World Class : the best of the best.

Paco Boy set to challenge top European milers

WORLD CLASS: an analysis of the best performances of last week according to Racing Post Ratings

PACO BOY was a clear third best in the race to become champion miler of Europe last season, but there is a growing belief that he could shake-up the pecking order this time round.

Last year Richard Hannon's colt was a couple of lengths adrift of Goldikova and Rip Van Winkle on RPRs, the big two having each posted huge marks of 131, which rather overshadowed Paco Boy's peak of 126.

Though that star duo should again provide the benchmark this season, connections of Paco Boy are adamant that he has returned better than ever and, with race-fitness on his side, he could be set to cause an stir in the first ever clash between the big three in next month's Queen Anne Stakes.

It was in last season's Queen Anne that Richard Hannon's colt first gained recognition as a top class miler, seeing off Ascot specialist Cesare by a length-and-a-half to register his first Group 1 victory at the trip.

The following month he was beaten two-and-a-half lengths by Rip Van Winkle in the Sussex Stakes, and after that his season was cut short, with team Hannon reporting he returned lame and giving him a break before preparing him for a 2010 campaign.

That lengthy spell off the track may have been the making of him, as connections were unanimous that he has returned a better horse at the age of five.

Though hehas not quite backed up their assertions on the figures, he has scored quite cosily against lesser opposition on both recent starts and could be open to further improvement when he comes up against tougher opponents.

He was coasting on the bit in the Lockinge Stakes until deep inside the final furlong, when Richard Hughes asked him to quicken. Within seconds he had taken four lengths out of the Henry Cecil-trained Group 1 winner Lord Shanakill (114), who eventually finished third.

It is unlikely to be the strongest Group 1 contest run this year and the bare form is unspectacular, with Group 3 winner Ouqba (122) finishing just three-quarters of a length off the winner.

Paco Boy (126+) was entitled to score as he did, as he has a peak RPR of 127 from 2008, but allowing for the way he travelled into the race, it is easy to see why people are beginning to believe he could be heading for the top.

One thing that could sway things his way in the Queen Anne is that neither of the big two goes particularly well fresh (most of Aidan O'Brien's tend to benefit from a run and Goldikova has been beaten on her seasonal return for the last two years), but even if both turn up short of a gallop he will likely need a career best RPR to land such a hot contest.

At the current odds (he is favourite) Paco Boy rates a no bet for the Queen Anne, as he still ranks third on the form book and has over two lengths to find with Rip Van Winkle, but if the son of Desert Style is, as connections suggest, an improved horse this term, the Queen Anne looks like his best shot of bringing down the giant stars of France and Ireland before they hit their 'A' game.

One interesting thing to note about Paco Boy is that excuses could be made for almost every defeat in his career, due either to the ground or distance, and if you strip those out, his only 'legitimate' defeat came at the hooves of Rip Van Winkle in the Sussex Stakes.

Another who has had his fair share of excuses is Lookin At Lucky, who managed to land a much deserved Classic success in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

A beaten favourite in both the Santa Anita and KentuckyDerbies when things didn't go his way, the colt finally saw the benefit of a clear passage down the outer at Pimlico to register a career best RPR of 121+.

A figure that high does not do justice to his impressive cv, which includes him finishing last year as champion juvenile, as well as a total of four Grade 1 wins, but he never seems to win by far and there is not one piece of form which could rate any higher.

Perhaps in a truer-run contest he will be able to show precisely what he is capable of, since, when stripping out all of his excuses and leaving only the races he has had a reasonable chance of winning, he is still effectively unbeaten.

A solid run from third-placed Jackson Bend (118) provided another boost to the now retired Eskendereya's Fountain Of Youth win, the RPR for which has been raised to 123+.

Over in Singapore, Lizard's Desire confirmed the promise he showed when staying on for second in the Dubai World Cup by overhauling Gloria De Campeao (122) in the Singapore Airlines International Cup.

Mike De Kock's charge scored by half-a-length in the valuable 1m2f event, posting an RPR of 123+.

With one eye on the future, there was another noteworthy performer in action at Kranji on the weekend, in the form of Better Than Ever.

