Racing:Two Aidan O'Brien Irish-trained horses, Cape Blanco and Rip Van Winkle, were listed as top 10 performers on the Thoroughbred Rankings for 2010 headed by the Michael Stoute-trained Harbinger.
Cape Blanco (126) completed the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby/Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes double last achieved by Dylan Thomas (126) back in 2006. In the process Cape was rated top three-year-old colt on turf over 10 furlongs in the world.
Rip Van Winkle (126) shared the same distinction among the older horses when winning the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, while he also shared top status in the world among older milers in running a close second to Canford Cliffs (127) in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Their stablemate Lillie Langtry (117) was the highest rated filly in Ireland during 2010 and shared the mantle of top three-year-old female turf miler in the world by virtue of her Group 1 winning double in annexing the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
O’Brien’s Starspangledbanner (121) was imported into Ireland from Australia, and while still a southern hemisphere bred three year old, he won the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot which constituted the best performance by a three-year-old sprinter in the world on any surface during 2010. Record-breaking filly Goldikova was rated 125 following her third Breeders' Cup Mile triumph.
Harbinger was awarded the top mark of 135, putting him 6lb clear of next-best Blame despite the fact his career was curtailed by injury. Stoute’s charge was undefeated in four starts last term, culminating in an 11-length romp in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
However, he did not race again after sustaining a leg injury following that Ascot demolition job, eventually being retired and sold to stud in Japan.
A mark of 135 puts him just 1lb behind Sea The Stars following his three-year-old unbeaten run in 2009 and 6lb shy of the top-rated horse since the rankings began in 1977, Dancing Brave.
Blame, who inflicted Zenyatta's first career defeat when holding her by the narrowest of margins in the Breeders' Cup Classic, was next best on 129, 1lb ahead of 2,000 Guineas victor Makfi, Derby hero Workforce and three-time American Grade One winner Quality Road.
Workforce was well beaten by Harbinger at Ascot but redeemed his reputation with victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and shares the title of top three-year-old with Makfi.
Makfi was triumphant at Newmarket last May but suffered defeat by Canford Cliffs on his next start, although he is still rated 1lb higher than that rival. Japanese-trained Arc second Nakayama Festa shares that rating of 127.
Dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, who is now part of the Ballydoyle set-up after leaving the care of Australian legend Bart Cummings, joined Cape Blanco and Rip Van Winkle on the 126 mark.
Dewhurst hero Frankel and Prix Morny and Middle Park winner Dream Ahead have been assessed as the joint best juvenile colts on 126 while Cheveley Park victor Hooray is rated the leading two-year-old filly on 117.
Older horses
135 Harbinger
129D Blame
128D Quality Road
127 Nakayama Festa
126 Rip Van Winkle
125 So You Think
125 Goldikova
125 Twice Over
125D Zenyatta
124 Byword
124 Fame And Glory
124 Paco Boy
Three-year-olds
128 Makfi
128 Workforce
127 Canford Cliffs
126 CapeBlanco
124 Dick Turpin
124D Eskendereya
124D Lookin At Lucky
124 Lope De Vega
123D Fly Down
122 Behkabad
122 Poet's Voice