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Australia claims 26 of the top 100 races in the world, but can't crack top 20

Frankel and jockey Tom Queally score perfect 10 in stunning win
Editor
4th March, 2015
4

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has ranked the top 100 races in the world, and while Australia claims 26 of the top 100 races – the most of any country – no race in Australia ranks in the top 20 races in the world.

The IFHA rankings are compiled based on annual race ratings, taking into account the first four horses home in the last three runnings of each race. Those first four horses are averaged based on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, also rated by the IFHA.

The top-100 is headed by the top-ranked Juddmonte International Stakes, raced at York in England, with a figure of 124.17, given the winners of this race included Frankel, Declaration of War, and Australia in recent years.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France is rated second, and the Ascot’s Champion Stakes ranked third.

In Australia, the top ranked race is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), with a rating of 119.92, in equal 22nd position.

The Lightning Stakes (1000m) came in 27th but was rated the best sprint in the world on 119.58, while the Canterbury Stakes (118.92) was 34th.

The hugely valuable and most-watched race in Australia, the Melbourne Cup (3200m), fell to 69th place in the rankings, rating just 116.75. The Caulfield Cup came in at equal 89th with the Mackinnon Stakes with a rating of 116.08, with the Cox Plate (118.75) faring better in 35th.

Other internationally significant races include the Kentucky Derby (2000m) rated equal 32nd, the Japan Cup in 8th, while the top Hong Kong race is the Champions Mile, rated 17th.

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Behind Australia in the most races in the top 100 were the USA (23), Britain (16) and Japan (10).

All statistics can be analysed in their own way, and these particular rankings are greatly influenced by the quality of the winning horses and those that fill places. That places an obvious disadvantage on handicap races, such as the Melbourne Cup, which are designed to equalise the field from the start and award the best horse on its day with the prize.

For example, had the ill-fated Admire Rakti won the 2014 Melbourne Cup, that race would have been ranked higher as the Japanese horse was the top-rated participant.

Meanwhile, Frankel’s incredible rating boosts all races he ran in, despite not running in handicaps and with quality opposition seeking to avoid him.

Click here for the full list of the IFHA’s top 100 Group I races.

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