St Mark’s Basilica New Leader Of LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

After defeating his elders in the Coral-Eclipse (G1), St Mark's Basilica (FR) [127] now leads the fifth edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021.

In the Eclipse, St Mark's Basilica defeated Addeybb (IRE) [121] by 3 ½ lengths, while Mishriff (IRE) [122] was a neck behind in third. St Mark's Basilica had previously been rated at 120 following his victory in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1), and he is a perfect three-for-three this season, as he also won the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) to start his 2021 campaign.

Addeybb came into the Eclipse having won the LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes G1) in Australia in April, while Mishriff was making his first start since taking the LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in March.

Meanwhile, Poetic Flare (IRE) [122] and Subjectivist (GB) [122] find themselves ranked in the co-fourth position following their impressive efforts during Royal Ascot. Poetic Flare won the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) by 4 ¼ lengths, while Subjectivist was victorious in the Gold Cup (G1) by five lengths.

In Japan, Chrono Genesis (JPN) [120] took the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) by 2 ½ lengths to join the rankings. It was her first start since finishing second to Mishriff in the LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).

Additionally, Hurricane Lane (IRE) [120] joins the rankings following his score in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1).

LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings

Leading Horses

click here for complete rankings

Rank Horse Rating Trained
1 ST MARK'S BASILICA (FR) 127 IRE
2 PALACE PIER (GB) 125 GB
3 NATURE STRIP (AUS) 123 AUS
4 DOMESTIC SPENDING (GB) 122 USA
4 MISHRIFF (IRE) 122 GB
4 MYSTIC GUIDE (USA) 122 USA
4 POETIC FLARE (IRE) 122 IRE
4 SUBJECTIVIST (GB) 122 GB

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The Weekly Wrap: Full Mark’s For Top Colt

A fortnight to go, apparently, until England casts aside all restrictions following the 16-month weirdness of the pandemic era. 'Freedom day', as it has been dubbed by those of Boris Johnson's government who are not currently serving time on the naughty step, has unfortunately not come in time for the regular 'July week' festivities in Newmarket. There will be racing with a reduced crowd and a sale taking place pretty much as normal, but without any of the parties and stallion parades that have become the staple of the town's midsummer highlight. As long as there's still an ice-cream stall at Tattersalls this week the bloodstock press bench will be happy.

It is fervently hoped that Ireland is granted similar freedom by its government before too long, for in our own small world the ongoing uncertainty regarding dates and locations of the yearling sales, in particular the Orby, is not helpful at all. The conflicting press releases of last week first clarified then muddied the situation and as much as it provides ongoing headaches for the sales companies, it can also be no fun for the consignors currently trying to line up staff for the season.

The past week's highlight came of course in the Coral-Eclipse, courtesy of the increasingly admirable St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Last season's champion 2-year-old and the second Classic winner bred by Bob Scarborough from the Galileo (Ire) mare Cabaret (Ire), the colt  was apparently oblivious to the lofty, globetrotting reputations of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) as he strode past them up the Sandown hill. A potential rematch in the Juddmonte International is a thrilling prospect, as is the potential battle between Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the Sussex S.

It seems crazy to think that up until this weekend there had been the pervading feeling that Aidan O'Brien was having something of a quiet season. He had by that stage won six European Classics, which is hardly slacking, but the overturning of talking horses High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the latter managing just seventh in the Derby as the lone Ballydoyle runner, exacerbated that impression. 

We've come to expect the Ballydoyle colts to dominate, but so far this year the stable has been largely carried by the fillies. Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made a sensational belated return at Royal Ascot and she is backed up by a strong Classic generation that includes the mightily impressive Oaks winner Snowfall (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), English and Irish 1000 Guineas winners Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Prix de Diane heroine Joan Of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 

That is, of course, apart from St Mark's Basilica, who emulated Shamardal, Lope De Vega (Ire) and Brametot (Ire) in winning both the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club since the latter was reduced in distance to 10.5 furlongs in 2005. Beating a pair of seasoned older horses, even in a small field for the Eclipse, puts him to the head of his generation for now, until we see how Poetic Flare fares at Goodwood and Adayar at Ascot, in what could be a King George for the ages.  

