RAIL LINK LEADS THE EUROPEAN RANKINGS
Racing Post 17th January
European Top Ranked Horses of 2006
| Category |
Name |
Rank |
| Champion |
George Washington / Rail Link |
127 |
| Filly or Mare |
Pride |
123 |
| Older Horse |
Hurricane Run |
126 |
| 3 Year Old Colt |
George Washington / Rail Link |
127 |
The official panel always seems to exalt Arc form,
and so it is again with Rail Link's powerful victory sending Khalid
Abdullah's colt to the top of the European rankings alongside
George Washington, with whom he joins Deep Impact in a three-way
tie as the world's top-rated turf horse.
Unraced at two, Rail Link has gone form strength to strength
after an unfortunate start to his career when he clipped heels and
collided with the rail in a race at Saint-Cloud, losing his
rider.
Always highly rated, he was beaten next time out but never again in
5 subsequent starts (the last four over Arc course and distance.)
His first Group 1 bid saw him run out an emphatic two-length winner
over subsequent Breeders' Cup Turf winner Red Rocks in the Grand
Prix de Paris in July.
The Prix Niel's reputation as the most reliable Arc trial was again
demonstrated when Rail Link became the ninth horse to complete the
double since 1991, beating Pride by a neck in the big one. Although
Rail Link was recently reported to have suffered a minor setback he
stays in training in 2007.
EBN - 17th January 2007
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is usually Europe’s top rated contest
and was won last season by Rail Link, the joint-best European
three-year-old on 127, who just beat the world’s best older female
of 2006, Pride (123). The Juddmonte colt shares top billing amongst
his age group with the enigmatic George Washington, the pair being
assessed 1lb ahead of Dylan Thomas and the unfortunate Barbaro, who
is still some way from recovering from his injuries.
Europe’s top end of season race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe,
is often the highest rated contest, and looked to be a very high
class renewal last season. The eight runners included the three
best older horses in the world at the time, but two failed to run
to their best and the running of the original third, Deep Impact,
may or may not have been affected by the prohibited substance that
resulted in his disqualification. Nevertheless, the race provided a
glorious win for the ever-improving Rail Link, rated the joint-best
European three-year-old, who just beat the world’s best older
female Pride.
RAIL LINK
The joint top-rated European three-year-old Rail Link happily
remains in training, although his return to the track will be
delayed. Juddmonte’s homebred colt soon made amends for his
unfortunate debut in April, where he clipped heels with a rival and
lost his jockey, by finishing second to the smart Lauro at
Chantilly and then winning his five remaining races. These included
an easy win in the Gr.3 Prix du Lys, a two length defeat of
subsequent Breeders’ Cup hero Red Rocks in the newly-extended 12
furlong Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris, and a beating of German Gr.1
winner Youmzain in the Gr.2 Prix Niel. His Arc victory over Pride,
Deep Impact and Hurricane Run may not have been expected – he was
fourth favourite of the eight runners – but was well deserved and
he will surely add to his laurels this season.
The dual 2006 Gr.1 winners George Washington and Rail Link, both
judged to be the same margin better than Classic winners Barbaro
and Dylan Thomas (126) who, in turn, were some way clear of the
next best, the dual Gr.1-winning miler Araafa (122).
TOP COLTS/GELDINGS
TEOFILO (Ire) (Galileo) 123
HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (Ire) (Danehill) 122
DUTCH ART (GB) (Medicean) 121
MOUNT NELSON (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar) 119
SPIRIT ONE (Fr) (Anabaa Blue) 118
BATTLE PAINT (USA) (Tale of the Cat) 117
STRATEGIC PRINCE (GB) (Dansili)
117
AUTHORIZED (Ire) (Montjeu) 116
CAPTAIN MARVELOUS (Ire) (Invincible Spirit) 116
EAGLE MOUNTAIN (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar) 116
HAATEF (USA) (Danzig) 116
HALICARNASSUS (Ire) (Cape Cross) 116
VITAL EQUINE (Ire) (Danetime) 116
WI DUD (GB) (Elnadim) 116
TOP FILLIES
FINSCEAL BEO (Ire) (Mr Greeley) 119
SANDER CAMILLO (USA) (Dixie Union) 115
SIMPLY PERFECT (GB) (Danehill) 112
ALZERRA (UAE) (Pivotal) 111
ARCH SWING (USA) (Arch) 111
BEAUTY IS TRUTH (Ire) (Pivotal) 111
INDIAN INK (Ire) (Indian Ridge) 111
.
Date: 17 January 2007