Undefeated Frankel has won yet another accolade after finishing top of the World Thoroughbred Rankings for 2012. The British trained horse crowned off an exceptional year by finishing with a rating of 136 and out trumping fellow unbeaten horse Black Caviar. Australia’s highest entry could only manage a rating of 132 with the veteran remaining in the unbeaten bracket with Frankel.
It’s apt that Frankel took the crown given the colt produced one of the moments of the season. The Sir Henry Cecil trained horse striding clear by a huge six lengths had many wondering whether what was before them was reality. It was, and the Qipco 2000 Guineas went with it. The horse proved his worth with victories in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes before finishing up the season with a win in the QE2 Stakes on the very first British Champions Day.
Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) and 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream (GER) shared third place. The Irish horse beaten by Frankel in the Sussex Stakes, Canford Cliffs, came joint fifth with with Rewiliding (GB). USA hasn’t had the best of years on the thoroughbred circuit and it was reflected in the presence of just one horse in the top ten, Dream Ahead taking join seventh. Adding to the woes, the fact this horse was trained in the UK meaning no horses trained over the pond were in the top ten.
Britain and Ireland continue to show they’re the leaders in thoroughbred racing and until Frankel gets bored and tries his hand at soccer then he’ll be atop that list every year.
