in a lifetime achievement was seen in Japan recently when undefeated DEEP IMPACT (JPN) secured the Triple Crown with success in the Kikuka Sho (JPN St. Leger) in October. He had earlier won the Satsuki Sho (JPN 2000 Guineas) in April and Tokyo Yushun (JPN Derby) in May.

 

The World's Leading Horses are compiled by the World Rankings Supervisory Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)

The full list and further information on the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are available on the IFHA web site www.IFHAOnline.org