Search
where the horse is always the hero
Article Item  
Posted 2009-10-14 20:14:44  
TOP HORSES OVER PAST 25 YEARS - PICK YOURS?

 After the retirement of Sea the Stars, one of the greatest horses the world, it is apt to take a look at the list of top rated horses who have graced the world over the past 25 years. (Picture: Curlin)

It is intersting to note that the highest rated over the past 25 years was the Dancing Brave by some margin at 141 rated 4 points clear of Peintre Celebre and Generous.

We would like to hear your comments on the great horse over the past 25 years, leave your comment in the comments section below the article.

Note non-European horses were only included from 1995 onwards

Year   3 year olds   Rating   Older Horses   Rating
2009   Sea The Stars   135   Goldikova   130
2008   New Approach   130   Curlin   130
2007   Authorized   129   Manduro   131
2006   Bernadini & Discreet Cat   128   Invasor   129
2005   Hurricane Run   130   Ghostzapper   128
2004   Smarty Jones   128   Ghostzapper   130
2003   Dalakhani   132   Hawk Wing   133
2002   Rock of Gibraltar   128   Marienbard   127
2001   Point Given   130   Sakhee   133
2000   Sinndar   132   Dubai Millenium   134
1999   Montjeu   135   Daylami   135
1998   Desert Prince   128   Skip Away   131
1997   Peintre Celebre   137   Pilsudski   134
1996   Helissio   134   Cigar   135
1995   Lammtarra   130   Cigar   132
1994   Balanchine   130   Maroof   128
1993   Zafonic   130   Opera House   129
1992   Rodrigo De Triano   127   Selkirk   128
1991   Generous   137   Priolo & Epervier Bleu   126
1990   Dayjur   133   Old Vic   130
1989   Zilzal & Old Vic   134   Carroll House   128
1988   Warning   133   Miesque   132
1987   Reference Point   135   Mtoto   134
1986   Dancing Brave   141   Shardari   132
1985   Slip Anchor   135   Rainbow Quest   133
Rate: Views: 1217
Email link to a friend | Printable Version
Text Comments
Displaying 10 Results
Robert, South Africa, (2009-06-13 09:43:03) (846 days ago)
My choice out of the above is Sea The Stars, it's not easy to top 6 Grade 1s in 6 months.. However, the next comment is very debatable, I think if Barbaro had not broken down and actually got to finish his racing career he would have been top of the list. He won the 2006 Kentucy Derby as he liked. As i said very debatable of course. :)
Christiaan, South Africa, (2009-02-17 15:13:43) (846 days ago)
If you look at the races he has run in and how the form of those races had worked out then there is no doubt in my mind that Sea the Stars is one fo the all time greats. He was rated on a race figure in races he was never fully extended in (not even close in my opinion). Also the quality of horse he has time and time again DESTROYED was top class! Rip van Winkle is one of Ballydoyle's best ever. Horses like Delgator, Paco Boy, Conduit, Fame and Glory.....These are all top class animals, they could never come close to the champ!! It will be interesting to see how the Europenas run at the Breeders cup. If Rip reigns supreme there and perhaps the Europeans do well in the classic then there is no doubt in my mind that Sea the Stars can be classified in the top 5 race horses of ALL TIME!!!!
Webmaster, South Africa, (2009-02-17 18:19:55) (846 days ago)
Also note that he beat a horse that ran 2nd in the ARC 3 times in a row - 2 x Gp1 winner Youmzain - a seasoned international campaigner and an ultra consistent horse who placed 2nd 7 times and 3rd 7 times in a career of 26 starts. He won 6 times beating many a good horse over the past 3 years.
kevin, South Africa, (2009-02-20 09:41:15) (846 days ago)
what are these ratings? because some of these are wrong. Are mixing IFHA, Timeform and BHB ratings all into 1. The only rating that counts is TIMEFORM. They've been doing this the longest and they are the most respected. Unfortunately pounds and lengths will never tell us how good a horse really is, because Sea the Stars was never truely extended in his races so what was he capable of? I think it's just great for the sport that this horse has come around. The perfect horse with the perfect pedigree.
Nirmal, India, (2009-04-11 16:03:37) (846 days ago)
i wonder how the ratings tell us who's the best out of all these greats? at the end of the day it boils down to what they have achieved on the racetrack and not what might have been - like STS going on to win the BC Classic or Manduro winning the Arc 2007 if he was not forced into a premature retirement.. its also easy to be overwhelmed by a recent phenomenon.. i personally have not seen much of those prior to 1997.. as much as i have been mesmerized by these top class horses, i`ve been wondering whether there could be a formula which would enable us to find out who's the best.. Zarkava, Dalakhani, STS, Giant`s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar have been campaigned only as 2 and 3 year old.. how can one compare generations? i would like to see ur inputs people? does anyone think on the same lines..
PRAVEEN, South Africa, (2009-02-18 09:23:23) (846 days ago)
NO RATING WILL TELL YOU WHO IS THE GREATEST - IT WILL BE ONLY BE ONE'S OPINION!! I WOULD PREFER TO MAKE A LIST OF THE GREATEST HORSE TO HAVE RACED IN SA MAINLY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW THE HORSES FROM ABROAD AS WELL I KNOW OUR LOCAL CHAMPIONS. BUT I WOULD PROBABLY SAY SEE THE STARS IF I HAD TO CHOOSE (ESPECIALLY AFTER HIS LAST WIN)
Jason Domingue, Mauritius, (2009-02-27 17:27:51) (845 days ago)
(1) SEA THE STARS - a horse of a lifetime!!! The greatest ever! (2) DUBAI MILLENNIUM - epic horse from 8-10 furlongs. Equally effective on both turf & dirt! (3) CIGAR - the heart of a champion!
Tian van Taak, South Africa, (2009-02-23 15:51:44) (845 days ago)
I think Sea The Stars never had the stiffest compitition , I do think that he is a great horse but I dont think he would have been as good as he was this season over all the distances he won, if we had an outstanding miler to (Like Rock of Gilbralta) take him on in the Guiness, or a truly Derby Horse like (Hawk Wing or Generous) to test his stamina. We had a group of good three yearolds that hold thier own but was no worldbeaters. The better threeyearolds of last year and older horses of last year all were retired or injured this season. I would still place Sea Thars in my top 10 but not number 1.
Raymond K Smith, South Africa, (2009-02-27 14:49:52) (751 days ago)
Empress Club, Harry's Charm and Spooks Sister!! Filly and Wolf Power, Horse Chestnut, Victory Moon, Jet Master followed by Pocket Power. Pocket Power made history but I do think we were deprived of Horse Chestnut, had he remained in SA.
Deelan, South Africa, (2009-02-18 07:02:25) (617 days ago)
Jagged Ice for me
Add Comment
Post Comment
  • International
    Displaying 10 ResultsSee All
    nz $1.75m colt rocks karaka premier sale7 days ago
    (242 views)

