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Posted 2015-01-26 22:33:29  
IRISH PEDIGREES LEAD 2YO AND 3YO IN WORLD RANKINGS

The 2014 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Ratings were announced on Wednesday, with winners in the two and three year old divisions dominated by Irish pedigrees. Irish stallions sired all three joint-Champion three-year-olds in Australia, Kingman and The Grey Gatsby (IRE). Aidan O’Brien’s dual-Derby winner Australia was his father Galileo (IRE)’s top performer in a year that he once again led the stallion table. The Grey Gatsby (IRE) brought another Coolmore stallion into the mix in the form of Mastercraftsman (IRE), who also sired top extended distance three-year-old Kingston Hill. Kingman‘s fantastic year of four Group 1 wins brought Irish National Stud resident Invincible Spirit (IRE) into the top stallion table to sit in third, in a year where five of the top ten stallions in the world were Irish-based.

Taghrooda, who won two Group 1 contests in 2014, was given a rating of 123, making the daughter of Sea The Stars (IRE) the top-rated three year old filly in the world. Aidan O’Brien’s Marvellous (IRE) took top honours in her age’s mile category, while the fillies’ three-year-old sprint division was led by Mecca’s Angel (IRE), a daughter of Dark Angel (IRE), who stands with her breeders, Yeomanstown Stud.

G Force (IRE)’s win in the Haydock Sprint Cup earned him the title of Champion Three-Year-Old Sprinter, boosting the resurgence of his stallion Tamayuz of Derrinstown Stud, who also sired Prix Maurice de Gheest second Thawaany (IRE), who led the older fillies in the sprint category. Edward Lynam and Sabena Power’s homebred Slade Power (IRE) took top honours as Champion European Sprinter across all age brackets, and his contribution to the Irish bloodstock industry will continue next year as he begins his stallion career at Darley’s Kildangan Stud.

The intermediate distance division of older horses was dominated by Irish-bred horses from across the globe, where three of the four horses rated 123 were Irish-bred and by Irish stallions. Aidan O’Brien’s Magician (IRE) represented Irish trainers, while Hong Kong champions Designs On Rome (IRE) and Military Attack (IRE) flew the flag for Ireland abroad. Within Europe, Olympic Glory (IRE) was crowned champion miler at a rating of 122, while Danehill Dancer (IRE)’s Esoterique (IRE) and Dalakhani’s Integral topped the fillies’ category. Mick Winters’ brave Missunited (IRE) was awarded top older filly over extended distances, a deserved honour after a near-miss in the Ascot Gold Cup and a win in Glorious Goodwood’s Lillie Langtry Stakes.

With Irish-breds having being crowned Champion Two Year Old 8 times in the past 10 years, Ireland has long been a force in producing precocious types. This year was no different, with the Ballylinch Stud-bred Dewhurst Stakes winner Belardo (IRE) earning the 2014 title, while ‘Queen of Speed’ Tiggy Wiggy (IRE) and Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Found (IRE) leading the fillies at a rating of 117- the highest rating since 2008. There is tremendous strength in depth in these rankings, with 15 horses rated 115 or above- the highest number since 2009- the year St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) was crowned king. An impressive 11 of these were Irish-bred horses, and 12 were by Irish-based stallions. Ireland’s first season sires led the way in 2014, with Ballylinch’s Lope De Vega taking the top spot. Coolmore’s Starspangledbanner enjoyed much success from few progeny, best shown by Noel O’Callaghan’s homebred Anthem Alexander (IRE) who was crowned second highest-rated two-year-old filly, while Prix Morny winner The Wow Signal (IRE) was the best of his sons. Coolmore Stud’s Rip Van Winkle (IRE) and Tally-Ho Stud’s Zebedee were other top first crop sires, best-represented by Dick Whittington (IRE) and Ivawood (IRE) respectively.

Destination Europe has reason to celebrate the results of the world rankings, as of the top ten rated horses in the world, there were five Europeans, three Asians, one North American and one South African horse. 2014 was a year where Europe showcased the many top-class breeders, trainers, horsemen and stallions that it has to offer and who continue to dominate the horse racing world. 

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