Also of significance for St Mark's Basilica, whose future lies at Coolmore, will be the early stud careers of his aforementioned half-brother and of Sottsass (Fr), who is bred on the same Siyouni-Galileo cross.

Sweeping The Board

In the mix for the King George among the older brigade is the quiet achiever Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who secured a memorable international Group 1 double for Aidan O'Brien over the weekend when landing the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The 5-year-old, who became his sire's fourth Group 1 winner, has been a model of consistency this year, winning at each stakes level up to Group 1 since the opening day of the season, as well as being beaten a short-head when second in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and finishing runner-up to Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot. 

While Australia's season is gathering a head of steam, credit must also be given to Broome's dam Sweepstake (Ire), who was a member of the first crop of Acclamation (GB) and became his second black-type winner in a matter of days when landing the listed National S at Sandown in May 2007.

Though she visited Galileo in 2012, her best results to date have come from her two matings with his son Australia, with Broome's full-brother Point Lonsdale (Ire) adding further lustre to the family by winning the listed Chesham S. The 2-year-old is also the most expensive of her yearlings to have passed through the sales. He was bought at Book 1 last year for 575,000gns, while the mare's 3-year-old Malathaat (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was a €500,000 purchase by Shadwell from breeder Croom House Stud at the previous year's Orby Sale.

Acclamation's first crop also included Dark Angel (Ire), who became his first group winner and has done more to enhance the line than any of his paternal half-brothers–though he may yet be challenged for that accolade by Mehmas (Ire).

While his male line is thriving, Acclamation is also enjoying a decent season as a broodmare sire. In this field he had three winners at Royal Ascot, with Point Lonsdale being joined by Perotto (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), who is to be supplemented for Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup.

High On The Hill

The weekend's results also provided the second stakes winner of the season–in fact, in eight days–for Tiana (GB) (Diktat {GB}), the pride of Fiona and Mick Denniff's broodmare band.

Racing in Fiona's own colours, Tiana's 3-year-old daughter Auria (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) landed the listed Coral Distaff at Sandown the Saturday after her elder half-sister Chil Chil (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) had won the G3 Chipchase S. The latter will line up again this coming Saturday in the July Cup. 

The pair are the second and third stakes winners for their dam following the hugely talented Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), who notched five Group 2 wins as well as a Group 3 and listed success among his nine victories for Andrew Balding. He was also an important first group winner for his late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha of King Power Racing, who was then emboldened to give 500,000gns for Chil Chil at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Tiana was herself also bred by Denniff from the second mare she purchased, Hill Welcome (GB), back in 2001. The daughter of Most Welcome (GB) was bought as a 3-year-old at Doncaster having placed just once in seven starts for Barry Hills. Despite an underwhelming race record, she owned a decent pedigree as a half-sister to the G1 Middle Park S. winner Stalker (GB) (Kala Shikari {Fr}), but she was overlooked at the sale by all bar Denniff, who picked her up for just 3,000gns. The breeder will undoubtedly view that sum as money very well spent. 

Hill Welcome went on to produce 10 winners from her 12 foals, with the Oh So Sharp S.-placed Tiana being one of three black-type performers along with the G3 Molecomb S. runner-up Mary Read (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and the 103-rated Aboyne N Beyond (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). 

Tiana is not the only daughter to have established her own successful branch at the Denniffs' Nottinghamshire farm as Mary Read's treble-winning daughter Dubai Bounty (GB) (Dubai Destination) is the dam of the late Kachy (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), whose nine wins included the G3 Molecomb S.

Now a black-type winner herself, Auria will be an exciting returnee to Denniff Farms eventually, but her next task looks likely to be the G3 Atalanta S. back at Sandown in August.

Tiana's current 2-year-old by Dubawi (Ire) could broaden the family's success as she is now in America having been bought last October by Mike Ryan. The agent is pleased with her progress and told TDN that she has been given some time to mature before she heads into training this autumn, most likely with Chad Brown. 

Breakthrough Success For Isfahan

Sisfahan (Fr) may have been bred in France but he brought about a notable breakthrough for his German-based sire Isfahan (Ger) when emulating his father by winning the G1 Deutsches Derby on Sunday.

