Just a Way tops Longines World Rankings at 130

[Stickhorse]

LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Rank Horse Rating
1 Just a Way 130 JPN
2 Variety Club 126 UAE
3 Game On Dude 125 USA
4 California Chrome 124 USA
5 African Story 123 UAE
5 Cirrus des Aigles 123 FR
5 Designs On Rome 123 HK
5 Lankan Rupee 123 AUS
5 Military Attack 123 HK
5 Will Take Charge 123 USA

http://www.horseracingintfed.com/res...4_05_LWBRR.asp

[blackthroatedwind]

There is much to chuckle about there, but my personal favorite is California Chrome being ranked ahead of Cirrus des Aigles ( who only finished second in the Sheema to Gentiledonna and beat Treve at Longchamp ).

[my miss storm cat]

Agree but these lists are always a bit of a joke.

For people who don't follow racing in Australia I just wanted to share this cause it is adorable (in other words warning... pretty horsie moment).

This is Lankan Rupee.

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

There is much to chuckle about there, but my personal favorite is California Chrome being ranked ahead of Cirrus des Aigles ( who only finished second in the Sheema to Gentiledonna and beat Treve at Longchamp ).

I think Cirrus des Aigles should be second and Game On Dude should not be in 3rd.

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Agree but these lists are always a bit of a joke.

For people who don't follow racing in Australia I just wanted to share this cause it is adorable (in other words warning... pretty horsie moment).

This is Lankan Rupee.

[dellinger63]

Will Take Charge 5th, Wise Dan 11th

[PatCummings]

It should be noted that the rankings are based on the best performances based on surface. This does not equate to speed, at all. Class is the main factor. There are no other dirt races in the world outside of the U.S. to compare, and anyway you look at it, the Derby winner is still the Derby winner. These are only based on the calendar year as well.

Furthermore, a horse can't lose a ranking. They get their ranking for one race performance, and only one race performance, and that number sticks. It won't change. Someone else has to surpass it.

With the vast majority of older-horse races in Europe still to come, there is plenty of time for the Americans to be passed.

What will be even better is when Variety Club smashes Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

[my miss storm cat]

The rankings are a joke in many ways but this?

Originally Posted by PatCummings

What will be even better is when Variety Club smashes Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

He's a good horse with an awfully nice record BUT beating up on Haatheq and Rutland Boy repeatedly (and yes I am only talking about his races this year) and some tiring HK (former) champions (California Memory, Dan Excel etc) is quite a bit different.

Dan will eat him for lunch.

[PatCummings]

Please.

Look into Able Friend a bit more. He beat Designs on Rome earlier this year, and was deservedly short in the Champions Mile. Designs on Rome wins the APQEII Cup from Military Attack and Vercingetorix.

[VOL JACK]

By the time Lukas gets 12 more races into WTC this year, I'm sure we won't have to worry about whether he is as good as CC.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Please.

Look into Able Friend a bit more. He beat Designs on Rome earlier this year, and was deservedly short in the Champions Mile. Designs on Rome wins the APQEII Cup from Military Attack and Vercingetorix.

Gee thanks for the info cause I have never paid attention to HK in my life.

Zaidan hasn't won since Feb. of 2012, California Memory, who is one of my favorite horses ever, hasn't even run since last November.

Poor Real Specialist had his good season with 6 wins back in 2012 (no wins since). Should I go on? Helene Spirit and Dan Excel (with his total 2 wins?)? Come on...

These aren't exactly the days of the old guard. This isn't Bullsih Luck / Silent Witness / Vengeance of Rain / Sacred Kingdom time.

I don't need a lecture on Able Friend and yes I know about Designs on Rome but I would argue that the field wasn't really very strong considering.

Wise Dan fights back. He knows where that finish line is. I don't know how many races he has left but I don't think anyone... good horse or flavor of the month... will be beating him period.

[Danzig]

The stephen foster was mentioned as a possibility for wise dan. Would love to see him take on will take charge, mucho macho man, etc

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Gee thanks for the info cause I have never paid attention to HK in my life.

Zaidan hasn't won since Feb. of 2012, California Memory, who is one of my favorite horses ever, hasn't even run since last November.

Poor Real Specialist had his good season with 6 wins back in 2012 (no wins since). Should I go on? Helene Spirit and Dan Excel (with his total 2 wins?)? Come on...

These aren't exactly the days of the old guard. This isn't Bullsih Luck / Silent Witness / Vengeance of Rain / Sacred Kingdom time.

I don't need a lecture on Able Friend and yes I know about Designs on Rome but I would argue that the field wasn't really very strong considering.

Wise Dan fights back. He knows where that finish line is. I don't know how many races he has left but I don't think anyone... good horse or flavor of the month... will be beating him period.

If anyone else on here knew anything about the horses we were talking about, that response could be nominated for the most asinine of the year.

