Kiwis feature prominently in world rankings

[Wandering Eyes]

There was a distinct Kiwi flavour in the latest Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

Following the first three months of racing in 2023, New Zealand sourced gelding Golden Sixty sits atop the rankings with a 125 rating after his victory over Romantic Warrior (123) in the Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) before repeating the dose in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

The champion galloper was sold through Sam Beatson’s Riversley Park for $300,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale and was further educated by Matamata horseman Graham Richardson prior to his departure to Hong Kong.

New Zealand-bred four-year-old Lucky Sweynesse has been a revelation in Hong Kong, winning nine of his 13 starts for Manfred Man.

The Luigi Muollo-bred son of Sweynesse has been rewarded with a rating of 119, ranking him the 10^th equal best racehorse in the world alongside Alligator Blood and Country Grammer.

Kiwi mare Imperatriz has a Longines World Ranking of 117
Photo: Trish Dunell

The Mark Walker-trained Imperatriz was undefeated in her three starts in New Zealand this year, winning the Gr.1 Railway (1200m), Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) and Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) prior to her narrow defeat in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) in Sydney last weekend.

The Raffles Dancers-bred mare’s rating of 117 ranked her as the 18^th best racehorse in the world alongside New Zealand-breds I Wish I Win and Mo’unga.

The Waikato Stud bred and raced I Wish I Win was runner-up behind Coolangatta in the Gr.1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) and is a $4.40 joint favourite for Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), while Mo’unga, also a Waikato Stud bred, finished third to Anamoe in the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at his most recent outing.

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