City Of Troy: Aidan O’Brien’s star and Laurel River share Longines World’s Best Racehorse award | Racing News

Troy shared top spot in the 2024 Longines Best Racehorse Rankings alongside Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River.

Aidan O’Brien has hailed the son of Justify as the best player he has ever coached following victories in the Betfred Derby, Coral Eclipse and Goodmont International.

Having enjoyed Classic success at Epsom, he was more proficient in action at Sandown but then dominated a great York event, making it all the way clear of Calandagan and taking a mark of 128.

Speaking at The Savoy in London, regular jockey Ryan Moore said: “The Derby is always special and this was a fantastic day, this is what he was born to do and this is what Aidan always thought he would do and everyone always thought he could do.

“But when he won the Juddmonte, that was probably the best performance I’ve ever been on a racehorse, he was very good that day, it was an exceptional performance and I was a bit disappointed we didn’t get to see him again.” [in Europe]But it couldn’t have been better that day.

“He was different to the first day I rode him at the Curragh. Obviously we had a crash in the Guineas but apart from that, he always gave me that feeling. Once he got into his rhythm, he was very difficult to stop – he was tough and a brilliant racehorse “.

For the first time since 2019, when Crystal Ocean, Enable, and Waldgeist all won, there was a tie at the top of the table.

While Troy reigned supreme on turf before disappointing on dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Laurel River He made his mark on the artificial surface of Meydan in the first three months of the year.

Trained by Popat Simar and owned by Juddmonte, he followed up two Group Three victories with a stunning victory in the Dubai World Cup, beating Japan’s Oshba Tesoro and American ace Senor Puscador by more than eight lengths.

Despite not being seen again after that dazzling display at the end of March, the son of Into Mischief has done enough to stay on top.

“The most important thing probably about this horse is that he is one of the last local horses that Prince Khalid (Abdullah) decided to breed, so he is particularly important to us,” said Douglas Erskine Croom, Juddmont’s chief executive.

Via Sistina He bested among fillies and mares in third place on 127, mainly thanks to a wide win in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

This was one of five Group One strokes for Chris Waller’s stint during the calendar year, with other elite-level results coming in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, the Randwick’s Winx Stakes, the TAB Sponsored Turnbull Stakes and the Champions Stakes, both at Flemington.

A stunning 25/1 defeat of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Kipco Stakes over the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bluestocking champion and multiple Group One winner saw Rebel’s Romance Goliath He finished fourth with 126.

Calandagana Breeders’ Cup Classic star Sierra Leonefellow American ace FiercelyJapan Cup champion Do you tie And the Hong Kong star Romantic warrior They were all tied for fifth with 125, while Roger Varian Miller was the champion Charyn He completed the top ten at 124.

Frankel, who topped the rankings twice in 2011 and 2012, and 2022’s Flightline leader, remain the two highest-ranked winners of this award, with both achieving a towering mark of 140 at the peak of their powers.

the Juddmont International It was his name Longines is the best racing horse in the world For the second time.

Having previously topped the classification in 2020, she is back at the top with recent victories in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Breeders’ Cup Classic and Japan Cup.

York CEO and Clerk of the Course William Derby said: “It is a great honor that our flagship race, the Group 1 Juddmonte International, has been awarded the 2024 Longines World Horse Race of the Year award.

“It is the ultimate recognition of the vision, commitment and investment by the York Racing Committee and Juddmont over the past four decades. So many people play a part in delivering great horse racing like this at a world elite level; this is a huge honor for all of them.”

“Of course, this would not have been possible without the support of the horse associations themselves – we are extremely grateful to the owners of the thirteen wonderful thoroughbreds and to the trainers, jockeys and racing staff who contributed to this unforgettable spectacle, as well as everyone who supports racing at York.

“Winning for a second time, and joining a small group of world-famous races, only reinforces the commitment of everyone at York to high-quality sporting action.”