IRISH THOROUGHBRED RANKINGS 2023
OVERVIEW
Ten of the 13 Group 1 races held in Ireland in 2023 were won by domestically trained horses and of these Group 1 races, three of them merited inclusion in the Longines World Listing of Top 100 Group 1 races in 2023. The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1) came in as joint 6th best race in the World in 2023 with the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) ( joint 94th) and the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (joint 98th) also included.
Two Irish trained 3yo colts appear in the top ten horses of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2023. Both AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE)(125) and PADDINGTON(GB)(124) won no less than four Group 1 races each in 2023 while LUXEMBOURG(IRE)(123) was the top older Irish horse.
For the seventh time this century, both the European champion juvenile colt, CITY OF TROY(USA)(125), and juvenile filly, OPERA SINGER (USA)(118), were trained in Ireland.
FOUR YEAR OLDS and Upwards
LUXEMBOURG (IRE)(123) was champion 3yo colt in Ireland in 2022 and he graduated to champion Irish older horse in 2023 by achieving the same rating as last year. His best performance came in defeating BAY BRIDGE (GB)(121) in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the Curragh back in May and also in running up to AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE)(125) in a red hot edition of the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown in September where the best performance by an older mare in Ireland in 2023 was the placed effort by GB trained NASHWA(GB)(120) in third.
THREE YEARS OLDS
In winning that race AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE)(125) achieved the same level of performance as PADDINGTON(GB) did in winning the Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown in July namely a rating of 124 over 10 furlongs. But AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE) was adjudged to have run one pound higher than that level over 12f in winning the Longines Breeders Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita in November. PADDINGTON (GB)was the top 3yo miler in Ireland and his best performance at that distance was in winning the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June running to a mark of 122. That level of performance would have been exceeded only by KINGMAN (GB)(125)(2014) and CHURCHILL (IRE)(123) in 2017 in the last ten years.
AUGUSTE RODIN’s performance at Santa Anita would be the highest rated 12f performance by an Irish trained 3yo since SEA THE STARS (IRE)(136) back in 2009. He was the eighth Irish trained 3yo this century to do the Epsom/Irish Derby double and the first since HARZAND(IRE)(121) back in 2016.
Joint top 3yo filly TAHIYRA (IRE)(117) was champion European juvenile filly in 2022 and won three Group 1 races in 2023 but her best rating was achieved in defeat to MAWJ (IRE)(118) in the Qatar 1000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in May. WARM HEART (IRE)(117) also shared this accolade for winning two Group 1 races but, as with TAHIYRA, her best performance was in running up to INSPIRAL (GB)(120) in the Maker’s Mark Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita in November.
CONTINUOUS(JPN)(119) was the top 3yo European stayer for winning the Betfred St Leger (G1)at Doncaster in September and this would be the best performance by a 3yo Irish stayer since KEW GARDENS (IRE)(120)won the same race back in 2018.
TWO YEAR OLDS
CITY OF TROY (USA)(125) was very impressive in winning the Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at Newmarket in October and was well clear of compatriots, and fellow Group 1 winners, BUCANERO FUERTE (GB)(120) and the unbeaten HENRY LONGFELLOW(IRE)(119) in the top European juvenile colts listing. His rating of 125 has only been surpassed three times this century – by PINATUBO (128)(2019), by JOHANNESBURG(USA)(126) in 2001 and by NEW APPROACH(IRE)(126) in 2007.
OPERA SINGER (USA)(118) was imperious in winning the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) at Paris Longchamp in October. Of the 11 Irish trained champion European juvenile fillies this century, this level of performance has only been exceeded twice this century by Irish juvenile fillies – by MINDING (IRE)(120) in 2015 and FINSCEAL BEO (IRE) (119) back in 2006.
