Unbeaten Frankel is officially the top-rated racehorse

Unbeaten superstar Frankel is officially the best racehorse in the world.

Frankel was this morning (Tuesday 15 January) confirmed as the highest-ever rated racehorse on the Flat, according to the 2012 World Thoroughbred Rankings.

“Frankel is the new benchmark for equine excellence,” said handicapper Garry O’Gorman.

The five-year-old son of Galileo now holds the top spot on the rankings, which were started in 1977, usurping former number one Dancing Brave. Frankel is the only horse to be judged a champion as a two, three and four year old.

Dancing Brave — who belonged to the same owner as Frankel, Khalid Abdulla — has been downgraded to a rating of 138, from 141 in a “historical recalibration” of the ratings.

Dancing Brave was trained by Guy Harwood, winning eight from 10 starts in 1985-86 — including the 2000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Frankel won 14 races while in training with Sir Henry Cecil and retired to stud unbeaten last year. His final race was in October in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

He now stands at his his owner Khalid Abdulla’s Banstead Manor stud, and his career as a stallion will start on 14 February. Each cover will cost mare owners £125,000.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdulla said they were “absolutely delighted” and that the ranking was “fully deserved.”

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