Game On Dude, who recently won the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) for a record-breaking third time, heads the first edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2014. The list is comprised of 3-year-olds and up that raced between Jan. 1 and March 9.
Already the winner of the Big 'Cap"in 2011 and 2013, Game On Dude secured his hat-trick at Santa Anita Park with a 1 3/4-length triumph over Will Take Charge , with the remainder of the field eight lengths and more behind.
Will Take Charge, who had edged out Game On Dude by a head in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs in November, had already shown his well-being this year when finishing a fine second to the progressive Lea in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park in February. Lea was following up his success in the Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream in January, and put up a career-best performance in the Donn, which he won by 1 1/2 lengths.
The leading 3-year-old on dirt so far this year is Cairo Prince . Now the winner of three of his four races, Cairo Prince made a successful seasonal debut when storming to a 5 3/4- length success in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream in January.
The highest rated performance on turf in 2014 to date has been put up by Military Attack, who returned to his very best in the Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (HK-I) at Sha Tin in February. The winner of the same race in 2013, Military Attack forged clear to score by three lengths from Dan Excel, with Dominant a close third.
The top ranked sprinter in the world so far this year is Lankan Rupee. Now the winner of his past five starts, Lankan Rupee has improved with each of those races, on his last two starts winning the Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (Aus-I) and the Lexus Newmarket Handicap (Aus-I) convincingly.
In Dubai, South African-trained Variety Club made a successful overseas debut in the Firebreak Stakes (UAE-III) at Meydan, in the process producing the best performance on an artificial surface of the year so far.
The full list and further information on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings are available on the IFHA website http://www.ifhaonline.org.
The next edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings will be published April 10.
THE LONGINES WORLD'S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS
for 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January and 9th March 2014
| Rank | Rating | Cat | Surf | Horse | Age (YOF) | Sex | Owner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 125 | I | D | GAME ON DUDE (USA) | 7 (2007) | G | Diamond Pride LLC, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable LLC & B Schiappa | Bob Baffert - USA |
| 2 | 124 | I | T | MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) (ex Rave) | 6 (2007) | G | Mr & Mrs Steven Lo Kit Sing | John Moore - HK |
| 3 | 123 | M | T | AKEED MOFEED (GB) | 5 (2008) | H | Pan Sutong | Richard Gibson - HK |
| 3 | 123 | M | T | JUST A WAY (JPN) | 5 (2008) | H | Akatsuki Yamatoya | Naosuke Sugai - JPN |
| 3 | 123 | M | D | WILL TAKE CHARGE (USA) | 4 (2009) | C | Willis D Horton & Three Chimneys Farm LLC | D Wayne Lukas - USA |
| 6 | 121 | S | T | LANKAN RUPEE (AUS) | 4 (2009) | G | Teeley Assets Ltd Syndicate | Mick Price - AUS |
