No Surprise: Frankel World's Top-Rated Horse

It was no surprise that Juddmonte Farms’ Frankel was rated the top horse in the world when the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings were released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

The now-4-year-old trained by Sir Henry Cecil and named for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel won five races, including four group I events, last year. His high rating of 136 was achieved when he defeated champion older miler Canford Cliffs in the Qipco Sussex Stakes (Eng-I). Frankel shares the highest rating, along with Sea The Stars in 2009, accorded a horse since the WTR were initiated in 2004.

Second-highest-rated horse for 2011 was the mare Black Caviar, the 2010 world champion sprinter who was undefeated during her 5-year-old campaign by winning six group I and two group II races in her native Australia. Trained by P.G. Moody, Black Caviar’s top rating of 132 came in her three-length triumph in the Lexus Newmarket Handicap (AUS-I).

Frankel, the winner of all nine career starts, and Black Caviar, undefeated in 16 career outings, both remain in training for 2012.

The highest-ranked horse based in the U.S. on the list was Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Drosselmeyer, who was joint 14th-highest-rated horse at 124, earned in his season-ending victory for WinStar Farm and trainer Bill Mott.

Complete List 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings