Hurricane Run, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Lucien Barriere (Fr-I), continues to head the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) rankings of the top racehorses of 2005 after a very extensive month of International racing that included the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships in America, Melbourne Cup in Australia, and major events in Europe and Canada.
The list of the "world's leading horses" are published five times per year--January, April, August, October, and November--after the major international racing events.
The next three positions on the list remain unchanged from October. Ghostzapper remains second after he was undefeated in his final six starts before being retired to stud duty earlier this year. The third position is shared by the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes (Eng-I) winner Azamour and Westerner who is likely to contest next month's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-I).
The form of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-Lucien Barriere was franked following Shirocco's success in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) and he moves up from 11th to joint fifth to join Motivator and Shamardal (top ranked miler on Turf) in the World's Rankings.
Re-entering the World's Leading Horses list is the record breaking Australian trained mare Makybe Diva. She gained two recent group 1 victories in the Cox Plate (Aust-I) and carried top weight when winning her third successive Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aust-I). She has now been retired after amassing a record Aus $14m in prize money and the only racehorse to win three Melbourne Cup, which she did in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Makybe Diva becomes the top ranked filly and mare and joins Saint Liam, who gained his third grade I victory of the year by winning the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), Bago, Starcraft (top-ranked older miler on turf), and Afleet Alex in a five way tie for eight place.
Joining the rankings for the first time, at number 13 is David Junior, who defeated seven other World Ranked horses to win the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (Eng-I). He is ranked alongside Dubawi, Oratorio, Proclamation, and Silent Witness (top Ranked sprinter).
Other notably newcomers to this month listings are, Flower Alley and Perfect Drift second and third, respectively, in Breeders' Cup Classic. The Netjets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner, Artie Schiller, enters at number 24. Relaxed Gesture won the Canadian leg of 2005 World Series Championships the Pattison Canadian International (Can-I) in good style joins the rankings on the same mark.
A once in a lifetime achievement was seen in Japan recently when undefeated Deep Impact achieved the Tripe Crown following his success in the Kikuka Sho (JPN-I) in October. He had earlier won the Satsuki Sho (JPN-I) in April and Tokyo Yushun (JPN-I) in May.
