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I decided to make another category and now rate the best horses from Britain over the flat in order of merit in terms of the middle distance performances over a mile and a half.
1.Sea the Stars-Proved himself with his sensational turn of foot against a strong field in the 2009 Arc.
2.Mill Reef-I would have backed him to win the triple crown had he run in the Leger of 1970 and had Brigadier Gerard not been in his era.
3.Nijinsky-Did more than you could ask from any racehorse.His King George win was like a great emperor greeting a victory parade.
4.Dancing Brave-Displayed greater acceleration than any thoroughbred ever in an Arc in 1986 with his electrifying turn of foot.
5.Shergar-On the day of the 1981 Epsom Derby a virtual re-incarnation of Sea Bird.
6.Hyperion-gave the best ever performance in the 1934 St.Leger and one of the best ever performances in the 1933 Eposm Derby.
7.Crepello-The fact that he beat a great champion in Ballymoss in the 1957 Epsom Derby most emphatically proved his greatness.
8.Alleged-His back to back Arc wins were simply classical ,won in the manner of a great champion.
9.Brigadier Gerard-His pure class would have enabled him to be a great racehorse over a mile and a half.
10.Montjeue-Posessed devastating acceleration reminiscent of Nijinsky which he showed in the 2000 King George.
11.Generous-In the 1991 season won the King George 6th diamond stakes and Epsom Derby in devastating fashion.His King George win was amongst the 3-4 best ever of that race.
12.Troy-On the day of the 1979 Epsom Derby would have joined the Mill Reef’s and Nijinkys.He simply swooped over the field like a crow flying over a cluster of trees to cruise home by 7 lengths.
13.Sir Ivor-At his best at 10 furlongs but his great toughness enabled him to win the Epsom Derby and Washington International in 1968.Not a true stayer,but posessed phenomenal finishing speed.
14.Reference Point-Won the 1987 Epsom Derby and Leger making the running all the way.
15.Rheingold-His 1973 Arc win was one of the best ever in the big race.
16.Golden Fleece-Had he had a complete season he may have well been rated alongside the great Nijinsky,his father.
17.Laamtarra-The equivalent of a soldier to flat racing with brilliant wins in the 1995 Epsom Derby,King George and Arc.Possessed finishing speed and courage.Displayed acceleration of a rare kind in the Derby.
18.Nashwan-Won with the most effortless action posessed by a racehorse.Unfairly denied a chance to win the 1989 Triple Crown.At his best at a distance of 10 furlongs
19.Roberto-The only horse to have ever beaten the Brigadier who ran as though the spirits posessed him in the 1972 Benson and Hedges Gold Cup.
20.The Minstrel-One of the toughest and most courageous colts ever who proved these trademarks in the 1977 Epsom Derby and King George.
Have to confess that it does seem strange not seeing Frankel in that illustrious line-up
I wouldn’t have put Sea The Stars at No 1 though. The three underneath him were far better IMO.
As time passes the absence of a Derby or an Arc victory will hurt more and more when rating this wonderful horse.Short term wisdom becomes long term folly.The record of Frankel is ideal for the owners of Galileo selling to short running mares. Which would you prefer a Derby type or a non Derby Frankel type colt? Either way come to us!
As time passes the absence of a Derby or an Arc victory will hurt more and more when rating this wonderful horse.Short term wisdom becomes long term folly.The record of Frankel is ideal for the owners of Galileo selling to short running mares. Which would you prefer a Derby type or a non Derby Frankel type colt? Either way come to us!
In a few years time neither short-term nor long-term folly about Frankels’s racing career will matter a jot. Mare owners will then be able to judge directly the overall quality and speed/stamina attributes of his offspring. The fact the he did not run in a Derby or Arc has not put off breeders from stumping up the cash for a nomination to him. I am sure he will be fully booked until his sons and daughters hit the track (Short Term). The fact the he did not run in a Derby or Arc will not affect the quality of his offspring one iota. His destiny as a stallion is already set by his genes (Long Term). The sperm he produces is not affected by anything he has done on the track, good or bad.
As an example, just look at Danehill. A fairly good 6 furlong to 8 furlong runner rated about 120 to 125, siring many many Group1 winners at all distances from sprinters to Ascot Gold Cup winners and all distances between, including an Epsom Derby winner. He didn’t have to win a Group 1 himself at 5 furlongs or 20 furlongs to have the genes to produce top class offspring at that distance.
Harshthakor, whenever these lists are compiled, I always wait for my old favourite to appear, but she never does.
Park Top was a filly who developed so late that she was never entered for a classic, but her later record suggests she might well have won her Oaks.
I well remember seeing her win her first race, a maiden, very comfortably in the Windsor Monday night twilight, under Russ Maddock. Nobody realised what a star she would become.
What does Danehill have in common with Frankel? I doubt if his progeny will match Danehill but what does that prove? Nothing.Will connections be willing to buy his stock to win a Derby? Danehill had to prove himself in Australia.Like his racing career,Frankel will get an easy ride at stud,unlike Danehill.
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