QUALITY ROAD (USA) [126] sets the pace in the race to be the top racehorse in the world in 2010, according to the May edition of the World Thoroughbred Rankings, compiled by the panel of handicappers/racing secretaries affiliated to the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities).
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World Thoroughbred Rankings
Top 13 horses
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Rank
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Horse
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Rating
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Trained
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1
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QUALITY ROAD (USA)
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126
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USA
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2
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BYWORD (GB)
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124
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FR
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2
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PACO BOY (IRE)
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124
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GB
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2
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ZENYATTA (USA)
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124
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USA
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5
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ESKENDEREYA (USA)
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123
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USA
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5
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FAME AND GLORY (GB)
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123
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IRE
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5
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GOLDIKOVA (IRE)
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123
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FR
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5
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VISION D'ETAT (FR)
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123
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FR
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9
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CANFORD CLIFFS (IRE)
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122
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GB
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9
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DREAM JOURNEY (JPN)
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122
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JPN
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9
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GOOD BA BA (USA)
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122
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HK
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9
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MAKFI (GB)
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122
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FR
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9
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SACRED KINGDOM (AUS)
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122
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HK
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The American-based four-year-old achieved his rating with a 12.75L victory in the Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park in February, and he is set to try to build on that performance in the Metropolitan Mile Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park on Monday.
The leading three-year-old on dirt is ESKENDEREYA (USA) [123], on the strength of his 9.75 length romp in the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct in early April. It is a great shame for his connections and all racing fans that he has been sidelined by injury.
The unbeaten ZENYATTA (USA) [124] remains at the top of the tree on artificial surfaces. Her victory on her seasonal debut in the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita in March served notice that she had lost none of her sparkle, and she followed that up with a dominant victory in the Apple Blossom Invitational (G1) at Oaklawn Park the following month.
On turf, the joint leaders in the latest list are BYWORD (GB) [124] and PACO BOY (IRE) [124]. Paco Boy won the bet365 Mile (G2) at Sandown Park for the second successive year on his comeback in April, and followed that up with an impressive success in the totesport.com Lockinge (G1) at Newbury earlier this month. Following victories in a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte and the Prix du Muguet (G2) at Saint-Cloud, Byword lost his unbeaten record in 2010 when runner-up in the Prix d’Ispahan (G1) at Longchamp, but there was no disgrace in that defeat, as he found only GOLDIKOVA (IRE) [123], the highest rated filly/mare of 2009, too good for him. Conceding the mighty mare 1.5kg, he went down by half a length, in the process putting up the best performance of his career to date.
Another star of 2009 to show that he means business again this year is FAME AND GLORY (GB) [123], who was rated the joint fourth best horse of last year with Zenyatta. Fame And Glory did not need to be at his peak to win the G3 High Chaparral EBF Mooresbridge at the Curragh by 5 lengths early this month, and he followed that up with a 7 length success in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the same course three weeks later.
The joint top three-year-olds on turf at this stage are CANFORD CLIFFS (IRE) [122] and MAKFI (GB) [122]. Makfi retained his unbeaten record in style with victory in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket at the beginning of May, when he had Canford Cliffs 1.75 lengths behind him, but the latter stepped up on that effort when scoring an easy 3 length success in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) at the Curragh.
At Kranji, LIZARD’S DESIRE (SAF) [121] gained revenge on his very narrow Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) conqueror GLORIA DE CAMPEAO (BRZ) [120] by half a length in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1). On the same card, GREEN BIRDIE (NZ) [118] registered a personal best with his victory in the KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1).
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