The World Thoroughbred Rankings, published today, confirmed the outstanding year enjoyed by the Darley stallions in 2009, with them responsible for three of the top six ranked horses.
Medaglia d’Oro’s superb daughter Rachel Alexandra was rated the best three-year-old filly in the world after a truly sensational campaign that saw her notch five straight G1 wins, including the Preakness, the Haskell and the Woodward.
Zenyatta’s historic win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic confirmed her position as the world’s best on dirt or artificial surfaces, plus the best filly or mare over intermediate distances. The daughter of Street Cry also enjoyed an outstanding season in 2009, finishing her career with an unprecedented 14 wins from 14 starts with eight of them at G1 level.
Street Cry's first southern hemisphere G1 winner, Whobegotyou, was rated the best older horse trained in Australia in the mile and intermediate (8-10 furlong) categories.
Quality Road (Elusive Quality) was awarded a rating of 119, making him the best three-year-old sprinter in the world.
Darley’s European stallions were also prominent in the rankings with Sea The Stars, the outstanding son of Cape Cross who stormed to a history-making six G1 victories last year, awarded a rating of 136 – 6lbs higher than any other horse in the world and the highest rating for more than ten years.
Halling’s superb G1 winner and Arc third Cavalryman was rated the best three-year-old trained in France of last year, and the best sired by a stallion based in Great Britain, whilst multiple G1 winner Dar Re Mi (Singspiel) was rated 120, making her the best female over 12 furlongs.
