There was no change in the top five in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, released Thursday, but last weekend's Classic winners on both sides of the Atlantic made their debut appearances in the top 10.
By virtue of his convincing victory in the GI Kentucky Derby, Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) was assigned a rating of 122 to rank as the highest-rated 3-year-old on the ratings as a joint sixth alongside the world's top-rated sprinter Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). Always Dreaming was flown from Kentucky to Maryland this past Tuesday and is now stabled at Pimlico Race Course as he prepares for the GI Preakness S. in nine days' time.
Several hours prior to the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home” in Louisville, top European sophomores took the Rowley Mile in Newmarket for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) provided trainer Aidan O'Brien a record eighth renewal, validating 6-4 favoritism. The homebred, last year's champion 2-year-old in Europe, made his debut on the WBBR as one of a quartet of horses on a rating of 120. With concerns about his ability to see out a 12-furlong trip, Churchill was not immediately confirmed for the G1 Investec Derby.
'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Dubai World Cup hero Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) remained atop the WBBR on a rating of 134, two pounds clear of Australian supermare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), who is spelling for a spring campaign geared towards a third consecutive win in the G1 Cox Plate. Plans for Arrogate remain fluid, with the GI TVG Pacific Classic a longer-term objective. World Cup second Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), tied on 123 with G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. runner-up Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire) and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling), is being pointed for a return to the races in the GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs June 17. Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) recent winner of the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) followed Always Dreaming and Chautauqua on a rating of 121.
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