    It was a new day in every way on the second day of New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka Premier Sale t...

    View | Add Comment | 0 Comments
    frankel - world champion racehorse of 20112012-01-11
    (300 views)

    Frankel was named as the best horse in the world of 2011 according to the World Thoroughbred Rank...

    View | Add Comment | 6 Comments
    dubai joins global sprint challenge; new bonus structure unveiled2011-11-29
    (448 views)

    The 2012 Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) will be the most expansive yet as the series extends to 10...

    View | Add Comment | 0 Comments
    jimmy fortune: irish flair comes to s.a2011-11-10
    (373 views)

    Jimmy Fortune is an Irish thoroughbred jockey who apprenticed with Jim Bolger in Ireland. He will h...

    View | Add Comment | 2 Comments
    tom queally: big race jock in south africa 2011-11-09
    (406 views)

     Once you have sat on turf stars the likes of the mighty Frankel, Midday and Twice Over, you a...

    View | Add Comment | 3 Comments
    richard hughes: captain my captain, international hopes alive2011-11-09
    (551 views)

    Richard Hughes, the talented and controversial captain of the International Team to take on the S...

    View | Add Comment | 2 Comments
    jockey's international: jamie spencer on his way to south africa2011-11-08
    (395 views)

    Jamie Spencer is a legendary name in British racing and he is on his way to show off his riding ski...

    View | Add Comment | 1 Comments
    andrasch starke: german legend adds mechanical precision2011-11-07
    (429 views)

      South African racing fans will welcome the German master, Andreas Starke, to the tip of Afri...

    View | Add Comment | 1 Comments
    overseas riders announced for the citizen international jockeys’ challenge 2011-10-25
    (410 views)

    A formidable team of international jockeys will participate in The Citizen International Jockeys&rs...

    View | Add Comment | 1 Comments
    south africans fail to fire in canada as the fillies rule2011-10-17
    (441 views)

    All three South African trained horses, two from the Herman Brown stable and one from the Mike De ...

    View | Add Comment | 0 Comments