American Pharoah’s greatness cemented after being named world’s best racehorse

Ahmed Zayat, second right, the owner of the racehorse American Pharoah, his son Justin, left, wife Joanne and Mexican jockey Victor Espinoza pose for photographers after receiving their Longines World's Best Racehorse award for American Pharaoh's achievements in 2015 at an award ceremony at Claridge's hotel in London, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. American Pharoah won the U.S. Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 2015, becoming the first horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes since 1978. Matt Dunham / AP PhotoShow less

LONDON // American Pharoah’s brilliance and durability just outshone Golden Horn when the American Triple Crown winner was named the world’s best racehorse on Tuesday.

American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes for 37 years last season and then augmented that historic achievement by adding on the Breeders’ Cup Classic in October.

It was his victory at Keeneland, where all seven of his rivals boasted a win at the highest level, that sealed his greatness according to the team of 22 international handicappers who compile the rankings.

The PioneerOf The Nile colt, who has retired to stud in Kentucky to stand for a fee of US$200,000 (Dh734,550), is the first dirt horse to top the rankings since 2008 when Curlin dominated the standings during his Dubai World Cup-winning season.

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American Pharoah could not quite reel in the great Cigar, however, and on 134 his rating remains 1lb shy of the inaugural Dubai World Cup winner back in the mid 1990s.

American Pharoah, who was trained by Bob Baffert, won seven of his eight starts in 2015 and was only beaten when chasing a furious pace set by Godolphin’s Frosted in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, a racecourse known as the “Graveyard of Champions”.

“He did it all,” Baffert said at the ceremony at Claridge’s Hotel in London.

“I’ve had a lot of talented horses but he just kept bringing it. He was that type of horse.”

The recognition comes just a few days after American Pharoah was voted unanimously Horse of the Year at the prestigious Eclipse Awards in the United States.

Baffert was joined at the ceremony by the entire cast of American Pharoah’s connections, including jockey Victor Espinoza and owner Ahmed Zayat.

“He was great for racing,” Zayat said. “He was the best of the best.

“No matter who came to see him he was cuddly, he was lovely, he was gentle. He was brilliantly smart. To be internationally recognised here is very special.

“American Pharoah is a horse of a lifetime. He has connected with everybody in America.”

Golden Horn, who has retired to Darley, thebreeding operation at Dalham Hall of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was considered the top turf horse in the world after six victories last year, including the Derby at Epsom and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The Arc was named as the best race in the world, after the judging panel looked at the first four horses home in top races around the world over the past three seasons.

Solow’s powerful Dubai Turf victory at Meydan Racecourse on World Cup night last March earned him joint-fifth place alongside Hong Kong’s Able Friend but behind France’s Treve and the ill-fated Shared Belief, who died in the United States in December.

The Dubai Turf was the highest-rated race staged in Dubai, with Prince Bishop’s surprise success in the Dubai World Cup placing him joint-27th in the standings. Dolniya’s Dubai Sheema Classic win put the French filly in 42nd spot.

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