The southern hemisphere three-year-old has won all nine career starts, including Friday's Singapore Guineas, and has already drawn some lofty comparisons.

TOP OF THE CLASS: Paco Boy 126+

Richard Hannon (GB)

Lockinge Stakes, 1m, Newbury, 15 May
OVERALL WORLD TOP TEN
1 Quality Road (US)
Donn Handicap
128 D
2. Harbinger (GB) Ormonde Stakes 126 T
Paco Boy (GB)
Lockinge Stakes 126 T
4. Kinsale King (US)
Golden Shaheen 124 A
Super Saver (US) Kentucky Derby 124 D
Zenyatta (US) Santa Margarita Invitational 124 A
7. Danleigh (AUS)
George Ryder 123 T
Eskendereya (US)
Fountain Of Youth 123 D
Espoir City (JAP)
February Stakes 123 D

Fame And Glory (Ire) Mooresbridge Stakes 123 T
Lizard's Desire (SA)
International Cup 123 T
Makfi (FR) 2,000 Guineas 123 T
Manifest (GB)
Yorkshire Cup 123 T
Spanish Moon (GB)
Sheema Classic
123 T

D = dirt; A = all-weather; T= turf
TOP DIRT PERFORMERS
1. Quality Road (US)
Donn Handicap 128
2. Super Saver (US) Kentucky Derby 124
3. Eskendereya (US)
Fountain Of Youth 123

Espoir City (JAP) February Stakes 123
5. Lookin At Lucky (US) Preakness 121
6. Blind Luck (US) Kentucky Oaks 120

Musket Man (US) Carter Handicap 120
Rachel Alexandra (US) La Troienne 120
9.
Evening Jewel (US) Kentucky Oaks
119
Ice Box (US) Kentucky Derby 119


TOP ALL-WEATHER PERFORMERS
1. Kinsale King (US)
Golden Shaheen 124

Zenyatta (US) SantaMargarita Invitational 124
3. Bob Black Jack (US) San Carlos Handicap 122
Gloria De Campeao (FR)
Dubai World Cup 122
Lizard's Desire (SA)
Dubai World Cup
122
Musir (SA) UAE Derby 122
Rocket Man (SIN) Golden Shaheen 122
8. Allybar (UAE)
Dubai World Cup
121
Misremembered (US) Santa Anita Handicap 121
Neko Bay (US) Santa Anita Handicap 121


TOP TURF PERFORMERS
1. Harbinger (GB) Ormonde Stakes 126
Paco Boy (GB) Lockinge Stakes 126
3. Danleigh (AUS) George Ryder 123

Fame And Glory (Ire) Mooresbridge Stakes 123
Lizard's Desire (SA) International Cup 123
Makfi (FR) 2,000 Guineas 123
Manifest (GB) Yorkshire Cup
123
Spanish Moon (GB) Sheema Classic 123
9. Collection (HK) Hong Kong Gold Cup 122
Court Vision (US) Turf Classic 122
Gloria De Campeao (FR) International Cup 122
Green Birdie (HK) International Sprint 122
Ouqba (GB) Lockinge Stakes 122
Presious Passion (US)
Mac Diarmida Stakes 122
Presvis (GB) Jebel Hatta 122
Sacred Kingdom (HK) Centenary Sprint Cup 122

Don`t understand some of these ratings,how come Harbinger gets a 126?

Winkle confirms he retains natural talent

WORLD CLASS: an analysis of the best performances of last week according to Racing Post Ratings

RIP VAN WINKLE was the second best horse in the world last year according to RPRs and he showed he retains every inch of that abundant natural talent when landing a high class renewal of the International Stakes, on what was only his third start over 1m2f.

Though he is clearly more than capable of holding his own over a mile, having previously landed the Sussex Stakes and QEII, there are suggestions that the longer trip may be more to his liking these days, and this latest effort was further testament to that.

The son of Galileo raced just twice over the intermediate trip last year, with mixed results. On his first attempt in the Eclipse he earned a career best RPR of 132 after finishing just a length off Sea The Stars – a performance which still ranks as his best ever.

