2010 WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS

Lizard’s Desire - 14th in World Thoroughbred Rankings
(Photo : Singapore Turf Club)

PORT ELIZABETH HAS ANOTHER CONTENDER

Just over a year ago, a graduate of the Summerhill paddocks, Paris Perfect, flew our flag in the richest race in the world, the Dubai World Cup, in finishing a gallant third to Well Armed, who the previous year had gotten a head in front  of our resident sire, A.P.Arrow, in the same event. This catapulted Paris Perfect, a previous Horse Of The Year in the Eastern Cape, into the upper echelons of the best racehorses in the world.

Current World Thoroughbred rankings, calculated to the end of May, reveal another East Cape graduate, Lizard’s Desire among the top twenty. In fact, he ranks at 14th. Knowing the international ratings prejudice against horses from the southern hemisphere, he might even be better than rated following his exceptional showings in this year’s edition of the Dubai World Cup, Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Singapore Airlines Cup a fortnight ago.

Given that he was a long way behind the top horses in this country (having won the East Cape Derby (Gr.3), and run a well beaten second in the KZN Derby (Gr.2), we wonder where an animal like Pocket Power would rank if the world were to turn its radar screen in this direction. For that matter, when it comes to three year olds, and with all the attention on England’s Epsom Derby, and America’s Belmont Stakes this weekend, ask yourself where the likes of Pierre Jourdan, Noordhoek Flyer, Bravura, Irish Flame and Bold Silvano would stand with their international contemporaries.

Click for detailed analysis…

THE WORLD THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS
1 December 2009 - 23 May 2010

#	Rating	Horse	Country	YOF	Sex	Trainer
1	126	QUALITY ROAD	USA	2006	C	Todd Pletcher
2	124	BYWORD	GB	2006	C	Andre Fabre
2	124	PACO BOY	IRE	2005	H	Richard Hannon
2	124	ZENYATTA	USA	2004	M	John Shirreffs
5	123	ESKENDEREYA	USA	2007	C	Todd Pletcher
5	123	FAME AND GLORY	GB	2006	C	Aidan O’Brein
5	123	GOLDIKOVA	IRE	2005	M	Freddy Head
5	123	VISION D’ETAT	FR	2005	H	Eric Libaud
9	122	CRANFORD CLIFFS	IRE	2007	C	Richard Hannon
9	122	DREAM JOURNEY	JPN	2004	H	Yasutoshi Ikee
9	122	GOOD BA BA	USA	2002	G	Derek Cruz
9	122	MAKFI	GB	2007	C	Mikel Delzangles
9	122	SACRED KINGDOM	AUS	2003	G	Ricky Yiu
14	121	LIZARD’S DESIRE	SAF	2006	G	Mike de Kock
15	120	COLLECTION	IRE	2005	G	John Moore
15	120	GLORIA DA CAMPEAO	BRZ	2003	H	Pascal Bary
15	120	KINSALE KING	USA	2005	H	Carl O’Callaghan
15	120	LOPE DE VEGA	IRE	2007	C	Andre Fabre
15	120	PRESVIS	GB	2004	G	Luca Cumani
15	120	SPANISH MOON	USA	2004	H	Sir Michael Stoute
15	120	SUPER SAVER	USA	2007	C	Todd Pletcher

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities