Is it history in the making, with Japan and Hong Kong trained horses being first, second, third, fourth and equal fifth in the June issue of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
In fact, the 2022 Japan Horse of The Year in Equinox still holds his top 129 Ranking from the March issue on winning the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic of 2410m on turf, his only start this year.
In scoring an all-the-way win in course-record time of 2:22.65 first-up from a 3 month spell, Equinox was again ridden by French expatriate Christophe Lemaire for Miho based Tetsuka Kimura.
Owned and bred by Silk Racing, he’s from the first crop of exceptional new sire Kitasan Black, the 2016 and 2017 Japan Horse of The Year from the winning Gr3 King Halo mare Chateau Blanche.
Also un-moved on 125 since being first rated on 5 March this year for winning the Hong Kong Gold Cup, Golden Sixty now went onto claim The Stewards Cup of 1600m, with jockey Vincent Ho.
The winner of 25 of 29 starts and HK$26.7m for owner Stanley Leung, he is a 7yo gelding by Medaglia d’Oro, being a $300,000 2017 NZ Ready to Run buy and a $120,000 MM Gold Coast Yearling.
In being undefeated in six starts this year, Lucky Sweynesse moved into the ‘Top 5’ having won the Sha Tin Vase of 1200m for Zac Purton and trainer Manfred Man, having been rated on a 124.
In previously winning three Group 1 races, Lucky Sweynesse is a 4yo gelding and a $90,000 2020 NZ Ready to Run graduate, being by Sweynesse from the winning Red Clubs mare Madonna Mia.
In Japan, the Toru Kunita trained Titleholder retrains his 124 fourth-placed for winning the in the Nikkei Sho of 2500m in March, but in April was pulled-up when contesting the Tenno Sho Spring.
A dual Group 1 winner last year as a 4yo, and a former Japan St Leger winner, Titleholder was a ¥21.6m Japan Select Sale foal, being by Japan Champion 3yo Colt Duramente, tracing to Golden Horn.
What for now, that the Winning Post at Epsom may no longer be the most valuable real estate in the racing world, as this year’s Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin is rated equal eight on a 122.
In producing a true classic contest Auguste Rodin was awarded a ranking of 122 for his half-length victory King of Steel, rated 120, and was ridden by Ryan Moore for Aiden O’Brien and Coolmore.
An abject failure in the 2000 Guineas, which may have been too short for him, and now there is talk of even the St Leger Stakes of 1¾m, or will the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe of 2400m be his target.
Bred by Coolmore, and winner of the Futurity Trophy, he is by Japan’s champion sire Deep Impact and the first foal of triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron, a full- sister to Magical by Galileo.
The unbeaten Ace Impact was rated 123, one above Auguste Rodin, for winning the Prix de Jockey-Club, the French Derby, in being his first start at Group 1 level for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.
Sired by Frankel’s highest rated runner Cracksman, the Coronation Cup winner, he is from the Stakes placed Anabaa Blue mare Absolutely Me, and was a €75,000 2020 Arqana Select Sale Yearling.
Across the Atlantic in Kentucky, it was the Gustavo Delgado trained Mage who was rated 119 for taking out the 149th Kentucky Derby of 1m2f, before third to National Treasure in the Preakness.
A grand-son of the great Curlin, through his 2027 champion 2YO Colt Good Magic, he was a $235,000 2021 September Yearling Sale graduate, being from the Big Brown stakes winning mare Puca.
In Japan it was Tastiera who is also rated 119 for winning the Tokyo Yushun, the Japan Derby of 2400m on turf, while Liberty Island was awarded 120 for the Yushun Himba, the Japanese Oaks, having also won the Oka Sho, Japanese 1000 Guineas, in April.