| 6 | 121 | M | D | LEA (USA) | 5 (2008) | H | Claiborne Farm & Adele B Dilschneider | William I Mott - USA |
| 8 | 118 | M | T | BLAZING SPEED (GB) | 5 (2008) | G | Fentons Racing Syndicate | Tony Cruz - HK |
| 8 | 118 | M | T | BOBAN (AUS) | 4 (2009) | G | M G Dominello, M Pejic, J A O'Neill et al | Chris Waller - AUS |
| 8 | 118 | I | T | DAN EXCEL (IRE) (ex Dunboyne Express) | 6 (2007) | G | David Philip Boehm | John Moore - HK |
| 8 | 118 | I | T | DOMINANT (IRE) | 6 (2007) | H | 10/11 John Moore Trainer Syndicate | John Moore - HK |
| 8 | 118 | I | T | FIORENTE (IRE) | 6 (2007) | H | A T Roberts, McClure Ferguson Oman et al | Gai Waterhouse - AUS |
| 8 | 118 | M | T | LOCHTE (USA) | 4 (2009) | G | Crossed Sabres Farm | Marcus Vitali - USA |
| 8 | 118 | M | A | VARIETY CLUB (SAF) | 5 (2008) | H | Mrs I Jooste & M J Jooste | Joey Ramsden - SAF |
| 15 | 117 | M | D | CAIRO PRINCE (USA) | 3 (2011) | C | Harvey A Clarke, W Craig Robertson,Paul Braverman et al | Kiaran McLaughlin - USA |
| 15 | 117 | M | T | ENDOWING (IRE) | 5 (2008) | G | Ada Wong Yin Man | John Size - HK |
| 15 | 117 | M | T | HELENE SPIRIT (IRE) (ex Arasin) | 7 (2007) | G | Sir Po-Shing & Lady Woo et al | Caspar Fownes - HK |
| 15 | 117 | M | T | MSHAWISH (USA) | 4 (2009) | C | Al Shaqab Racing | Mikel Delzangles - FR |
| 15 | 117 | M | T | VERCINGETORIX (SAF) | 4 (2009) | C | Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum | Mike de Kock - UAE |
| 20 | 116 | M | D | CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA) | 3 (2011) | C | Steven Coburn & Martin Perry | Art Sherman - USA |
| 20 | 116 | M | T | BAL A BALI (BRZ) | 3 (2011) | C | Stud Alvarenga | D Guignoni - BRZ |
| 20 | 116 | I | T | GREEN MOON (IRE) | 7 (2007) | H | N C Williams, Mr & Mrs L J Williams | Robert Hickmott - AUS |
| 20 | 116 | S | D | GROUPIE DOLL (USA) | 6 (2007) | M | Whisper Hill Farm | William Bradley - USA |
| 20 | 116 | M | T | IT'S A DUNDEEL (NZ) (ex Dundeel) | 4 (2009) | C | Mrs J P, M M & Mrs T P Andersen et al | Murray Baker - NZ |
| 20 | 116 | M | T | MOMENT OF CHANGE (AUS) | 5 (2008) | G | R Slade, J M Barnett et al | Peter Moody - AUS |
| 20 | 116 | M | T | NASHVILLE (NZ) | 5 (2008) | G | A M & Mrs R E Bull | Adrian Bull - NZ |
| 20 | 116 | M | T | SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) | 3 (2011) | C | Ultra Racing & G & C Pastoral Co Pty Ltd | Danny O'Brien - AUS |
| 20 | 116 | S | T | SHEA SHEA (SAF) | 6 (2007) | G | Mssrs Brian Joffe & Myron C Berzack | Mike de Kock - UAE |
| 20 | 116 | M | T | STERLING CITY (AUS) | 5 (2008) | G | Ling Chiu Shing & Gary Ling Kay Wai | John Moore - HK |
| 20 | 116 | M | D | TAPITURE (USA) | 3 (2011) | C | Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC | Steven Asmussen - USA |
| 20 | 116 | L | T | TWILIGHT ECLIPSE (USA) | 5 (2008) | G | West Point Thoroughbreds Inc | Thomas Albertrani - USA |
| 20 | 116 | I | T | VAGABOND SHOES (IRE) | 7 (2007) | G | Hronis Racing LLC | John W Sadler - USA |
| Distance Categories | |||||
| S | 5f - 6.5f | 1000m - 1300m | |||
| S (CAN/USA) | 5f - 7.99f | 1000m - 1599m | |||
| M | 6.51f - 9.49f | 1301m - 1899m | |||
| M (CAN/USA) | 8f - 9.49f | 1600m - 1899m | |||
| I | 9.5f - 10.5f | 1900m - 2100m | |||
| L | 10.51f - 13.5f | 2101m - 2700m | |||
| E | 13.51f+ | 2701m+ | |||
| Surface Indicators | Gender | ||
| T | Turf | C = Colt; H = Horse | |
| D | Dirt | F = Filly; M = Mare | |
| A | Artificial | G = Gelding | |