World Thoroughbred Rankings Released

[PNkt]

From Racing Post:


Superstar colt Frankel rated best in the world

FRANKEL was named world champion racehorse on Tuesday when he topped the World Thoroughbred Rankings (WTR) for 2011.

The spectacular Henry Cecil-trained colt, who will take his nine-race unbeaten record into 2012 as a four-year-old, was awarded a rating of 136 - the same as Sea The Stars in 2009.

Australia's superstar sprinter Black Caviar was Frankel's closest pursuer in the annual international league table, put together by a team of senior international handicappers on behalf of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Set to run at Royal Ascot this season, the five-year-old mare easily retained her status as world champion sprinter with a mark of 132, which makes her 4lb inferior to Frankel, who was also completing back-to-back championship seasons after being named Europe's top two-year-old (alongside Dream Ahead) in the 2010 lists.

The WTR were unveiled on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference in London. Other notable features included another share in the European juvenile ranks where Racing Post Trophy winner Camelot and leading French colt Dabirsim head the list on a mark of 119.

Europe's champion filly is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream, who is joined in third place overall on the 128-mark by Champion Stakes winner Cirrus Des Aigles.

Also taking high rank on 127 are top miler Canford Cliffs and the ill-fated Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Rewilding.

Top-rated stayer is the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain on 123, while the highest figure recorded in Europe is the 121 achieved by Fame And Glory and Masked Marvel in the Ascot Gold Cup and St Leger respectively.

Well adrift of Black Caviar's world-best mark in the sprinting division, Deacon Blues and Dream Ahead share European honours on 120 - fully 12lb beneath the Australian mare.

The number one dirt performer on the list, waydown overall on 124, is Breeders' Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer.

Frankel's mark of 136 recognises his claims to greatness - he has duly been accorded one of the highest marks in recent seasons. Sea The Stars is the only other horse to have hit such a mark since Peintre Celebre's 137 in 1997.

However, even such a straightforward comparison is fraught with confusion as the ratings have been compressed a little since then, which means the 136 is probably worthmore than Peintre Celebre's 137 in real terms.

For this reason, higher marks achieved in earlier years, when ratings around the 140-mark were regular, must also be taken with more than a pinch of salt.

According to Racing Post Ratings, Frankel should have been awarded an even higher rating. "The official figures come under far greater pressure now than the early days of purely European competition when 140s where handed out like sweets," explained senior Racing Post handicapper Paul Curtis.

"The relevance of comparison with past rankings, certainly pre-1995 when US horses where included for the first time, is questionable.

"Even so, Frankel could have ranked higher still and his Racing Post Rating of 139+ is the best recorded on turf since RPRs began in 1986. Although the rankings parameters have changed several times since then, the past figures are still there in the record books and it seems wrong that Frankel should rate behind the likes of Generous and Peintre Celebre."


WTR TOP 20 OVERALL

1 Frankel (GB) 136

2 Black Caviar (Aus) 132

3 Cirrus Des Aigles (Fra) 128

Danedream (Ger)

5 Canford Cliffs (GB) 127

Rewilding (GB)

7 Dream Ahead (GB) 126

Excelebration (GB)

Nathaniel (GB)

So You Think (Ire)

11 Rocket Man (Sing) 125

Twice Over (GB)

Workforce (GB)

14 Drosselmeyer (USA) 124

Goldikova (Fra)

St Nicholas Abbey (Ire)

17 Acclamation (USA) 123

Americain (Fra)

Orfevre (Jap)

Sepoy (Aus)

Strong Suit (GB)

Tizway (USA)

Suffixes refer to country trained


The rankings overall can be viewed here: http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2011Rankings/2011_WorldRankings.asp

 

[OddDog]

Frankel's mark of 136 recognises his claims to greatness - he has duly been accorded one of the highest marks in recent seasons. Sea The Stars is the only other horse to have hit such a mark since Peintre Celebre's 137 in 1997.

However, even such a straightforward comparison is fraught with confusion as the ratings have been compressed a little since then, which means the 136 is probably worthmore than Peintre Celebre's 137 in real terms.

For this reason, higher marks achieved in earlier years, when ratings around the 140-mark were regular, must also be taken with more than a pinch of salt.

According to Racing Post Ratings, Frankel should have been awarded an even higher rating. "The official figures come under far greater pressure now than the early days of purely European competition when 140s where handed out like sweets," explained senior Racing Post handicapper Paul Curtis.

"The relevance of comparison with past rankings, certainly pre-1995 when US horses where included for the first time, is questionable.

How interesting - "140 ratings handed out like sweets" <run>

 

[NassauBoard]

Old ratings and pinch of salt. Well I never.

I think its fascinating to see him matching STS, I think that says how remarkable STS was as a 3 year old. I think they have it about right, I prefer this figures to those given by the lads at T'form

 

[Zenyatta]

I am not sure I agree Nass. I have a huge amount of respect for Sea The Stars but his manned never of victory never owed itself to top ratings given he was always more workmanlike than impressive, with plenty up his sleeve. He beat good horses, but Frankel has destroyed them this season.

Very nice to see a heavy British (and European) interest in the rankings.

 

[NassauBoard]

Zen,

The problem with rating this superstars of the game, including the two mentioned and Zarkava in recent times, is that they all have different styles of winning. Sea The Stars was one who knew he had the race won and didn't demolish a field, Zarkava was flashy in the final furlongs to cut down fields whilst Frankel has demolished fields from a long way out.

The fact remains that all three had unbeaten records in their classic seasons and all three haven't had their full talent tested. I therefore would rather go with the idea that STS and Frankel are as good as each other, rather than suggest that Frankel is the better because he smashes fields.

Now if Frankel goes on and beats everything in the next classic generation, along with older horses over 1m or 1m2f I don't doubt that he will be rated a good 5lb+ better than STS, making him the standout horse of the recent racing history.

I look forward to seeing if he can do just that.

 

[Zenyatta]

I see your point exactly and I agree to a certain extent. I always think it is hard trying to rank one great horse above another for the very reason that they are all great in their own right.

My only reason for being slightly uncomfortable with their rating parity is that we know Frankel destroyed those good horses but we are assuming that Sea The Stars could.

I can't say it bothers me greatly mind!

What does bother me greatly is the chance of seeing Frankel over 10f next year. Now that really is something to savour. If he can destroy everything in his path at 10f in 2012 like he did everything at 8f in 2011 then I think his path to the title of best ever will be clear. He is already right up there but another reproduction of his last season will surely see him atop the lot. A very exciting prospect.

 

[Bluesky9]

No need to run for that Oddie it's only if you ask the question if ratings are sometimes subject to trends of inflation could Kauto Star actually have been better than Arkle despite ratings ? Thats when you really need run.

On a serious not i really hope the Prince gets rewarded for his sporting behaviour and that Frankel stays sound and proves himself even more and tops a rating in excess next season. It really is one of my biggest gripes with Flat racing that we form a bond with these greats and then money dictates and they are retired before we can really see all they had to give.

 

[Ron]

It must be very difficult assessing a horse's rating. So many races are are not truly run which allows some horses to look impressive. Very often (by definition I suppose) we get a pretty average crop, allowing an above average horse to completely dominate. How some of these would fare against each other in truly run races is anyone's guess. A lot is based on opinion of what a horse could do, rather than what it has done. I know time is not a reliable yardstick in isolation but, with sufficient factors taken into account, I'm sure some conclusions could be drawn as regards actual achievement. With athletes it is much simpler. The one who gets from A to B in the quickest time is generally regarded the best and in a race against the clock will beat the others but could be beaten in a tactical race in a slower time, with the winner looking impressive. Even with athletes though, tracks have changed, footwear has changed, traning has changed etc.

Oh dear, I'm rambling. Got back from England couple of hours ago and feeling a bit tired as I left here for Enland at 6.30 yesterday morning.

 

[ROTO]

Have to agree with Nass here. Just because STS wasn't as visually impressive doesn't take away from the fact he was unbeaten in his Classic season. He beat everything put in front of him and thats all you can ask for. There is also the argument that STS showed his versatility winning between 8f and 12f and as Frankel has yet to be campaigned over anything other than a mile that this versatility is very likely one of the major reasons STS and Frankel have the same rating

 

[Cyclonic]

I think it's almost impossible to place either Frankel or Sea The Stars above the other. The problem in lining them up is that they are like chalk and cheese. The amazing Guineas win of Frankel is still fresh in the mind. The way he tore the race apart early on was breathtaking. He looked more the fast travelling, middle distance horse who was blessed with that extra bit of foot. To watch him in action was to invite the thought that he could possibly be a King's Stand prospect, if freshened and set for the race. On the other hand, his great pace allows for him to be taken hold of which conserves huge amounts of fuel, which gives him the opportunity to blast over 10f. I loved Sea The Stars, but Frankel is in another league at a mile and under.

