Able Friend shares the accolade of World’s Best Racehorse according to the latest edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) on Thursday, 9 April. No Hong Kong horse has ever before been rated at the pinnacle of the world rankings.
Hong Kong’s superstar was already ranked as the best turf miler in the world following his brilliant wins in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and G1 Stewards’ Cup, and his status has now risen further as he shares the top spot with North American high-weight Shared Belief.
The John Moore-trained five-year-old is rated 125 - his previous mark was 124 - for his outstanding two and a quarter-length win in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 15 March. That rating puts him on a par with G1 Santa Anita Handicap winner Shared Belief. The latest rankings pertain to performances in races staged between 1 January and 5 April. Able Friend has since notched his 5th consecutive win of the season, in the HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) last Tuesday, 7 April, and will now target the HK$14 million G1 Champions Mile on 3 May.
“This is a great achievement and is a recognition of the world-class status of Hong Kong racing, and our premier brand. The quality and number of Hong Kong horses at the elite world level continues to rise and that is down to the hard work of a lot of people. Able Friend is an outstanding horse and an exciting asset to Hong Kong racing,” said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Designs On Rome, winner of the G1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) last month and fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) last time, ranks equal 4th in the latest rankings, along with Australia’s crack sprinter Lankan Rupee, on a rating of 123.
Three other Hong Kong-based horses are included in the latest list: Blazing Speed, third behind Designs On Rome in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (120 – equal 11th); Gold-Fun, winner of the HKG1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in February (119 – equal-15th); and Aerovelocity, victorious in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in Japan last month (118 – equal-21st).
LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings (Top 10): 1 January to 5 April, 2015
|
Rank
|
Horse
|
Country/Region
|
Rating
|
|
1
|
Able Friend
|
HK
|
125
|
|
1
|
Shared Belief
|
USA
|
125
|
|
3
|
Solow
|
FR
|
124
|
|
4
|
Designs On Rome
|
HK
|
123
|
|
4
|
Lankan Rupee
|
AUS
|
123
|
|
6
|
Brazen Beau
|
AUS
|
121
|
|
6
|
California Chrome
|
USA
|
121
|
|
6
|
Dolniya
|
FR
|
121
|
|
6
|
Flintshire
|
FR
|
121
|
|
6
|
Prince Bishop
|
UAE
|
121
|
LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings - 1 January to 5 April, 2015