He disappointed on his second try at the 1m2f distance in the Breeders' Cup Classic, although excuses could be made for that effort, as it came at the end of a long season and it was run on an artificial surface.



On Tuesday, the Coolmore colt had his third foray over what may prove to be his optimum trip and he stayed on encouragingly to defeat a field packed full of Group 1 talent.

After posting an RPR of 129+ for the win, the four-year-old now leads the intermediate turf standings, with Twice Over (128) and Byword (126), who finished second and third, filling the same positions on that list.

That fact speaks volumes about the strength of the field assembled for the York feature, in which the first seven home had all won at the highest level.

It was not as stylish a success as Harbinger and Canford Cliffs have achieved this season and he seemed slightly unbalanced as Johnny Murtagh looked for a gap between the leaders, but as they entered the final furlong he kept on strongly to pick up the Khalid Abdullah pair, eventually scoring by half a length.

Going into the race, he was the only horse with the handicap rating of an elite performer, having earned two marks in the 130s last season, and as such he might have been expected to win by further, but this was just another step forward for the colt who has been brought along gradually by his trainer.

Now that he is off the mark for the season, he may be able to go on and return to his 130+ best, especially as he has clearly been trained with an autumn campaign in mind.

Going forward, a trip to the Irish or Newmarket Champion Stakes look the obvious routes, and on Tuesday's showing he would be the one to beat in either.

Later in the week at York, Midday was in career best action as she ran away with the Yorkshire Oaks, putting three lengths between herself and the field headed by Epsom and Irish Oaks winner Snow Fairy.

Midday earned an RPR of 124+ for the success, which ranks her as the leading middle-distance filly or mare in the world, though she remains behind top miler Goldikova in the European distaff standings.

In Japan, Earnestly laid down his Group 1 ambition by easing clear of last year's Tokyo Yushun winnerLogi Universe to land the Sapporo Kinen by a length and three quarters.

Although it clearly paid to be prominent in the Group 2 contest, Earnestly won in a style which suggested he will be a player in the end-of-season top level races.

Though Japan has a real star on the dirt circuit in Espoir City, the turf division is very open this season after the retirements of Vodka and Company and there is room for a progressive type like Earnestly to make his mark.

TOP OF THE CLASS: Rip Van Winkle 129

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien (Ire)

International Stakes, York, 1m2, August 17

OVERALL WORLD TOP TEN

1. Harbinger (GB) King George 135T
2. Canford Cliffs (GB) Sussex Stakes 130T

Quality Road (US)
Whitney Handicap
130D
4. Lookin At Lucky (US) Haskell Invitational 129D
Rip Van Winkle (GB) Sussex Stakes 129T

Workforce (GB)
Epsom Derby 129T
7. Makfi (FR) Prix Jacques Le Marois 128T
8. Paco Boy (GB)
Queen Anne
127T
Fame And Glory (IRE)
Coronation Cup 127T
10. Byword (FR) Prix D'Ispahan 126T
Goldikova (FR)
Queen Anne
126T

D = dirt, A = all-weather, T = turf

TOP DIRT PERFORMERS

1. Quality Road (US) Whitney Handicap
130
2. Lookin At Lucky (US) Haskell Invitational 129
3. Blame (US) Whitney Handicap 125
4. Rachel Alexandra(US)
Fleur De Lis Handicap 124
Super Saver (US)
Kentucky Derby 124
6. Eskendereya (US) Fountain Of Youth 123
Espoir City (JAP)
February Stakes
123
Zenyatta (US)
Apple Blossom 123
9. Battle Plan (US)
Stephen Foster Handicap 122
10.
Majesticperfection (US)
Smile Sprint 120


TOP TURF PERFORMERS

1. Harbinger (GB)
King George 135
2. Canford Cliffs (GB) Sussex Stakes 130
3. Rip Van Winkle (IRE) Sussex Stakes 129

Workforce (GB)
Epsom Derby 129
5. Makfi (FR) Prix Jacques Le Marois 128
6. Paco Boy (GB)
Queen Anne 127
Fame And Glory (IRE)
Coronation Cup 127
8. Byword (FR)
Prix D'Ispahan 126
9.
Goldikova (FR) Queen Anne 125
Starspangledbanner (IRE) Golden Jubilee/July Cup 125