Sea The Stars is the opposite of Frankel when it comes to the type of horse he was. In his Guineas win, he sat close to the pace, no more than a few lengths off the leader, but there was only half a dozen lengths first to last. At the half way mark, you could throw a blanket over the lot of them. He and Delegator then singled out and went away. It was then that the great horse showed his true colours. He out stayed his adversary. He was too strong. By the time the distances had stretched to a mile and a half, he'd come into his own. Against staying types, he had something none of the others had, a better middle distance cruising speed and a quick change of gears. But the visual effect of that change of gears was magnified by the fact that he was up against stayers. Personally I worry about the chances of Frankel against Sea The Stars at the Derby distance. I'm not suggesting that Frankel has no hope at the trip, he might turn out to be the greatest of all time. He might do the same to the very best at 12f, as he did to the best at a mile. But right now, he's suspect. Sea The Stars has the runs on the board. He was scintillating at 12f, doing things few other horses have been capable of. In an age where the term "champion" is bandied about with gay abandon, these two have proved themselves to be the real deal. Each has his own place in history, achieving feats that the other wasn't capable of. Two from the top draw.

P.S. Nice job Princess.

 

[PNkt]

I would agree that, at this point in time, it is difficult to pick between Sea the Stars and Frankel. I don't buy into the view that a horse needs to be visually impressive to be very, very good. Some horses do just enough, and Sea the Stars was one of them. You could always see that there was more in the tank.

Times mean little in our racing: we are not "speed, speed, speed" as the Americans and, to a certain extent, the Aussies are. Our tracks all differ so much and ground conditions can vary wildly from year to year so to compare times on a like for like basis is pointless.

At the moment, as of the end of last year, I'd say Sea the Stars JUST had the edge over Frankel due to his impressive campaign (6 G1s in 6 months) and the variety of distances he raced over. However, should Frankel prove this year that he too can thrive at a new trip, even if he loses his unbeaten record, then for me he will be the superior horse.

As far as the future and stud goes, Frankel will probably command a higher fee than Sea the Stars regardless of what happens this year. He was a Champion Juvenile and a Champion Three Year Old; he is by the reigning Champion Sire and his dam is a daughter of a Champion Broodmare sire.

Sea the Stars has undoubtedly an impressive pedigree, but the one question mark hanging over him is that his sire, Cape Cross, is yet to prove himself as a sire of sires.
It took Sadler's Wells many years to establish himself as a sire of sires, In the Wings was his breakthrough son (siring SINGSPIEL), and of course he went on to produce some amazing sons capable of siring good horses, but the jury is still out on Cape Cross at the moment.

 

[Cyclonic]

I've worn a tea cosy.

 

[Ron]

Princess, I have to disagree with your statement regarding times. They are not totally pointless. As I said, taken in isolation they most definitely are; but I thought I had worded it carefully enough to suggest that in certain circumstances they could be meaningful. I could give some examples where there could be little doubt that times can be pretty conclusive as to which is the better horse of 2; but I'm not sure that would be a good idea.

 

[Zenyatta]

Princess, I have to disagree with your statement regarding times. They are not totally pointless. As I said, taken in isolation they most definitely are; but I thought I had worded it carefully enough to suggest that in certain circumstances they could be meaningful. I could give some examples where there could be little doubt that times can be pretty conclusive as to which is the better horse of 2; but I'm not sure that would be a good idea.

I am no great fans of time analysis but I do think they can be a useful guide in some situations if treated carefully.

Frankel's Guineas effort was phenomenal on the clock which is one of the reasons why his Timeform rating is so high. He went at G1 5f sprinter pace for 5f and then kept going, and into a headwind.

 

[PNkt]

Sorry Ron, I worded my post badly and it was in no way aimed at you, I was just spouting off! I agree that times certainly do have a place in judging horses, but my point was that some people will argue that Horse A is inferior to Horse B based purely on a race time without taking into account ground conditions, the way the race was run etc.

It would be like people saying that RAPID REDUX is the best horse to have raced for 50 odd years because he is unbeaten in 22 consecutive starts. It does not take into account that most of those races were claiming races run on backwater tracks!

 

[Zenyatta]

It would be like people saying that RAPID REDUX is the best horse to have raced for 50 odd years because he is unbeaten in 22 consecutive starts. It does not take into account that most of those races were claiming races run on backwater tracks!

I take it you are not a fan then PN?!

 

[PNkt]

All credit to the horse for bringing up such an impressive winning streak, but talk of him being made Horse of the Year is just plain daft!

I heard that there was an investigation being carried out into one of his races due to several horse being very late withdrawls. It seems his races have a higher than average "scratch" rate - draw your own conclusions!

 

[Ron]

If I recall, I think I was unbeaten at school. Then................................