ARROGATE Crowned Longines World’s Best Racehorse of 2016 by Emma Berry

LONDON, UK– For the second year in one who was a rare succession, the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic sales purchase. has been instrumental in deciding the Juddmonte’s identity of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse with the 2016 winner Arrogate Racing Manager (Unbridled’s Song) following American Lord Grimthorpe Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in clinching added, “It’s quite the coveted title at a ceremony at extraordinary London’s Claridge’s Hotel on Tuesday. really. Prince Khalid Bob Baffert enjoyed his debut visit wanted to refocus to Britain’s capital last January and he back into California was back in town to celebrate the latest and asked Bob and accolade for his Juddmonte Farms-owned Garrett [O’Rourke] colt, who set a new record time in the GI to buy him some Travers S. at Saratoga last August when dirt-bred yearlings galloping to a 13 1/2-length victory, and and they’ve come subsequently earned an International up with this one.” Federation of Horseracing Authorities Arrogate and Mike Smith | Breeders’ Cup On Saturday, (IFHA) rating of 134 for his season-defining may have scooped Arrogate earned one of three Eclipse performance at Santa Anita when mowing Horse of the Year honours at the Eclipse down California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in Award trophies for Juddmonte when Awards, but he had to settle for second the stretch. coming out on top in the 3-year-old male in the Longines World Rankings, just a “I wish they could have called him category. His Breeders’ Cup runner-up pound behind Arrogate on 133, a mark he Baffert like they did with Frankel, but that was judged to have run to when second in might have been tempting fate,” joked the the Classic and also when winning the GI trainer who for the second year running I wish they could have Awesome Again S. and GI $1-million TVG has had the world’s highest-rated horse in Pacific Classic S. The popular chesnut also his barn. called“ him Baffertlike they won the G1 at Meydan Juddmonte’s homebred Frankel (GB) did with Frankel, in March. (Galileo {GB}) was twice named Longines With the two top-rated horses in the World’s Best Racehorse--in 2011 and but that might have been world having finished half a length apart 2012--his first mark of 136 equalling that in the Breeders’ Cup Classic it was no awarded to Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross tempting fate. surprise to see the race awarded number {Ire}) in 2009, while his final rating of 140 one status in the Longines World’s Best is the highest ever. The operation now has — Bob Baffert on Arrogate” Horse Race rankings, with a rating of another top-class representative, albeit 125.25.

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after the race, Arrogate’s longer-term And Waller gave hope to ’s fans aim is another shot at the Breeders’ Cup around the world hoping to see her race Classic. away from home, adding, “If she could “We’re going to be pointing at the win a third Cox Plate that would be the Breeders’ Cup again,” Baffert confirmed. pinnacle and that takes place in October. “But a lot can happen between now and After October we’ll take her on the world then.” stage.” On the subject of this weekend’s Introducing the awards, Longines Vice Pegasus World Cup, he added, “The President and Head of International horse is shipping today and there’s Marketing Juan-Carlos Capelli spoke sort of a different vibe. There’s a lot of of the common ground between his money on the line and any time you have company and the sport, saying, “Longines two champions on the line it’s going and horseracing share the same values: to be exciting. Prince Khalid is a great sportsman, usually the horse would have elegance, tradition and performance.” had a little time off, but we’re going for it Meanwhile, his co-host , IFHA Chairman and he really couldn’t be in better shape.” Louis Romanet, added a light-hearted “If this race had been here last year I’m political slant to proceedings. “I hope sure American Pharoah would have been Brexit will not damage the entente in it,” Baffert added. “It would have been a cordiale which goes back to King Louis great send-off for him.” Philippe and Queen Victoria.” Baffert may have flown across the Bob, Jill and Bode Baffert | Longines Atlantic to attend the awards, but the “It is a great honor and a thrill that the connections of Winx (Aus) ( Breeders’ Cup Classic has been selected {Ire}), including ’s champion trainer the world’s highest rated race of 2016,” Chris Waller and jockey , had a considerably longer trip to London, said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President leaving behind an Australian summer to and CEO. “Arrogate and California Chrome brave subzero temperatures in . put on a tremendous display for all of racing that day at Santa Anita Park, and Winx is yet to race outside her home to showcase such an exciting event on nation, where she is afforded superstar an international stage means so much to status as the winner of nine Group 1 races, us. Bob Baffert said it best: ‘We are just and she must be high on the wishlist of so proud to have horses like these. It’s Royal Ascot’s equine headhunter Nick all about the horses.’ Our sincere thanks Smith as a possible attendee at the Royal to the IFHA, and to Longines for their Meeting. She is now officially the top- remarkable commitment to rated mare and top turf horse in the world racing.” and was third overall in the Longines and IFHA rankings, with her second victory in Arrogate and California Chrome are set the G1 William Hill Cox Plate earning her a to go head-to-head again on Saturday in a mark of 132. scintillating first running of the $12-million “It’s a privilege to be associated with a GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at horse like Winx, she’s really special,” said Gulfstream Park. Waller. “She just has the determination With California Chrome set to head and a will to win, and that’s what sets her straight to Kentucky’s Taylor Made Farm apart.” Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman | Longines

