Four South African-based horses feature in the first 2018 listing of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
.Last Winter – headed for a possible Hong Kong showdown in December
Dean Kannemeyer’s Sun Met runner-up Last Winter (in joint 7th posiition), Bass-Robinson July winner Marinaresco, Alistair Gordon’s recent Gr2 Gauteng Guineas winner Monks Hood and Justin Snaith’s Cape Flying Championship winner Sergeant Hardy are all on joint 12th in the illustrious top league, headed by retired Gun Runner and Aussie superstar Winx.
Sergeant Hardy
Except for the gallant Sergeant Hardy, the balance of the SA quartet are expected to be seen on the world stage this year. Last Winter and Marinaresco left for Mauritius on Monday, while Monks Hood is believed to headed for Hong Kong.
Both the top horses are rated 129, Gun Runner for his Pegasus World Cup victory, Winx for her blowout score in the Chipping Norton Stakes, her first race of the year. While Winx has a full campaign ahead of her, Gun Runner has been retired to stud and made his career finale in the Pegasus. West Coast is third-highest rated at 124 for his second in the Pegasus and is likely to start as the favorite March 31 in the Dubai World Cup.
Winx – Australian champion
Arrogate headed the final 2017 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with a rating of 134 following his win in the Dubai World Cup, while Winx topped out at 132 last year. The ratings are compiled throughout the year by an international panel of racing officials and handicappers working under the auspices of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities
