It's official - last weekend's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Hurricane Run is the best racehorse in the world right now, and by some way too.
The World Racehorse Rankings Committee met in Paris this week and have given an interim report before the usual January classifications which puts Hurricane Run at the top of the ratings on a handicap mark of 130 which he achieved last Sunday.
The time period covered is from late March to last Sunday inclusive and that allows the now retired American dirt star Ghostzapper (128) to figure second in the rankings judged on a Metropolitan Handicap victory secured early in the year.
However, of those horses still in action the only competition to Hurricane Run comes from the star Irish four-year-old Azamour who shares joint third spot on 126 with the Arc runner-up Westerner.
An enthralling clash of the generations could still materialise in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park at the end of the month. Azamour is definitely being lined up for his last career start in the mile and a half event while Andre Fabre hasn't ruled one more three-year-old start for Hurricane Run.
A total of seven other Irish-trained horses appear on the list of the world's rankings including the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes winner Oratorio (123) who is joint 11th overall but joint top of the world ratings in the nine to 11 furlongs category. Oratorio beat the English Derby winner Motivator by half a length in both the Eclipse and the Champion Stakes but Motivator still ranks higher overall on his mile and a half form.
Grey Swallow, whose next start is intended to be the Canadian International at Woodbine in just over two weeks time, a race that now also figures on the agenda of Aidan O'Brien's Yeats, is rated a 122 based on his Tattersalls Gold Cup performance in May.
Grouped together at joint 27th on a rating of 120 are a quartet of stars from Ballydoyle made up of Ace, Powerscourt, Scorpion and Yeats while the other Irish horse on the list is the filly Alexander Goldrun who joint 37th on 119 which makes her the joint top older mare in the world with Soviet Song.
Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that Yeats will travel to Canada for Woodbine's Grade One International on October 23 instead of waiting for the Melbourne Cup in Australia. Yeats had been put in quarantine for Australia but O'Brien said: "We feel the Woodbine race fits better into our future plans for the horse." The Ballydoyle trainer has never had a runner in Australia but has made his presence felt in the Canadian International before having won the race with the Michael Kinane-ridden Ballingarry in 2002 and having sent Brian Boru to be placed in the race a year later.
Major Commitment, a son of the top American stallion Danzig, is an interesting O'Brien newcomer in the second division of the seven-furlong maiden at Gowran's all-flat card this afternoon.
The first division includes the newcomer Fillioux whose breeding suggests she should relish the forecast fast conditions and who represents the in-form Michael Grassick stable.
Fast conditions, however, will not be to the liking of Border Cat in the €50,000 Nursery, a race that has the Stakes winner Rhythm N Roots at the top of the weights. Preference, though, is for the Listowel winner Kempes who looks a versatile sort. Bay Boy was a beaten favourite at Listowel when ridden by Kieren Fallon but there could be compensation in the older horse maiden.
WorldRankings
1: Hurricane Run 130
2: Ghostzapper 128
3: Azamour 126
Westerner 126
5: Afleet Alex 125
Motivator 125
Shamardal 125
8: Bago 124
St Liam 124
Starcraft 124
11: Dubawai 123
Oratorio 123
Proclamation 123
Roses In May 123
Shirocco 123
Silent Witness 123