2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Summary
After leading the rankings for most of the year, EQUINOX (JPN) [135] has been named the 2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse. His rating of 135 is the highest mark a Japanese horse has ever received under the current system, besting the 134 that El Condor Pasa earned in 1999.
|
LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings
Leading Horses
click here for complete rankings
|
|||
|
Rank |
Horse |
Rating |
Trained |
|
1 |
EQUINOX (JPN) |
135 |
JPN |
|
2 |
ACE IMPACT (IRE) |
128 |
FR |
|
2 |
MOSTAHDAF (IRE) |
128 |
GB |
|
4 |
BIG ROCK (FR) |
127 |
FR |
|
4 |
HUKUM (IRE) |
127 |
GB |
|
6 |
GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) |
126 |
HK |
|
6 |
WESTOVER (GB) |
126 |
GB |
|
8 |
AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE) |
125 |
IRE |
|
8 |
LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ) |
125 |
HK |
|
10 |
CODY’S WISH (USA) |
124 |
USA |
|
10 |
DO DEUCE (JPN) |
124 |
JPN |
|
10 |
PADDINGTON (GB) |
124 |
IRE |
|
10 |
TITLEHOLDER (JPN) |
124 |
JPN |
|
10 |
WHITE ABARRIO (USA) |
124 |
USA |
Equinox earned his rating in the Japan Cup in association with Longines (G1), which was his final career start. He won by four lengths over LIBERTY ISLAND (JPN) [121], while STARS ON EARTH (JPN) [119] was third, DO DEUCE (JPN) [124] finished fourth, and TITLEHOLDER (JPN) [124] was fifth.
Equinox made his 2023 debut in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in March. He won with ease, vaulted to the top of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, and held that position for the rest of the year. WESTOVER (GB) [126] was 3 ½ lengths behind in second, while ZAGREY (FR) [117] was third, MOSTAHDAF (IRE) [128] was fourth, and SHAHRYAR (JPN) [121] was fifth.
Following his effort in Dubai, Equinox returned to Japan where he won the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) in June by a neck over THROUGH SEVEN SEAS (JPN) [118]. After racing near the back of the 17-horse field, Equinox circled the pack to get the victory. In his next start, Equinox set a new track record of 1:55:2 for 2,000 meters at Tokyo Racecourse while winning the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) by 2 ½ lengths over JUSTIN PALACE (JPN) [121] in October. Following the Japan Cup, Equinox was retired to Shadai Stallion Station.
Two horses share the title of co-second highest rated horse for 2023. ACE IMPACT (IRE) [128]earned his rating in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), which he won by 1 ¾ lengths over Westover. Among his other victories during his undefeated season, Ace Impact won the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) and Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (G2). He ended the year as the highest rated 3-year-old in the world.
Also rated at 128 is Mostahdaf, who received that mark after winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. He defeated LUXEMBOURG (IRE) [123] by four lengths that day, and his other victories in 2023 include the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) and Neom Turf Cup presented by Altanfeethi (G3).
BIG ROCK (FR) [127] and HUKUM (IRE) [127] share the co-fourth spot. Big Rock was unchallenged in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by Qipco) (G1), and he pulled away to win by six lengths. His other victories last year include the Prix la Force (G3) and Prix de Guiche (G3). Hukum earned his rating in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (G1) after he defeated Westover by a head. He began his 2023 campaign with a win in the Racehorse Lotto Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3).
Westover shares the co-sixth ranking with GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) [126]. Golden Sixty received his rating after winning the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1), while Westover earned his in the King George. In addition to his notable second place efforts in 2023, Westover also defeated Zagrey to win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1). Golden Sixty had a number of victories during the year, including the Stewards' Cup (G1), Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1), and FWD Champions Mile (G1).
AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE) [125] and LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ) [125] share the co-eighth spot on a rating of 125. Auguste Rodin earned his rating by winning the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), and he also took the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1), Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1), and Betfred Derby (G1) in 2023.
Lucky Sweynesse received a 125 three separate times. He earned that mark after winning the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1) and Sha Tin Vase (G3) as well as after finishing second by a short head in the Premier Bowl (G2). His other top-level victories in 2023 include the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1), Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1), and Centenary Sprint Cup (G1).
Rounding out the Top 10 are five horses in the co-10th position on a rating of 124: CODY’S WISH (USA) [124], Do Deuce, PADDINGTON (GB) [124], Titleholder, and WHITE ABARRIO (USA) [124].
Overall, 288 horses, trained in 16 different countries, were rated 115 or higher. The full list and further information on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings are available on the IFHA website ifhaonline.org.