‘Flightline, 139, who closed out his undefeated career in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, maintains his commanding lead in the ninth Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.’
In being the World’s Best Dirt Horse on 139 for his 19¼ length victory in the TVG Pacific Classic, he scored by a record 8¼ length in the $6m Classic over Olympiad, who rose to 124 from 120.
With Olympiad previously winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup for Bill Mott and in the hands of Junior Alvarado, it was the third placed Bob Baffert 3yo Taiba who improved to 123 from 122.
Now as the highest ever World Racehorse Ranking awarded for a dirt horse, the 4yo Flightline is 1lb below the great Frankel on 140, with Cigar in 1996 having been the previous highest on 135.
In retiring to Lane’s End Farm, Kentucky at a high $200,000 stud fee, Flightline is winner of all six race starts and $4.6m in stakes, having also won the Malibu Stakes at three for trainer John Sadler.
In addition, at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, part owners West Point Thoroughbreds sold a 2.5% owner’s interest for $4.5m, having previously been a $1m Fasig-Tipton yearling.
Purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds at The Saratoga Sale in 2019 consigned by Lane’s End, Flightline raced in the green and white of Hronis Racing, plus breeder Summer Wind Equine.
Now the best of his breed-shaping sire Tapit, he’s from Grade 3 winning American Oaks and Starlet Stakes second placed Feathered, by Indian Charlie, the family of Finder’s Fee, Fantastic Find.
Although the British Horse of The Year Baaeed was unbeaten when fourth in the Champion Stakes, he retained his 135 Ranking to finish the season as the World’ Best Intermediate Turf Racehorse.
Previously the season’s Best Racehorse leader on 128, he jumped to 135 on winning the Juddmonte International for trainer William Haggas, owner Shadwell Estates and jockey Jim Crowley.
In also winning Sussex Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and Lockinge Stakes, plus the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Prix de Moulin last year at three, he retires to the The Nunnery Stud in Norfolk.
Sired by the 2000 Guineas, The Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor Sea The Stars, he’s from the stakes winning Kingmambo mare Aghareed, with her dam the dual Gr1 winner Luhudood.
Heading ‘down under,’ it’s the 2021 World Champion Sprinter in Nature Strip who is also the 2022 Champion Sprinter on a 126 Ranking, which also has him third as the World’s Best Racehorse.
Although beaten in his last two starts, with a head second in the Champions Sprint and fourth in the $15m Everest, he’s held his ranking awarded for a classic Royal Lodge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
In also winning the TJ Smith Stakes, and a ‘nose’ second in the Black Caviar Lightning for trainer Chris Waller, his jockey James McDonald is unbeatable on 142 as the World’s Champion Jockey.
Also from the Lexington 39th Breeders’ Cup, the BC Classic fifth Life Is Good and non-finisher Epicentre retain their 125 ranking, while Rebel’s Romance is 122 for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Also on 125 is the Prix du Jockey-club winner on being second in the Prix de l’Arc de Trtriomphe, while Olympiad is joined by Kyprios, Pyledriver, Titleholder and Torquator Tasso on 124.
Westminster is up to 122 on winning both the Grosser Preis von Berlin and Preis von Europa, while in Japan Equinox is 123 for running down Panthalassa, 121, in an exciting Tenno Sho (Autumn).
In addition, Bay Bridge rose to 122 from 120 in defeating Adayar, 121, by a half-length in the Qipco Champion Stakes, with My Prospero, 121, being a nose third, while new comer California Spangle is 121 for winning the Celebration Cup and Sha Tin Trophy in Hong Kong.
