The TRC Global Rankings (thoroughbredracing.com) provide food for thought in assessing thoroughbred merit around the world. This is how their Top 20 looks as of end January 2022:
- LIFE IS GOOD USA
- ST MARK’S BASILLICA IRELAND
- KNICKS GO USA
- GRAN ALLEGRIA JAPAN
- EFFORIA JAPAN
- NATURE STRIP AUS
- PALACE PIER GBR
- BAAEED GBR
- GOLDEN SIXTY HK
- CONTRAIL JPN
- VERRY ELEEGANT AUS
- ESSENTIAL QUALITY USA
- MISHRIFF GBR
- ZAAKI AUS
- SPACE BLUES FRANCE
- TRUESHAN GBR
- MEDINA SPIRIT USA
- HURRICANE LANE GBR
- JACKIES WARRIOR USA
- HOT ROD CHARLIE USA
Life is Good made a big move surging to the top after deposing Knicks Go in the Pegasus. According to the TRC algorithm, which measures the quality of performances in 1450 qualifying Group and Graded races around the World over a rolling three-year period, he advanced by 175 points to achieve the Number 1 ranking.
Highly regarded American star, Flightline is also noted as making rapid progression moving from 60th to 39 and the next big win will propel him higher still. Real World has also made giant strides – up from 88 to 31 after scoring in the Zabeel Mile.
There is only one SAF in the Top 100 – Jet Dark slots in at 77 after his Queen’s Plate victory and sterling staying-on second in the Met. To put things in perspective Jet Dark is ranked between July Cup sprint victor, Starman and flashy French speedball, Suesa.
As James Willoughby, the racing expert behind these TRC calculations, said, “There are all sorts of possibilities further down the rankings. They are speculative at this stage, but the great thing about the sport of racing is that champions can emerge from all corners of the world. TRC Global Rankings reflects that international, cosmopolitan, multi-coloured reality.”