TOP ALL-WEATHER PERFORMERS

1. Kinsale King (US)
Golden Shaheen 124
Zenyatta (US) Santa Margarita Invitational 124
3. Bob Black Jack (US)
San Carlos Handicap
122
Gloria De Campeao (FR) Dubai World Cup
122
Lizard's Desire (SA) Dubai World Cup 122
Musir (SA)
UAE Derby 122
Rail Trip (US)
Hollywood Gold Cup
122
Rocket Man (SIN) Goldene Shaheen 122
Smiling Tiger (US) Bing Crosby 122
10. Allybar (UAE) Dubai World Cup
121
Misremembered (US)
Santa Anita Handicap 121
Neko Bay (US)
Santa Anita Handicap 121

So You Think can make his mark on world stage

WORLD CLASS: an analysis of the best performances of last week according to Racing Post Ratings

So You Think is beginning to look like the answer to the longstanding question: which Australian middle-distance performer could make his mark on the world stage?

While the southern hemisphere has a well-earned reputation for producing the greatest speed horses on the planet, the upside-downers have a far less impressive record with their staying horses.

Starcraft and Invasor are two of the very few exceptions to the rule, although the likes of Lizard's Desire, Elvstroem and Jay Peg have all tasted success at a slightly lower level on the globe-trotting circuit.

In the sprint division Hay List looks on course to maintain the Aussie dominance next year, butthere could also be an opening for So You Think to tear it up over longer distances above the equator if connections so desire.

Whichever weight-for-age scale you use (see World Class September 20), So You Think has come out best at the weights in each of his last five starts and this latest success indicated he might be a cut above your average Cox Plate winner.

He did enjoy the run of the race to some degree on Saturday, with main form rival Whobegotyou allowing him to get first run off a steady pace, but once he had flown nothing was going to catch him and he was eased significantly near the line.

The race is best rated around the staying on Alcopop (118) in second, with third-placer Whobegotyou failing to give his running off the sedate fractions.

So You Think posted a career best RPR of 126+ for this easy three-and-a-quarter length victory, which saw bookmakers to cut him into odds-on for the Cox Plate in two weeks. The way he disposed of this top class field, even allowing for the steady pace, suggests he is clearly the one to beat.

What will terrify his rivals further is that connections suggested there is even more to come from the leading middle-distance performer in the country.

It is rare for Australia to get a horse who is quite so dominant in the weight-for-age category and if he does manage to extend his winning sequence at Moonee Valley, he could have his sights set even further afield.

But before any foreign journeys canbe mapped out for the young champ, there is a potential date at Flemington on the cards, with racing manager Duncan Ramage suggesting he could be Melbourne Cup bound if he runs first or second in the Cox.

As a son of High Chaparral hemight just have the stamina for that venture, but that is yet to be proven.

The best figure in the latest round of Breeders' Cup trials was achieved by Etched, who carried Sheikh Mohammed's Darley silks to success in the Monmouth Cup on Saturday.

It is a very solid looking piece of form, with runner-up Musket Man setting a healthy standard supported by Grade 3 winners Chirac and Duke Of Mischief in third and fourth and Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box in fifth.

The winner was better placed than Musket Man turning for home, but held on gamely when challenged to record an RPR of 124 for a neck success.

This took his career tally to seven wins from nine starts, including two Grade 2s and a Grade 3.

He is being considered for a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Classic and, while he may not quite be up to the level of some of his potential rivals in that contest, he looks capable of landing a Grade 1 soon enough.

In retrospective news, Arc winner Workforce had his Longchamp figure finalised at 130, with runner-up Nakayama Festa running to 129, while Behkabad and Planteur have had their Prix Niel form dropped 1lb, giving them peak ratings of 127 and 126 respectively.

