Black Caviar, Treve Top Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

BLACK CAVIAR, TREVE RATED WORLD’S BEST 
Australian sprinting sensation Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) and France’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) share top billing on the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings of 2013 at a mark of 130. The now-retired Black Caviar achieved that rating twice last year, first going 1000 meters in the G1 Lightning S. at Flemington Feb. 16, and again in her final career outing in Randwick’s G1 T.J. Smith S. Apr. 13. The then 3-year-old filly Treve, winner of the G1 Prix de Diane earlier in the season, was assigned a 130 rating for her runaway five-length Arc score for owner Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani and trainer and trainer Criquette Head-Maarek. This marks the first time since the commencement of the International Classifications in 1977 that the top two rated horses in the world have both been female, and the first time a Southern Hemisphere-based horse has topped the rankings. 
Reigning U.S. Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry)’s repeat victory in the GI Woodbine Mile tied with former Japanese Horse of the Year Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn})’s eight-length decimation of the G1 Arima Kinen Dec. 22 as the second-best performances in the world last year at a rating of 129. It was another dead heat for third, with Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn})’s authoritative repeat victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint deemed the equal of Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger})’s G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S. victory at 128. A quintet of performances were ranked 125: Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz})’s win in the G1 Dubai World Cup, Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno)’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic victory, Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire})’s G1 Sussex S. score, and a pair of performances by Toronado’s stablemate Olympic Glory (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}): his win in the G1 Qipco Queen Elizabeth II S., and his flying second-place finish behind Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. 
Sixteen additional performances by American-based horses made the top 50 on rankings. Fort Larned (E Dubai) was assigned 124 for his G1 Stephen Foster victory, while Game on Dude (Awesome Again) achieved the same mark for a trio of victories last year: the Grade I Santa Anita H., Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. Mucho Macho Man also achieved that mark for his GI Awesome Again victory, while Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song) was rated 124 for his Breeders’ Cup Classic second. Point of Entry (Dynaformer) and Will Take Charge received marks of 123 for their GI Gulfstream Park Turf H. and GI Clark H. victories, respectively, while Ron the Greek (Full Mandate)’s GI Jockey Club Gold Cup win achieved 122. Beholder (Henny Hughes)’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff victory was assigned 121, while five further performances were ranked 120: Orb (Malibu Moon)’s GI Kentucky Derby victory, Sahara Sky (Pleasant Tap)’s GI Met Mile score, Za Approval (Ghostzapper)’s GI Breeders’ Cup mile second, and Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior)’s GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Beldame Invitational victories. 
Three additional Breeders’ Cup performances made the top 50: Declaration of War (War Front)’s Classic third, Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})’s GI Breeders’ Cup Turf victory and Indy Point (Arg) (Indygo Shiner)’s Turf fourth. 
“2013 was truly an exceptional and exciting year in global horse racing, where a number of brilliant performances were achieved on the racetrack and key partnerships and initiatives were undertaken by horse racing bodies,” said Louis Romanet, Chairman of the IFHA. “One of the more important developments was the partnership between Longines and the IFHA, which saw the presentation of the first Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit [presented to Jim Bolger], and the inaugural Longines World’s Best Racehorse Ceremony, held in Hong Kong.” 
Garry O’Gorman, Co-Chairman of the World Rankings Supervisory Committee, described how the rankings reflect the rising internationalization of racing: “The global nature of our sport is mirrored directly in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings,” he said. “For 2013, no less than 20 countries are represented, and the top 10 racehorses in the world are equally diverse, being comprised of four horses trained in Europe, three horses trained in North America, two horses trained in Asia and one horse trained in Australia.” 
The IFHA’s Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are compiled by racing officials and handicappers representing the five continents. The rankings are based on the performance of horses in elite races during the specified time period, and they also take into account the quality of the opposition and the achievements of each horse. The rankings are published at regular intervals throughout the year, and culminate in this year end ranking released each January. For a full list of all performances worldwide ranked 115 or higher last year, CLICK HERE. For a breakdown of the leaders by age group, sex, distance and surface, CLICK HERE.