With Asian Racing Federation jurisdictions currently in major black type racing recess the summer season in the UK and Europe has dominated the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse rankings for 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January and 5th August 2018 issued this week.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Poet’s Word (IRE), rated at 129 is now the co-second highest rated horse behind Australia’s Winx (AUS), along with the retired Gun Runner (USA) [129].
The improved ranking of Poet’s Word does set up a potential Asian Racing Federation top-line rating clash in Australia on October 27th with both Poet’s Word and Winx nominated for the 2018 A$5m, Group 1 WFA Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Poet’s Word improved his rating to 129 from 125 by taking the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by a neck over Crystal Ocean (GB) [128] at Ascot. The pair left the field nine lengths behind. Poet’s Word came into the race having won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1), while Crystal Ocean, who improved from 120 to 128, had taken the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) in his previous start.
Meanwhile, during the Glorious Goodwood meeting, two runners put in notable performances and are now ranked. Battaash (IRE) [125] won the King George Qatar Stakes (G2) by four lengths, and Lightning Spear (GB) [120] was victorious by 1 ½ lengths in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1).
There is also the possibility that some of these European performers might be seen racing at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on December 9th, 2018.
Winx will commence her 2018 Australian spring campaign in the race renamed after her, the A$500,000, Group 1 WFA Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18th.