TOP OF THE CLASS:

So You Think 126

Trainer: Bart Cummings (Aus)

Yalumba Stakes, Caulfield, 1m2f, 9 Oct

Overall World Top Ten
1
Harbinger (GB)
King George
135T
2
Canford Cliffs (GB)
SussexStakes
130T

Quality Road (US)
Donn/Met Mile/Whitney
130D
Workforce (GB) Arc 130T
5
Lookin At Lucky (US)
Haskell Invitational
129D
Nakayama Festa (Jap) Arc 129T

Rip Van Winkle (Ire)
Sussex Stakes/International
129T
8
Hay List (Aus)
Manikato/Gilgai
128T

Makfi (Fr)
Prix Jacques le Marois
128T

Twice Over (GB) International 128T


Top Dirt Performers
1
Quality Road Donn/Met Mile/Whitney
130
2
Lookin At Lucky Haskell Invitational
129
3
Eskendereya Fountain of Youth
126
4
Blame Whitney Hcap
125
Haynesfield Jockey Club Gold Cup 125
6
Afleet Express Travers Stakes
124

Discreetly Mine King's Bishop
124
Etched Monmouth Cup 124

Fly Down Travers Stakes
124

Rachel Alexandra Fleur De Lis Hcap
124

Super Saver Kentucky Derby
124


Top Turf Performers
1
Harbinger (GB)
King George
135
2
Canford Cliffs (GB)
Sussex Stakes
130
Workforce (GB) Arc 130
4 Nakayama Festa (Jap) Arc 129

Rip Van Winkle (Ire)
Sussex Stakes/Invitational
129
6
Hay List (Aus)
Manikato/Gilgai
128

Makfi (Fr)
Prix Jacques le Marois
128

Twice Over (GB)
International
128
9 Behkabad (Fr) Prix Niel 127

Cape Blanco (Ire)
Irish Champion
127

Fame And Glory (Ire) Coronation 127

Paco Boy (GB) Queen Anne 127

Sacred Kingdom (HK) Sprint Trophy 127


Top AW Performers
1
Kinsale King (US)
Golden Shaheen
124

Zenyatta (US)
Santa Margarita Invitational
124
3
Bob BlackJack (US)
San Carlos Hcap
122

Gloria De Campeao (Fr)
Dubai World Cup
122

Lizard's Desire (SA)
Dubai World Cup
122

Musir (SA)
UAE Derby
122

Rail Trip (US)
Hollywood Gold Cup
122

Richard's Kid (US)
Goodwood Stakes
122

Rocket Man (Sin)
Golden Shaheen
122

Smiling Tiger (US)
Bing Crosby
122

Harbinger rated world's best - 6lb ahead of Blame


HARBINGER'S record-breaking win in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes has earned him one of the highest ratings in the history of the World Thoroughbred Rankings.

The panel of international handicappers allotted Harbinger a rating of 135 in their 2010 list, which was just 6lb shy of the top-rated horse since the rankings began in 1977, Dancing Brave, and 1lb behind the mark given to Sea The Stars for his unbeaten three-year-old campaign in 2009.

Harbinger, who was undefeated in four runs last year, which culminated in his 11-length success in a record-breaking time at Ascot in July before injury brought about a premature end to his career, was rated 6lb ahead of the next highest horse, Blame, whose win in the Breeders' Cup Classic inflicted a first defeat on supermare Zenyatta.

That rating of 129 was 1lb clear of Arc and Derby hero Workforce, who, in what might be considered surprising, was given the same rating as shock 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi.

Also on 129 is three-time American Grade 1 winner Quality Road. The Japanese-trained Arc second Nakayama Festa shares a rating of 127 with Canford Cliffs, while the Aidan O'Brien-trained Cape Blanco and Rip Van Winkle are both rated 126.

Zenyatta and Goldikova were both given ratings of 125, along with Twice Over and So You Think.

Don'tpaytheferryman should be rated at least equal to Harbinger after winning three in a row at Southwell, or someplace.

Okay, I admit it. I'm bored. No Durban racing and it's supper break in the cricket.(

There's always farmville magic lol

hibernia Wrote:

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> There's always farmville magic lol

Whatever or wherever that is. As long as it's not in Queensland I'm happy. Poor sods, I just learned that a guy I was at school with back in the 17th century lives in Toowoomba and has lost almost everything.

World ranking pdf