TIMEFORM rates Helissio's performance in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe the best by an Arc winner since Dancing Brave took the race in 1986.
But the colt's five length thrashing of his rivals at Longchamp was not sufficient to earn him the European performance of the year, which still rests with Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Mark of Esteem.
Elie Lellouche's colt has been elevated up the Timeform ratings from a figure of 128p - the "p" indicating likely further improvement - to 137, which puts him 1lb ahead of 1991 Arc winner Suave Dancer but 3lb below Guy Harwood's hero of 10 years ago.
Mark of Esteem's dismissal of Bosra Sham at Ascot last weekend earned him a rating of 138.
Chris Williams, Timeform's senior handicapper, said of Helissio: "He's up there with the good Arc winners, although the form doesn't put him quite in the Sea Bird or Ribot class.
"Some of his rivals clearly didn't produce their best, but Helissio had the race won two furlongs out - not many Arc winners do that.
"However, the form of the Queen Elizabeth, which we basically rated around the fourth, Charnwood Forest, has a more solid look to it than that of the Arc.
"From the Arc, Luna Wells (fifth) and Le Destin (sixth) have both gone up 5lb, Leeds (eighth) 8lb and Leonila (ninth) 3lb.
"There is a limit to how far you can put a horse like Le Destin up, because he has only won one race this year."
However, Timeform assesses the relative merits of European performers, the horse with the highest rating currently races in North America.
Cigar may have suffered his second defeat in three starts at Belmont on Saturday but Bill Mott's Breeders' Cup and Dubai World Cup winner is still at the top of the firm's ratings on 140.
. Future plans for Pent ire remained undecided yesterday.
Possible options for the colt, who finished 10th behind Helissio in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, include the Breeders' Cup and the Japan Cup or immediate retirement.
Wragg said yesterday: "The horse is in good form after yesterday's race but at the moment plans for him are still fluid."
The four year old is set to go to stud in Japan at the end of the season, having been sold privately after his victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in July.
. Tim Forster's sidelined chasing stars Dublin Flyer and Martha's Son were yesterday given a clean bill of health and both will be hack in action this season.
