Asian Racing Federation countries were well represented when six-year-old mare Winx (AUS), trained by Chris Waller at Rosehill in Sydney, was confirmed as the best Turf horse for 2017 when she came second to the Arrogate (USA) in the 2017 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse rankings for the second year in a row announced in London on Tuesday.
The Bob Baffert trained Arrogate was rated at 134 by international handicappers according to the performance of horses around the world to head the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Winx took second place with 132, followed by Cracksman (GB) and Gun Runner (USA), who were tied at 130.
The announcements were made at ceremony hosted by the Swiss watchmaking brand LONGINES and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) at Claridge’s Hotel. LONGINES timed Arrogate’s victory in the 2017 Dubai World Cup at Meydan.
Arrogate’s owner Juddmonte Farms Inc., represented by Lord Teddy Grimthorpe, and trainer Bob Baffert were presented with a unique LONGINES watch and an iconic LONGINES Equus Crystal Vase.
Winx, who occupied third place in 2016, is currently the richest horse in Australian history. She won all nine of her starts in 2017. Winx’s regular jockey, Hugh Bowman, claimed the 2017 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey title, a recognition he received last December during the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner.
Other Asian Racing Federation runners to be rated in the top 20 for 2017 include Japan’s Horse of the Year Kitasan Black (JPN) on 124, Japan Cup winner Cheval Black (JPN) on 123 and Humidor (NZ), Chautauqua (AUS) and Satono Crown (JPN) who shared 122.
- Asian Racing Federation countries featured prominently in the Top 100 Group 1 races with the Dubai Racing Club’s Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (2000m) the third highest rated race. The UAE has three races in the Top 100.
- Australia has 22 races with the China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill and the LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick the fifth and sixth races in the Top 100.
- Japan has 12 races with the Japan Cup in association with LONGINES (2400m) at Tokyo their highest rated at 12th immediately followed by the Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m) at Kyoto and the Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (2500m) at Nakayama.
- South Africa’s three leading races, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, Sun Met and Durban July, were all included in the Top 100.
- Nine of Hong Kong’s 11 Group 1 contests achieved inclusion in the list of Top 100 Group 1 Races, positioning fifth among all jurisdictions. The Chairman’s Sprint Prize, in only its second year as a Group 1 race, ranked highest of Hong Kong’s elite level contests.
Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our Group 1 races had a strong showing, with nine of our 11 elite contests included in the Top 100. All in all, the year-end rankings once again highlight Hong Kong’s firm footing in the top echelon of world horseracing.”
In a further award the 2017 LONGINES World’s Best Horse Race went to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which was also the inaugural winner in 2015, with a 126.25 rating.
View the complete 2017 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings www.ifhaonline.org/resources/WTRRankings/LWBRR.asp?batch=47
