Classic Score Boosts Authentic To Second In 2020 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

After an authoritative score in the LONGINES Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Authentic (USA) [126] is now the co-second highest rated horse in the fourth edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2020.

LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings

Leading Horses

click here for complete rankings

Rank Horse Rating Trained
1 GHAIYYATH (IRE) 130 GB
2 AUTHENTIC (USA) 126 USA
2 PALACE PIER (GB) 126 GB
4 ADDEYBB (IRE) 125 GB
4 BIVOUAC (AUS) 125 AUS
4 CLASSIQUE LEGEND (AUS) 125 AUS
4 PERSIAN KING (IRE) 125 FR
4 STRADIVARIUS (IRE) 125 GB
4 TIZ THE LAW (USA) 125 USA

Authentic won the Classic by 2 ¼ lengths over Improbable (USA) [123], while Global Campaign (USA) [120] was third. With his victory, Authentic improved his rating to 126 from 124, which he had received after taking the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Other wins for Authentic this year include the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), San Felipe Stakes (G2), and Sham Stakes (G3). He was retired after the Classic and will stand at Spendthrift Farm in 2021.

Several other races during the Breeders' Cup World Championships also impacted the rankings. Order of Australia (IRE) [120] is newly ranked after defeating Circus Maximus (IRE) [120] by a neck in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (G1). Meanwhile, Tarnawa (IRE) [120] finds herself ranked after beating Magical (IRE) [121], Channel Maker (CAN) [120], Lord North (IRE) [123], and Mogul (GB) [121] to the line in the LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). In her previous start, Tarnawa had defeated Alpine Star (IRE) [120] by a neck in the Prix de l'Opera LONGINES (G1).

On British Champions Day, Addeybb (IRE) [125] improved his rating to 125 from 122 with his victory over Skalleti (FR) [121], Magical, and Serpentine (IRE) [120] in the Qipco Champion Stakes (G1). Earlier this year, Addeybb won the Ranvet Stakes (G1) and LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in Australia. Also on British Champions Day, The Revenant (GB) [120] won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) and is now ranked.

In Australia, Bivouac (AUS) [125] improved his rating to 125 from 120 after dazzling in the Darley Sprint Classic (G1), which he won by 3 ¼ lengths over Nature Strip (AUS) [124]. In his previous start, Bivouac had finished second to the newly ranked Classique Legend [125] in the TAB Everest. Sir Dragonet (IRE) [121] is also ranked following his victory in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) by 1 ¼ lengths over Armory (IRE) [120].

Additionally, in Japan, Fierement (JPN) [123] finds himself ranked after finishing second by half a length to Almond Eye (JPN) [124] in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1). Chrono Genesis (JPN) [120] was a neck back in third.

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Stradivarius Will Try To Regain His Crown In British Champions Long Distance Cup

The world's top rated stayer, Stradivarius stands out among the 15 entries still in the mix for the £300,000 (approximately US$350,000) QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The exceptional 6-year-old, bred and owned by Bjorn Nielsen, won the Qatar Goodwood Cup for a record fourth time at Goodwood in July, having landed the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for the third time the previous month.

Trained by John Gosden, Stradivarius has won a record 13 races that fall under the QIPCO British Champions Series umbrella, including the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup in 2018. He has run 13 times over two miles or further and been beaten just twice – when a length third to Order Of St George as a 3-year-old in the 2017 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup and when pipped a nose by Kew Gardens in last year's riveting renewal.

The opposition to Stradivarius is headed by two-time Comer Group International Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song. She will be having her first run over two miles but has hinted she will stay and her trainer, Dermot Weld, has been responsible for two previous Long Distance Cup winners in Rite Of Passage (2012) and Forgotten Rules (2014).

Andrew Balding has two possible challengers in Spanish Mission, fluent winner of the Doncaster Cup on his latest start, and the mud-loving Morando, whose exploits last season included an eight-length drubbing of Kew Gardens in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester.

Balding said: “Spanish Mission was very impressive in the Doncaster Cup last time but I would have thought he would be effective from a mile and a half to an extended two miles. He's a horse who historically has not wanted the ground too soft, so that's a concern for him. If the ground got pretty testing, we'd have to think twice about running him.

“Morando, on the other hand, loves it when the mud is flying. It would be a new venture going two miles with him but the way he's shaped in his races in the last two seasons suggests that two miles is well within his compass now and he goes well at Ascot.”

Fujaira Prince, trained by Roger Varian, was returning from a year off when an emphatic winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June and followed up in the Sky Bet Ebor at York two months later. He chased home Search For A Song in the Irish St Leger last time out.

Aidan O'Brien has won the race three times with Fame And Glory (2011), Order Of St George (2017) and Kew Gardens (2019). This time he could be represented by Sovereign, winner of last year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby; Broome, who was a close fourth in last year's Investec Derby; and Dawn Patrol, third in this year's Irish Derby.

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World’s Best Racehorse Rankings: Sottsass Joins Top 10, Ghaiyyath Still Runaway Leader

Following his victory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), Sottsass (FR) [123] has joined the top 10 in the third edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2020.

 LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings

click here for complete rankings

Rank Horse Rating Trained
1 GHAIYYATH (IRE) 130 GB
2 PALACE PIER (GB) 126 GB
3 PERSIAN KING (IRE) 125 FR
3 STRADIVARIUS (IRE) 125 GB
3 TIZ THE LAW (USA) 125 USA
6 ALMOND EYE (JPN) 124 JPN
6 AUTHENTIC (USA) 124 USA
6 ENABLE (GB) 124 GB
6 NATURE STRIP (AUS) 124 AUS

In the Arc, Sottsass defeated In Swoop (IRE) [122] by a neck, and earlier this year, he won the Prix Ganay (G1). Sottsass, who also won the 2019 Qipco Prix du Jockey Club (G1), was retired after the Arc, and he will stand at Coolmore in 2021.

In Swoop won the IDEE 151st Deutsches Derby (G1) in July. He came into the Arc off of a second-place finish in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1), which was won by Mogul (GB) [121]. Mogul, who is a full brother to Japan (GB) [121], also won the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (G3) earlier in the year.

Kameko (USA) [122], meanwhile, improved his rating from 120 to 122 with his victory in the Shadwell Joel Stakes (G2). In June, he won the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (G1).

The American filly Swiss Skydiver (USA) [122] finds herself ranked after beating Authentic (USA) [124] by a neck in the Preakness Stakes (G1). The pair finished 10 lengths in front of the next closest competitor, and the final time of 1:53.28 made it the second fastest 1 3/16-mile Preakness in history, behind only Secretariat.

Swiss Skydiver, who is only the sixth filly to win the race, notched her first top level victory of the year in the Alabama Stakes (G1) and came into the Preakness off a second-place effort in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). Authentic was coming off back-to-back victories in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) and Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Mo Forza (USA) [120] is also newly ranked following his win in the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2), which was his first start since taking the Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2) in August.

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Enable ‘Primed To Run A Big Race’ Against 14 Rivals In Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe

They are on the verge of writing one of the most beautiful chapters in the history of racing. Lanfranco Dettori and John Gosden, the jockey-trainer combination trainer behind the great Enable, the mare out to record an unprecedented third win in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the world's top race, open up a few days ahead of the big event.

Of Italian extraction, Dettori is based in England. He will celebrate his 50th birthday in December and his record as a jockey is truly remarkable. He has won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe six times, which makes him record holder, having ridden in the race 31 times. He won his first Group 1 race (the highest level in racing) in 1990, and, to date, boasts 259 successes at this level.

In a serene mood as the big day comes near, he said: “We have already achieved something historic by winning the King George for the third time. Frankly, the pressure involved is less than last year, and it's not because there will be fewer people in Paris. It's because we have already experienced disappointment. The three hours which followed last year's defeat were the worst in my entire professional career, and I think that Enable was similarly downcast.”

On the matter of the tactics, Dettori said: “Rain is forecast and the ground will most likely be heavy. I hope that we won't experience extremes of going as happened last year. There are two horses that like to go to the front: Serpentine and Sovereign. So taking up a good position will be de rigueur.

“The genuine heavy ground will turn the Arc into a stamina test. That will play to Stradivarius' strengths, and, on the contrary, the distance may prove a bit long for Persian King, although anything trained by André Fabre warrants respect. There are other horses which shouldn't be underestimated such as Sottsass. He hasn't had a hard campaign and boasts prior experience in the Arc de Triomphe.”

John Gosden, one of the most successful trainers (he has won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe three times) of his profession, believes that his mare is ready to give of her best: “Enable is doing very well! She's at her optimum racing weight and is happy. We had a bit of trouble getting her really 'fit' this year, as the mare has grown older and heavier. However, as things stand, she's in top form. So we are confident. She has never run a bad race. She invariably rises to the task. She's primed to run a big race.”

Gosden will also saddle Stradivarius, the world's top stayer in the world, and now trying his hand over 2,400 metres (12 furlongs). Regarding the ability of his two runners to cope with the forecast heavy ground, Gosden said: “Enable has already run well on very soft ground, but like many horses, she prefers good ground. She can cope with testing tracks, but that renders her task more difficult: as it's more demanding in terms of stamina. Stradivarius has always been a fast ground horse, but he surprised us on the day of the [Ascot] Gold Cup when he managed to win, despite the conditions, over 4.000m (2m 4f). So if it rains, we hope that both horses will be able to cope. It is my jockeys who will decide on the tactics. They have to judge how fast they are going, where they have to be in a race, and how much effort to ask of their horses… It can be dangerous to give a horse in front too much rope, and, in equal measure, the same applies to make too much use of your horse, which invariably entails you cutting your own throat.”

John Gosden will follow the race on television owing to the restrictions relative to Covid-19. Taking it on the chin, he said: “For the horses that will be better as they'll be calmer! Regarding our situation, we just have to deal with it… We live in complicated times. I will watch the race on television, like almost everyone else. My team and I have had the extreme privilege and responsibility of looking after such a mare for all these years. The Enable adventure has been fantastic and, if she wins on Sunday, it would be wonderful. However, above all, the only thing we ask of the mare is that she gives it her best shot. I'm sure that she will do that. ”

A total of 15 horses drew stalls for the 2020 Arc, listed below:

  1. Persian King – A. Fabre
  2. Royal Julius – J. Reynier
  3. Way to Paris – A. Marcialis
  4. Japan – A. O'Brien
  5. Sovereign – A. O'Brien
  6. Stradivarius – J. Gosden
  7. Sottsass – JC. Rouget
  8. Enable – J. Gosden
  9. Deirdre – M. Hashida
  10. Gold Trip – F. Chappet
  11. Chachnak – F. Vermeulen
  12. In Swoop – FH. Graffard
  13. Mogul – A. O'Brien
  14. Serpentine – A. O'Brien
  15. Raabihah – JC. Rouget

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