It was not only an important first-crop Classic winner for the Gestut Ohlerweierhof stallion but it also makes Isfahan the only one of the second-crop sires in Europe to have been represented by a Group 1 winner this season. Of that group, Mehmas was the only sire to achieve that feat last year.

Isfahan was bought by Holger Faust for owner Stefan Oschmann's Darius Racing for €35,000 at the BBAG Yearling Sale of 2014 and, following a racing career which saw him win the German Derby, G3 Bavarian Classic and G3 Preis der Winterfavoriten, he was retired to stud by the owner. Oschmann has supported Isfahan not just with his own mares but also at the sales, and was last year rewarded with the stallion's first group winner, Isfahani (Ger), who landed the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli in Rome on debut.

Isfahan was the second-busiest stallion after Soldier Hollow (GB) in his first year at stud, but German covering numbers are significantly lower than those recorded by some stallions in Britain, Ireland and France. He covered 67 mares in 2018, followed by 46, then 35 in 2020.

Sisfahan, who is the first winner of Germany's most prized race for the country's champion trainer Henk Grewe, is also yet another feather in the cap of Guy Pariente's Haras de Colleville. Pariente is currently the leading breeder in France–ahead of such luminaries as Wertheimer & Frere and the Aga Khan–and so much of his success rests on his stallion Kendargent (Fr), the broodmare sire of Sisfahan.

Now 18, it is perhaps remarkable that Kendargent only notched a first Group 1 winner this season with Skalleti (Fr), who was also bred by Pariente, as was his Group 2-winning brother Skazino (Fr).

He had, however, already been represented with a top-flight winner as a broodmare sire when Sealiway (Fr) won last season's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. That result was doubly pleasing for Pariente as not only was the colt another Haras de Coleville graduate but he is by Kendargent's young stud-mate Galiway (GB).

In France this season, Pariente has already celebrated 38 wins from 65 starters bred at his Normandy farm, which has now also supplied the toast of Germany.

The post The Weekly Wrap: Full Mark’s For Top Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Coral-Eclipse: Globetrotting Star Mishriff ‘Needs To Do It In The UK’

John Gosden believes Mishriff can claim a first British Group One success in what promises to be a fascinating clash of the generations in the 125th running of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on Saturday (July 3rd).

Last year's Prix du Jockey Club winner will attempt to land a first domestic top level success at the weekend on his first start in Britain this year in the prestigious Group One prize.

It has been a campaign to savor so far for the son of Make Believe who made a winning return in the Saudi Cup at Riyadh on his dirt debut in February before following it up with Group One victory on his first start over a mile and a half in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan the following month.

Although Mishriff has demonstrated his talents on an international stage Gosden, who is seeking a fifth Coral-Eclipse success, feels he must now translate that form back on home soil.

He said: “I think that it is absolutely right (that he needs to win a British Group One to be one of the best mile and a quarter horses around). He has done it in France and done it in the Middle East but he needs to do it in the UK.

“We've been happy with him. He trained nicely into the Saudi Cup and then flew home then had to train again for Sheema Classic. He showed his versatility having to do a mile and an eighth on the dirt and a mile and a half on the turf.

“The idea was to freshen him up and give him every possible chance to come back in for our summer program. We are starting him off here in the Coral-Eclipse which had been our plan for a long time. I've been very happy with his preparation. He is not a horse I've taken away for a racecourse gallop as he has had enough travelling this year already.”

Despite this year's Coral-Eclipse attracting only four runners, Gosden insists it is very much a field of quality over quantity.

He said: “I know it is a small elite purist field but what people have to realize is that it is a lot of money to enter these races, it is a lot of money at the first forfeit stage and it is a lot of money to confirm.

“When you have the likes of the front three here they are not easy to take on so I think people slightly take that view point.

“When people criticize the size of the field remember the Prince Of Wales's was only run 16 days ago and from my experience it is very tough to come from the Prince Of Wales's and roll straight into a Coral-Eclipse – they come awfully tight.”