Needless to say (well, at least I thought it was), opining on the quality of a race while citing the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th placers is never a good spot to start. The field wasn't strong because of who Variety Club beat by anywhere from 11.25 to 30 lengths?

Keep up with that one...and you are welcome in the parimutuel pools anytime.

[Indian Charlie]

Byk, when are you going to implement likely buttons for good posts?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

If anyone else on here knew anything about the horses we were talking about, that response could be nominated for the most asinine of the year.

Needless to say (well, at least I thought it was), opining on the quality of a race while citing the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th placers is never a good spot to start. The field wasn't strong because of who Variety Club beat by anywhere from 11.25 to 30 lengths?

Keep up with that one...and you are welcome in the parimutuel pools anytime.

I didn't mention them because of where they finished though... I mentioned them because they're some of the top rated horses in hk, aren't they? Some of those poor old guys whose best days were so long ago?

Doesn't it show how meaningless all of these alleged rankings are?

HKJC Top 50 Horses (as of 8/5/2014)
Rating Name Brand No Trainer

129 AKEED MOFEED P125 R Gibson
129 AMBITIOUS DRAGON K399 A T Millard
129 DESIGNS ON ROME P270 J Moore
129 MILITARY ATTACK N175 J Moore
127 GLORIOUS DAYS M353 J Size
126 CALIFORNIA MEMORY L135 A S Cruz
126 GOLD-FUN P045 R Gibson
125 DOMINANT N169 J Moore
124 ABLE FRIEND P303 J Moore
124 BLAZING SPEED P192 A S Cruz
124 DAN EXCEL N195 J Moore
124 LUCKY NINE L259 C Fownes
123 STERLING CITY N152 J Moore
122 AMBER SKY N241 P F Yiu
121 CHARLES THE GREAT N171 J Moore
121 ENDOWING N371 J Size
121 JOY AND FUN H014 D Cruz
121 RICH TAPESTRY N011 C W Chang
120 EAGLE REGIMENT M011 K L Man
120 HELENE SPIRIT M310 C Fownes
118 FLAGSHIP SHINE P104 J Moore
118 FREDERICK ENGELS N187 J Moore
118 PACKING WHIZ N120 C Fownes
117 REAL SPECIALIST M143 J Size
115 DIBAYANI S120 C W Chang
113 BULLISH CHAMPION M198 A S Cruz
112 FAY FAY L284 J Size
112 GO BABY GO N033 C H Yip
112 SAME WORLD N098 J Moore
110 BULLISH FRIEND N333 A S Cruz
110 RAINBOW CHIC P118 C Fownes
109 DIVINE TEN P391 Y S Tsui
108 BUBBLE CHIC N369 D J Hall
107 SECRET SHAM P174 J Moore
107 WILLIE CAZALS N119 A S Cruz
105 AEROVELOCITY P069 P O'Sullivan
105 STRAIGHT GOLD N089 J Moore
105 ZAIDAN M234 A S Cruz

I just don't think it took a special horse for that win... that was the point I was trying to make.

No little number needed before of after Wise Dan's name thank you. I think he will beat whoever he runs against period.

Oh... Indian Charlie loved your post incase you wondered.

I'd give you a little gold star if I could.

Or a thobe or a gutra or something.

[PatCummings]

Goodness, are you not making the point for me? What more would I need to say?

Ignore the layoff for California Memory for a moment...he beats Able Friend, Glorious Days (last year's int'l HK Mile winner), and Gold-Fun. All in-form horses...and he did it by 4L, 5.25L, and 6L, respectively. It was a TROUNCING, and Variety Club became the only non-HK-based horse to win the race.

Specific to the Longines rankings, and ONLY the Longines rankings, these are ratings for one-off performances, not an analysis of a sustained campaign. In that race, winning by four over some of the best in HK, along with a G1 winner from the UK/France/Australia - this TROUNCING was deserving of the rating it was given by the international panel assembled.

That rating does not speak to what his future holds, or anything else. But on it's own, one-race merit, it was deserved.

[PatCummings]

How you feeling about Dan Excel, now, MMSC. Wins Singapore Airlines International Cup, defeating Military Attack...Variety Club just looks better and better.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

How you feeling about Dan Excel, now, MMSC. Wins Singapore Airlines International Cup, defeating Military Attack...Variety Club just looks better and better.

Yes I was totally wrong about poor old Dan Excel, you were right, good for you cause you know what Mr. Cummings I am SOOOOOOOOOOO happy about Lucky Nine that I love the world and you and your silly overrated horse (kidding!).

Really though I am just very happy and relieved cause I didn't think he should have made the trip over so yes... totally wrong on a few counts.

I still do think these rankings are silly and that - for example - It's a Dundeel is too low and Variety Club too high but to hell with it.

[Arletta]

I am happy because Nathans brother Tommy rode him and how meaningful it was for him to win.

http://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/art...ules-singapore