Article posted on -  4/4/2008 2:07:52 AM

Jay Peg seen winning the Dubai Duty Free (DRC image)

THREE VIP HORSES RATED IN TOP 50 WORLD RANKINGS

VIP Thoroughbreds managed Jay Peg earned the right to be called the second best turf miler on earth after his impressive victory in the Dubai Duty Free. Only Breeders' Cup mile winner, Kip Deville is ahead of him on a rating of 122. JAY PEG is rated 120 along with Daiwa Major. Archipenko is rated 119 for his 3rd place finish in the Duty Free along with another VIP managed horse, Linngari. VIP's Sushisan is also rated in the Top 50.

SUN CLASSIQUE is rated the best filly in the world at 120. She was an impressive winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic.

CURLIN (USA) [130] has assumed the mantle of top racehorse in the world in the latest listing of the World's Leading Horses (1 October 2007 - 31 March 2008 inclusive) as ranked by the panel of official handicappers drawn from the major racing nations affiliated to the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). His recent imperious romp in the Emirates Dubai World Cup (G1), following on from his success in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Powered by Dodge) (G1) has earned him a rating of 130, a dirt performance level not achieved since Ghostzapper (USA) [130] back in 2004 and marking him out as the best winner of the Dubai World Cup since Dubai Millennium (GB) [134] in 2000.

There are a large number of new entries in the list arising out of the Dubai World Cup Meeting. The impressive trio of HONOUR DEVIL (ARG) [120] Al Naboodah UAE Derby (G2), JAY PEG (SAF) [120] Dubai Duty Free (G1) and the crack filly SUN CLASSIQUE (AUS) [120] Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) made it a night to remember for South African racing while domestically the dual J and B Met (G1) winner POCKET POWER (SAF) [118] was also deemed worthy of inclusion in the Top 5O horses in the World.

Apart from Curlin, the other notable performance from a North American perspective on Dubai World Cup night was the impressive win for dirt sprinter BENNY THE BULL (USA) [119] Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). Away from Dubai, Japanese horse MATSURIDA GOGH (JPN) [121] has emerged as a middle distance horse of substance and recently proved that his Arima Kinen (G1) performance was no fluke when easily winning the Nikkei Sho (G2). Hong Kong trained SACRED KINGDOM (AUS) [123] has confirmed his status as best sprinter in the world following his impressive win in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (G1) but is now facing competition for that accolade from the five time Group 1 winning Australian horse WEEKEND HUSSLER (AUS) [122], whose best performance was put up recently in the Newmarket Handicap (G1).