American Pharoah has been named World's Best Racehorse for 2015
Tuesday 19 January 2016 17:22, UK
American Pharoah's Breeders' Cup Classic victory saw him finish 4lb clear of Golden Horn as the 2015 Longines World's Best Racehorse.
The Triple Crown hero, who lit up American racing last year, signed off from the turf with a six-and-a-half-length victory over Effinex in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Watch the You Tube replay of the race by clicking here.
The race effectively proved little more than an exhibition for American Pharoah, who only narrowly failed to break the sacred two-minute barrier, and effortlessly overturned form with Keen Ice, the horse who had inflicted upon him the only defeat of his career, in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. All seven of his opponents in that race had registered a Grade/Group One victory previously in 2015.
American Pharoah is the first US-based horse since Curlin in 2008 to finish as world champion.
American Pharoah has now been retired to stud, but his successful owners were present at the ceremony in London to see him crowned as the world champion, 4lb ahead of worthy runner-up and fellow three-year-old Golden Horn (130), who achieved that mark in both the Investec Derby and Coral-Eclipse.
A rating of 130 mirrors that achieved by the world's best racehorses in both 2013 (Black Caviar and Treve) and 2014 (Just A Way).
However it was the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, another race that fell to Golden Horn, that was named as the World's Best Horse Race.
Jointly next in the list on 126 came American Shared Belief, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, and Treve, who blew her rivals away in the Prix Vermeille before coming up short in her bid to win the Arc for a third time.
Ace miler Solow (125), who carried all before him in Europe during the year, earned his rating in the Dubai Duty Free, while also high in the final standings were Irish St Leger winner Order Of St George (124), Fascinating Rock (123), Free Eagle (123), Jack Hobbs (123) and Flintshire (123).
On the other hand, it was a case of what might have been for Gleneagles (122), who never really had the opportunity to try and build upon the rating he earned in winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the ground having gone against him in the second half of the year.
LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings - Leading Horses | |||
Rank | Horse | Rating | Trained |
1 | AMERICAN PHAROAH (USA) | 134 | USA |
2 | GOLDEN HORN (GB) | 130 | GB |
3 | SHARED BELIEF (USA) | 126 | USA |
3 | TREVE (FR) | 126 | FR |
5 | ABLE FRIEND (AUS) | 125 | HK |
5 | SOLOW (FR) | 125 | FR |
BOB BAFFERT, TRAINER
On American Pharoah named the world's best racehorse:
"This is an honour, especially with all the horses that were up for it. Shared Belief was a fantastic horse. Treve, I've been watching her and the Arc is such a huge race, and then there's Golden Horn. It was a pretty impressive group of horses so just to be in the same sentence as them was pretty grand."
On American Pharoah's departure to stud:
"It was sad not having him around as we are used to having people there every day looking at him. When he left, it was like sending your child away to school for the next 20 years. You wonder if he'll be OK and whether he misses us, as we became so attached to him, but he has a wonderful career ahead of him. When he turned for home in the Breeders' Cup there was joy and also some sadness. The thing I really miss the most about him is seeing him breeze. Watching him breeze was really special."
On American Pharoah's impact in his homeland:
"He was such a kind animal and I shared him with everybody. He was the kind of horse who was unique and I could let him do that and share him and, to me, that was fun. I was his trainer but I was also a big fan of him. It was so uplifting for the people of America. He did it all."
AHMED ZAYAT, OWNER
On what it meant to own American Pharoah:
"Not only was he brilliant on the racetrack, he has connected with everyone in America. He brought us back hope. Everybody in America had access to him. He loved people. The persona of this special athlete is beyond and he is brilliantly smart. For 37 years we were waiting for a horse like that and he was finally the one."
On American Pharoah's legacy:
"What I want everyone to remember about American Pharoah is not only was he majestic and brilliant in the way he raced and how much liked winning the way he did, is how much he was the people's horse. We are truly humbled by that horse."
VICTOR ESPINOZA, JOCKEY
On American Pharoah's perceived frailties:
"The weakness for American Pharaoh was in the gate. That was my biggest challenge, just coming out of the gate. He never stood still. He was an awesome horse but every time he walked into the gate he moved round. As soon as he come out the gates and he was 20 yards out there it was a relief for me. I knew at that point everyone would be in trouble."
On when he first realised American Pharoah could win the Triple Crown:
"I thought if I could win the Kentucky Derby I can win the Triple Crown. It was a very challenging race for me but the minute I crossed the wire in the Kentucky Derby you don't know how happy I was. I thought the next two races will be cruise control for me and American Pharaoh."
On what American Pharoah has done for his career:
"American Pharoah was one of the best horses I ever rode. My career has changed completely. As has my life, basically. I've been on so many shows and met so many incredible people. Every time I sat on him, it was like I was in the clouds."