January 25, 2017 | 2 Global Representation... victory in the G1 Yellowglen Turnbull S. The top 11 horses in the was judged to be his best performance The top 11 horses in the world last year of a busy campaign. also won a emanated from seven different countries, world last year emanated brace of Group 2 races last year before with America being responsible for three, finishing runner-up to Winx in the Australia and Japan for two apiece, and from seven different Cox Plate and third in the G1 Emirates the other four representing France, for John O’Shea. Britain, Ireland and Hong Kong. countries, with America Best of the British-trained horses was Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin- Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s Postponed, Normand’s treble Group 1 winner being responsible for three, whose trio of Group 1 victories in 2016 Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) came in the Dubai Sheema Classic, led the European horses, his rating of Australia and Japan for two Coronation Cup and Juddmonte 129 having been gained in both the G1 International S. QIPCO Champion S. and G1 QIPCO Irish apiece, and the other four Hong Kong made its presence felt in the Champion S. The Jean-Claude Rouget Longines World’s Best Racehorse rankings trainee also won the G1 Prix du Jockey representing France, Britain, via its G1 Audermars Piguet Queen Club in 2016. Elizabeth II Cup winner Werther, trained Two pounds behind him on 127 were Ireland and Hong Kong. by John Moore and also the winner of the the Japanese duo of (Jpn) 2016 BMW Hong Kong Derby. (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the recently Godolphin’s Frosted (Tapit) completed the Established by 20 handicappers retired Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}). from 17 different countries, the world American-based trio in the top 11 when The globetrotting A Shin Hikari had a busy rankings are given according to individual posting a mark of 126 for his facile victory year, clocking up runs at Chantilly--where performances of each horse in the best he reached his high mark by winning the in the GI Mohegan Sun Metropolitan H., international races. In 2015 American G1 Prix d’Ispahan by a cool 10 lengths- that 14-length win being followed by his Pharoah was named Longines World’s Best -Royal Ascot, Tokyo and Sha Tin. In his triumph in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga. Racehorse, on a mark of 134, following his last two starts it was Maurice who came Easily the best of the European string of victories in the American Triple out best, his G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup distaffers,Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic. victory being judged to be his best run of a frustrating run of five second-place the year. finishes throughout her ultra-consistent World’s Best Races... season, but her determination was With the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic rewarded by her well-received victory in leading the way as the Longines World’s the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Best Horse Race with a rating of 125.25, earning the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly there was a three-way tie for the second- a rating of 124. Found was also judged top-rated race in the world last year to have run to this mark when chasing between the GI $1-million TVG Pacific home Almanzor in the Irish Champion S., Classic S., the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion and she was one of four horses to have S. and G1 William Hill Cox Plate, each finished in eighth place in the rankings, achieving a mark of 124.75. with 124 also being awarded to Hartnell The two top horses in the world, Arrogate (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), Postponed (Ire) and California Chrome, fought out the finish (Dubawi {Ire}) and Werther (NZ) (Tavistock to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with ‘Chrome’ {NZ}). also landing the Pacific Classic. Europe’s Following his export from Britain to top two, Almanzor and Found, were first Australia, Hartnell has proved to be one and second in the Irish Champion, while of the toughest stayers in training in his Australia’s leading duo of Winx and Hartnell Almanzor and Christophe Soumillon | Racingfotos adopted country, and the Darley-bred’s filled the Cox Plate quinella.

