RACING POST RATINGS/ BEST ON THE PLANET?

Having a look at the RPR

Have to consider that they are over different distances and surfaces, I have listed a few for your info and comments?

131 Curlin
128 Big Brown
127 Getaway
126 Sacred Kingdom
125 Viva Picata
125 Weekend Hustler
123 Henry the Navigator
123 New Approach
122 Sun Classique
122 Archipenco
122 Takeover Target
121 Jay Peg

As far as the jumps

187 Master Minded
185 Denman
180 Voy Por Ustedes
179 Kauto Star
179 Neptune Collonges

This BIG BROWN is really a wonderful athlete - I hope he can carry on his track form to the padock

I am hoping that he will meet Curlin in the Breeders Cup, as he goes to stud at the end of the season. He has to win the Belmont first, he is 4/10 fav!

Big Brown team deny fatigue will stop Triple Crown bid

Big Brown: may become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown

by Press Association Sport

CONNECTIONS of Big Brown are adamant his quest for the Triple Crown will not be unhinged by fatigue.

Flanked by more than a dozen cameras, Rick Dutrow's star colt arrived in New York on Monday in preparation for the Belmont Stakes.

The son of Boundary has already secured victory in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and aims to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.

Dutrow is convinced Big Brown still has enough left in the tank, despite his demanding May schedule, to realise that dream in the mile-and-a-half test on June 7.

"I'm confident in this horse because of the way he's run his races and the level of competition he's faced," said Dutrow.

"I really don't expect to do much more than to give him one maintenance breeze and go on to the Belmont Stakes.

"He has become so much better than any of them. And he has trained and raced in cool weather, so he is still a pretty fresh horse."

Big Brown, who has won five races races by an average of almost eight lengths, has the weight of history against him as he bids to be become only the 12th Triple Crown winner.

Six horses have claimed the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in the last 11 years but were beaten in the Belmont, most recently Smarty Jones in 2004.

Are there any challenger to take on big brown at his age in the US.

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Big Brown could take on Curlin in Breeders' Cup Classic

Big Brown: the plan is "the Belmont, Travers and Breeders' Cup," says trainer Rick Dutrow


BIG BROWN could clash with reigning Horse of the Year Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in October as trainer Rick Dutrow mapped out his star colt's 2008 campaign after his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes.

The unbeaten three-year-old remains on course to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years after his scintillating performance in the Preakness Stakes earlier this month. After the Belmont on June 7 he will head to Saratoga for the Travers Stakes, a race won last year by filly Rags To Riches.

Dutrow said: "Our plan is the Belmont, Travers and Breeders' Cup," he said. "We are going to show up if our horseis good and ready. I don't know what they are going to do. I would like to see them run together, it would be good for racing and good for us. It won't be so good for them."
Dutrow has taken issue with jockey Edgar Prado for his ride on Riley Tucker, who eventually finished last, in the Preakness Stakes.

"It looked like Prado was just trying to keep our horse in a box and not to get the best finish out of his horse." he said. "It looked like he just did something to keep our horse in behind his horse and he had to go out of his way to do it."


>> GRADE 1 winner Panty Raid has suffered a suspensory injury to her off-fore and will be out of action for most of the summer, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. She was third in her lone start of the season as the favourite in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland in April.

I just had a look at the IFHA's top 50 list (1 Nov 2007 to 4 May 2008).

Four South African bred horses make the list:
- 14th Jay Peg (120)
- 14th Pocket Power (120)
- 31st Mythical Flight (118)
- 31st Oracle West (118)

On top of that, there are the others with SA connections:
- 14th Archipenko (120)
- 14th Honour Devil (120)
- 14th Sun Classique (120)
- 23rd Linngari (119)
- 31st Sushisan (118)

Makes for good reading. Well done all concerned!