In the Asian Racing Federation rankings for the first six months of the year, Australia (and New Zealand) has just three of the top 13 horses. Lankan Rupee is the highest rated sprinter in the region (he is the world’s highest rated sprinter), and the retired It’s A Dundeel and dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls are the only other two horses to make the list.
Champion Japanese galloper Just A Way is the highest rated horse at 130 with South Africa’s best galloper, Variety Club, second on the list at 126.
Outstanding Japanese stayer Gold Ship is third on the list with 124, while Lankan Rupee shares the 123 rating line with the UK’s African Story and Hong Kong’s Designs On Rome and Military Attack.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner It’s A Dundeel is rated at 122 while Dan Excel, the Singapore International Gold Cup winner and Cox Plate contender is rated at 120, as too isSacred Falls.