The IFHA WORLD THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSE RANKINGS for 2006


The IFHA World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings Conference took place in December 2006 to compile the World Rankings, the official end of season assessment of the top horses to have raced or been trained during 2006 in countries whose season runs from 1st January to 31st December.

Many excellent candidates vied for the position of the World's Top Ranked horse with the accolade going to Kiaran McLaughlin trained INVASOR (ARG) (129D). Having proved to be the champion 3yo in Uruguay, Invasor went on to be undefeated in North American and on his final outing of the year gained his fourth G1 in the US by winning the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge.

The World's Top Ranked 3yo's were both dirt performers in North America, BERNARDINI (USA) (128D), won five of his six starts including three G1 races and DISCREET CAT (USA) (128D) who went through 2006 undefeated.

A three-way tie emerged for the World's Top Turf Performer indicating what a spirited year it was at the top level. The top older Turf horse was the Japanese champion DEEP IMPACT (JPN) (127T) whose victories included the G1 Japan Cup and JPN G1 Arima Kinen. Two 3yo European colts share the top spot, dual Irish trained G1 mile winner GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE) (127T) and the French trained RAIL LINK (GB) (127T) who won the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere.

The leading filly & mare is the French trained PRIDE (FR) (123T) and there is another three-way tied for the top sprinter between the dirt performers HENNY HUGHES (USA) (120D), THOR'S ECHO (USA) (120D) and the leading Turf Sprinter TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS) (120T), trained in Australia who won the Global Sprint Challenge after winning Group Races in Australia, Great Britain and Japan.

The principle global category-toppers in the 2006 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are shown below.

The World's Top Ranked Performer in 2006
INVASOR (ARG)
129 (Dirt)
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin - USA
Has a near perfect race record with just one defeat from ten starts. Champion 3yo in Uruguay and won his four G1 races in the US culminating with winning the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge at Churchill Downs.
The World's Top Ranked 3yo Performers in 2006
BERNARDINI (USA)
128 (Dirt)
Trained by Tom Albertrani - USA
Won five of his six starts in 2006 including the G1 events the Preakness, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup prior to finishing runner up to Invasor (ARG) in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge.
DISCREET CAT (USA)
128 (Dirt)
Trained by Saeed bin Suroor- USA
Undefeated in 2006 winning twice in UAE including the G2 UAE Derby and finished his 3yo season with an impressive win in the G1 Hill 'n Dale Cigar Mile defeating Breeders' Cup Mile third Badge of Silver (USA).
The World's Top Ranked Turf Performers in 2006
DEEP IMPACT (JPN)
127 (Turf)
Trained by Yasuo Ikee - JPN
The outstanding performer in Japan over the past two seasons and raced undefeated in his native Japan in 2006 winning from 2200m up to 3200m. His major victories were achieved in the G1 Japan Cup and JPN G1 Arima Kinen.
GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE)
127 (Turf)
Trained by Aidan O'Brien - IRE
The leading European 2yo in 2005 and he is the joint top 3yo on Turf in the World Ranking in 2006 winning two G1 events over a mile, UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and NetJets Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
RAIL LINK (GB)
127 (Turf)
Trained by Andre Fabre - FR
Improved with each race in 2006 winning his four outings in Group Races and ended the season with victory in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere.
The World's Top Ranked Filly & Mare in 2006
PRIDE (FR)
123 (Turf)
Trained by A de Royer-Dupre - FR
Had another successful season with four wins including the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup and was also runner up in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere.
The World's Top Ranked 3yo Fillies in 2006
ALEXANDROVA (IRE)
118 (Turf)
Trained by Aidan O'Brien - IRE
Scored a hat trick of wins in fillies G1 events over 2400m, Vodafone Oaks, Darley Irish Oaks and Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks.
MANDESHA (FR)
118 (Turf)
Trained by A de Royer-Dupre - FR
Showed her versatility with three wins in fillies G1 events from 1600m to 2400m, Prix d'Astarte, Prix Vermeille - Lucien Barriere and Prix de l'Opera - Lucien Barriere.
WAIT A WHILE (USA)
118 (Turf)
Trained by Todd A Pletcher - USA
Having gained two Group wins on dirt was switched to Turf with great success winning three times including G1 events for fillies over 2000m, American Oaks Invitational and Yellow Ribbon Stakes

The Top Ranked Performers in distance
categories and surfaces in the 2006 WTRR

3yo Turf
3yo Dirt
Category
Horse
Rating
Trained
Horse
Rating
Trained
S Marchand D'or (FR) 116 Fr Henny Hughes (USA) 120 USA
M George Washington (IRE) 127 Ire Discreet Cat (USA) 128 USA
I Dylan Thomas (IRE) 126 Ire Bernardini (USA) 128 USA
L Rail Link (GB) 127 Fr Jazil (USA) 119 USA
E Sixties Icon (GB 117 GB
Song of Wind (JPN) 117 Jpn
4yo and up Turf
4yo and up Dirt
Category
Horse
Rating
Trained
Horse
Rating
Trained
S Takeover Target (AUS) 120 Aus Thor's Echo (USA) 120 USA
M David Junior (USA) 123 GB Lava Man (USA) 127 USA
I David Junior (USA) 123 GB Invasor (ARG) 129 USA
Pride (FR) 123 Fr
L Deep Impact (JPN) 127 Jpn
E Deep Impact (JPN) 123 Jpn
The Top Ranked Fillies & Mares Performers in distance
categories and surfaces in the 2006 WTRR
3yo Turf
3yo Dirt
Category
Horse
Rating
Trained
Horse
Rating
Trained
S -
M Spinning Queen (GB) 117 GB Pine Island (USA) 115 USA
I Mandesha (FR) 118 Fr
Wait A While (USA) 118 USA
L Alexandrova (IRE) 118 Ire
E -
4yo and up Turf
4yo and up Dirt
Category
Horse
Rating
Trained
Horse
Rating
Trained
S - Dubai Escapade (USA) 116 USA
M Gorella (FR) 118 USA Fleet Indian (USA) 117 USA
Round Pond (USA) 117 USA
I Pride (FR) 123 Fr Fleet Indian (USA) 117 USA
L Pride (FR) 123 Fr
E Kastoria (IRE) 117 Ire

The Distance Categories
S 5f - 6.5f : 1000m - 1300m
S North America 5f - 7.99f : 1000m - 1599m
M 6.51f - 9.49f : 1301m - 1899m
I 9.5f - 105f : 1900m - 2100m
L 10.51f - 13.5f : 2101m - 2700m
E 13.51f+ : 2701m+

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