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In fifth place on 124 was the G1 QIPCO time zones and hemispheres has on British Champion S., one of two races on horses is a huge thing. To put it in human QIPCO British Champions Day to make the terms I’d say it’s like having jetlag for six top 10 along with the G1 Queen Elizabeth Bob Baffert said to me months plus. We have a lot of horses II S (121.25). coming over from Europe and I don’t see that“ he believes her racing complete acclimatisation until about 14 The GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf was months after they arrive because of their awarded a mark of 122.25, having been style looks like a dirt horse body clock adjusting.” won in 2016 by Coolmore’s Highland With that in mind, a future international Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) with Juddmonte’s and being by Street Cry target for Winx will be centred on high-class stallion Flintshire (GB) (Dansili a campaign rather than just one {GB}) in second. The pair were co-twelfth, that’s possible. appearance. with Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}), “After Winx’s third Cox Plate attempt Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and Satono Crown she’ll be coming to the world stage but (Jpn) (Marju {Ire}), in the world racehorse I’m not sure if that was a it won’t be for just one run––we want to rankings on 123. give her a proper preparation to make The G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe challenge or not. sure she can compete at the highest level,” he continued. “We need to find and G1 China Horse Club George Ryder a race programme that fits together, S. took equal seventh on 122, with the –Winx’s trainer Chris Waller” starting a little bit easier and ending with G1 Dubai Sheema Classic presented by a really big race. My thoughts are that Longines weighed in as the she might start over 1400 ninth-best race in the world metres in Europe but 1600 last year on 121.5. to 2000 metres are her best distances.” The top-rated sprint race in the world was the The trainer believes that Longines Hong Kong Sprint his charge, now five, has the (118.75), while the Kikuka ideal temperament to cope Sho (Japanese St Leger) was with the travelling required. He said, “She won’t win by big the best staying race of the margins, she’ll race up to her year (118.5) and the top race best at whatever is against her. restricted to fillies and mares A great example is the barrier only was the GI Longines trials we have in Australia–– Breeders’ Cup Distaff (120.5). she’s had 10 barrier trials Of the 100 best races in and she’s never won one of them but in a race she’s just the world in 2016 according a different machine. She’s to rankings, Australia and obsessed with winning, her the USA hosted the greatest determination is unbelievable, Winx and Hugh Bowman | Mary Ellet number with 23 each. it’s quite exceptional, and Nineteen were run in Britain, that has taken us on a ride 12 in Japan, 11 in Hong Kong, seven in The World Waits For Winx... that we never expected. If it takes us on France, four in the UAE, three in Ireland Any hopes of Winx running at Royal another ride to England or France then and one apiece in Germany, Canada and Ascot this year were dashed by Chris that same determination should get us South Africa. Waller’s assertions that the mare’s priority out of trouble. I think she’ll be a pretty will be attempting to win a third Cox Plate straightforward horse to travel. She’s very Once again, a panel of international in October. However, he didn’t rule out a athletic––her weight stays the same even handicappers is consulted to assess the trip to Europe, or perhaps even America, if she has a week away from training.” Longines World’s Best Horse Race from in 2018. And Winx and Waller may not stop at the highest-rated Group 1 international “Racing is such a global sport these Europe. “Once we’re up in the Northern races. They consider the ratings of the top days and to be recognised as the best turf Hemisphere even going to the Breeders’ four finishers in each race. horse in the world is a really big thing,” Cup wouldn’t be impossible. It’s a matter Juan-Carlos Capelli presented Longines said Sydney’s champion trainer. of being level-headed and thinking about what we’re taking on. If she went to the watches to Craig Fravel, chief executive Waller has had noted success with Breeders’ Cup why wouldn’t she run over officer and president of Breeders’ Cup, European imports in Australia and he a mile on the turf, but the Classic would and Bryan Pettigrew, senior vice president, brought sprinter Brazen Beau to Ascot in have to be a possibility, too. Bob Baffert marketing and sponsorship, and the pair 2015, but that experience has made him said to me that he believes her racing style also received a replica of the Longines wary of asking too much of a horse after looks like a dirt horse and being by Street World’s Best Horse Race trophy from IFHA being flown to the other side of the world. Cry that’s possible. I’m not sure if that was Chairman Louis Romanet. He said, “The control travelling to different a challenge or not.”

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