Assessing the opposition Gosden has respect for both this year's French 2000 Guineas and French Derby winner St Mark's Basilica from the yard of Aidan O'Brien and his old adversary the William Haggas-trained Addeybb, who he finished behind in last year's Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Gosden continued: “I've got tons of respect for Addeyyb. I think he is a wonderful horse. He has won a Champion Stakes and he has won in Sydney.

“I don't want to be critical but the ground was diabolical (at Ascot) and full marks to the winner as he handles it but our fellow couldn't go in at all. I had a lot that day that went wrong and Aidan (O'Brien) had a lot that day that went wrong. It was bottomless ground.

“There is talk about some rain on Saturday afternoon and if the rain came that is something Addeyyb would enjoy immensely. We are probably happier on anything from good to firm to good soft. I've lots of respect for him then comes the big question and it is great that you have the best mile and a quarter three year old colt in Europe (St Mark's Basilica) running. He has won a Dewhurst, a French Guineas and he has gone and won the Prix du Jockey Club, the same as Mishriff did, so that really is the ultimate test of the three year olds against the old ones.

“Interestingly enough I remember Lester (Piggott) saying to me that the 3-year-old has the advantage in his opinion in the Coral-Eclipse with the weights.

“I know it has changed one pound since those days and it is a 10lb difference now but he always felt 3-year-olds had the edge and I've never been frightened to run 3-year-olds in this race and nor for that matter in the King George.”

Helping Mishriff reach the heights he has enjoyed this year has been his growing bond with jockey David Egan, whom Gosden offered plenty of praise for.

He said: “He (David) has ridden him very well and he knows the horse well. He pops up on him not long before races.

“We have Ben (De Pavia) here who rides him all the time in his work and every day in his exercise. David is a classy guy, a good rider a good horseman and he is bright and very intelligent with it.”

Since claiming the Coral-Eclipse for the first time with Nathaniel in 2012 the Newmarket handler has won the race on three further occasions with Golden Horn, who followed up his Derby success at Epsom Downs in the 2015 renewal, Roaring Lion (2018) and Enable (2019).

Although Mishriff has yet to prove himself domestically at the highest level, Gosden feels he is the right type of horse to join his previous winners on the race's outstanding roll of honor.

He added: “Roaring Lion was a 3-year-old when he won it and so was Golden Horn so they took advantage of the weights. Enable was coming back off after a long layoff and she had her old friend Magical with her, then last year she ran against Ghaiyyath (finishing second).

“To that extent it is always demanding but he is a lovely horse and he fits in with that type we have been fortunate to have. We are happy with him going in but I'm perfectly aware of the task in hand. He is a very game honest horse that wears his heart on his sleeve.

“We are hoping for a good race and for the purists it is the sort of thing they enjoy but you will probably find the outsider El Drama will come and do the lot of them.”

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Eclipse Whittled Down To Four

Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown has been cut to four after Thursday's confirmation stage, with Aidan O'Brien declaring just St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) from his three initial entries left in earlier this week. With David Menuisier also opting to wait with Christopher Wright's Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), that means that Ballydoyle's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero faces two main rivals in the multiple Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) plus the Jockey Club also-ran El Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). John Gosden said he thinks that the small field stands up in terms of quality as he prepares Prince Faisal's homebred for a potential third top-level success having garnered last year's Prix du Jockey Club and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on his last start Mar. 27, as well as the Saudi Cup.

“I know it is a small, elite, purist field but what people have to realise is that it is a lot of money to enter these races, it is a lot of money at the first forfeit stage and it is a lot of money to confirm,” he said. “When you have the likes of the front three here, they are not easy to take on so I think people slightly take that view point.”

“I've got tonnes of respect for Addeyyb,” Gosden added. “I think he is a wonderful horse. He has won a Champion S. and he has won in Sydney. There is talk about some rain on Saturday afternoon and if the rain came, that is something Addeyyb would enjoy immensely.”

Tom Marquand is keeping an eye on the weather ahead of Addeybb's European return and said, “As we know, Addeybb is entirely ground-dependent and any more rain will help, but provided it's suitable for him to run then he ought to have every chance. It's a small field, but it's good horses against good horses and that's just what you want in a race like the Eclipse.”

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