World’s top two-year old

17 January 2002

Aidan O’Brien’s Co Tipperary yard boasts seven of the top juvenile racehorses in the world, with Johannesburg officially rated the best two-year-old

Johannesburg, Aidan O’Brien’s big hope for the Kentucky Derby in May, has been officially rated the best two-year-old in the world, as well as the outstanding European miler of any age.

The International Classifications, which are produced by a team of handicappers fromaround the world, run the rule over the leading thoroughbreds of Europe and America. They were announced in London on Wednesday when two-year-olds trained in Ireland by O’Brien swept the board.

Such is the Ballydoyle stable’s dominance that seven of the top juveniles hail from the Co Tipperary yard. Unbeaten Johannesburg, who has won Group 1 races in England, France, Ireland and America, is rated 126. He is 4lb ahead of his stablemate Hawk Wing.

Mick Channon’s flying Queen’sLogic, runaway winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes, is the top two-year-old filly on a mark of 122.

Galileo, winner of the Derby and the Irish Derby, plays second fiddle to America’s Point Given in the three-year-old ratings. Point Given, winner of the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, is on 130, 1lb above Galileo.

Godolphin’s Sakhee, so impressive in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is the best older horse ahead of his stable companion Fantastic Light, who narrowly outpointed Galileo in the race of the year, the Irish Champion Stakes.

• Click here to read how Johannesburg claimed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in New York.

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