Curlin, reigning Horse of the Year in the United States, narrowly edged British-based turf star Duke of Marmalade to rank atop Timeform’s Global Rankings, which were released on Wednesday following the conclusion of the Glorious Goodwood festival.
With a rating of 134, Curlin got the nod from Timeform as best racehorse in the world on the strength of his convincing victories in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic Presented by Dodge (G1) and the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) at Nad al Sheba Racecourse in March.
A further international campaign has been postponed for the four-year-old Smart Strike colt, who finished second to Red Rocks (Ire) in the Man o’ War Stakes (G1) in his turf debut on July 12 at Belmont Park, which halted a five-race unbeaten streak dating back to last August. Curlin is to make his next start on dirt in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) on August 30 at Saratoga Race Course.
Duke of Marmalade is undefeated in four Group 1 races this year in England, Ireland, and France. The four-year-old Danehill colt recorded his career-best Timeform rating of 133 when capturing the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-G1) on July 26 at Ascot in his first start at 1 1/2 miles. He could cut back to 1 1/4 miles for his next start in either the Juddmonte International (Eng-G1) on August 19 at York or Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1) on September 6 at Leopardstown.
U.S.-based dual classic winner Big Brown was third in the rankings at 132. The Boundary colt, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), returned from an eight-week layoff after an inexplicable performance in the Belmont Stakes (G1) in which he was eased in the stretch. He showed determination upon his return, winning the Haskell Invitational Stakes Presented by Vonage (G1) on August 3 at Monmouth Park.
Turf performer Papal Bull, a five-year-old Montjeu (Ire) horse who was the runner-up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Princess of Wales’s Wbx.com Stakes (Eng-G2) on July 10 at Newmarket, also scored a rating of 132.
English and Irish Guineas winner Henrythenavigator, who remains unbeaten in four starts this year following his win in the BGC Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) on July 30 at Goodwood, was next at 131 along with New Approach and Sacred Kingdom.
Timeform’s rating of racing merit is assigned by a team of experts. Timeform Global Rankings are launched each year with the publication of the Racehorses annual in early March. Updates to the list are released nine times per year, following major international flat meetings. The next update follows the Irish Champion Stakes and Qatar Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) in September.
For the complete ratings, click here.