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The top ten racing performances of 2013 (part 2)

Black Caviar was consistently a topweight - seemed to work out OK for her though. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Roar Pro
1st February, 2014
1

Having already outlined 10 to five of the best racing performances of 2013, here are my top five races of the year passed.

The Sussex Stakes, 1800m, Goodwood, England
After a magnificent finish in the St James Palace Stake between impressive three-years-olds Toronado and his conqueror Dawn Approach, the Sussex Stakes became a much anticipated rematch between these pair of quality milers.

Add to this Coolmore’s Declaration of War and this race had abundant class.

The preseason talk from trainer Jim Bolger about Dawn Approach had been very positive and he didn’t disappoint when he demolished the 2000 Guineas field.

Toronado had disappointed that day but put in a much better performance a month later when the two met in the St James Palace Stakes.

The feeling after that race was Toronado had suffered more from interference than Dawn Approach when both horses were victims of bad traffic.

In the Sussex, Dawn Approach took the lead a quarter of a mile out and it initially looked like this powerful galloper would be hard to reel in.

But a beautifully timed ride from jockey Richard Hughes had left Toronado in a strong position to win the race by a half length from Dawn Approach with Declaration of War another two and a half lengths back in third.

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The Woodbine Mile, 1800m, Woodbine, Canada
When Black Caviar retired last April, Wise Dan (with the possible exception of Cirrus Des Aigles) became the defacto world’s best horse in training.

The previous November he put in an impressive performance in the Breeders’ Cup Mile to defeat the likes of Animal Kingdom, Excelebration and Moonlight Cloud.

The depth of the North American mile and turf ranks are not the strongest, however Wise Dan has shown consistency in the past two seasons, bettered only by Frankel and Black Caviar.

His most impressive performance in 2013 came in the Woodbine Mile, where the long straight suited this powerful galloper.

Wise Dan strides forward to win by three and a half lengths from Za Approval, a horse that would in the future push Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Lightning Stakes, 1000m, Flemington, Australia
2013 brought the retirement of the imperious Black Caviar.

In her first appearance of the year in the Lightning Stakes the racing world waited in anticipation.

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Would she be as good as a six-year-old? Would she have recovered after the injury she picked up at Royal Ascot?

She answered these questions emphatically by smashing the course record and maintaining her unbeaten record.

While she never met an adversary as high class as Hay List in this race, two of the horses she defeated that day included future Newmarket first and second Shamexpress and Moment of Change.

As usual she cruised throughout the race and effortlessly moved through the gears to easily dispense with her rivals.

The Champion Stakes, 2000m, Ascot, England
Possibly the most thrilling finish of the year, this race matched Godolphin’s Farrh against the Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World and a resurgent Cirrus Des Aigles.

Due to injury, Farrh had not been seen since an impressive win in the Lockinge back in May.

The previous season he had been the perennial bridesmaid to the mighty Frankel and other smart performers such as Moonlight Cloud and Nathaniel.

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There was a feeling if he could continue on this upward curve the Group 1’s would follow.

Ruler of the World had looked an impressive winner of the Epsom Derby but subsequently flopped in the Irish version.

Likewise Cirrus Des Aigles was having a mixed season but he was coming back to somewhere near his best form and would appreciate the soft going at Ascot.

This race was the last European Group 1 of the year and it didn’t disappoint.

Just past the two furlong mark Farrh took up the running from stable mate Hunter’s Light, who set up the race perfectly for him; however Cirrus Des Aigles and Ruler of the World both came with strong runs.

It was Farrh’s gritty determination that won it for him in the end, as only a length covered the three horses at the finish.

What made Farrh’s performance particularly impressive was he had not seen a racecourse in five months.

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This was a testament to both the horse’s quality and his trainer, Saeed Bin Suroor’s, ability to have the horse at his peak.

The Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, 2400m, Longchamp, France
For the past couple of seasons there has been a strong sentiment that the Arc was being outshone by the British Champion Stakes.

However in 2013 this changed due to an outstanding performance by the Criquette Head trained filly Treve.

Leading into the Arc, major contender Novellist, an impressive winner of the King George, pulled out due to injury.

Before he pulled out the top six horses in the betting had an average Timeform rating of 129, up there with previous high quality Arcs.

Even without Novellist, the strength in depth was evident.

Al Kazeem had dominated the European middle distance ranks all summer winning three Group 1s.

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Orfevre an unlucky second in the 2012 Arc still retained plenty of ability.

Treve looked to have plenty of quality when winning the Prix Vermeille.

Also there were the French, English and Japanese Derby winners in Intello, Ruler of the World and Kizuna.

Treve was awesome, when jockey Thierry Jarnet accelerated five furlongs none of her rivals could live with her, she demolished the rest of the field by five lengths.

Timeform rated her performance at 134.

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