Charlie Appleby said all major races are under consideration for Godolphin’s multiple Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath after he was officially announced the best horse in the world.
The five-year-old son of Dubawi earned a new career-high figure on Racing Post Ratings, and with the British Horseracing Authority's lead handicapper after his third consecutive Group 1 victory this season last week in the Juddmonte International.
His victory at York earned him a rating of 131 and also went clear in the race to be crowned Cartier Horse of the Year on 102 points.
Ghaiyyath is the first horse to hit the century mark in the Horse of the Year standings, followed by Aidan O’Brien’s filly Love on 96, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s sprinter Battaash, Fancy Blue and Magical, all on 80.
Appleby told the Godolphin website: “No decisions on his programme have been reached, but all the major races one would expect are under consideration — the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Ascot’s G1 Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.”
Ghaiyyath began 2020 with an impressive win over stable companion Spotify in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan in February.
He has since racked up three Group 1 prizes on British soil: the Coronation Cup Stakes at Newmarket, Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte International at the Ebor festival at York.
“Ghaiyyath has come back from York in fine order,” Appleby added. “He has taken it well, and post-race, he looks very good.
“The old racing cliche is applicable here — he will tell us where and when he goes next. We will monitor him closely and work something out by the end of the week.
“Our policy is always to do what is best for the horse. He is a great horse to be dealing with and a true champion from a sire line His Highness Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai] has nurtured and developed over the past two decades.
“It is a privilege to be training the progeny of Dubawi. They are fantastic racehorses, who have athleticism and willingness, which sets them apart.
“I’m so pleased for His Highness that he has another true champion in his stable. Ghaiyyath is indeed the special one.”
Ghaiyyath stretched his record to nine wins from 12 starts, including four Group 1s, three of them registered this year. His other win at the highest level came in last year’s Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden in Germany.
His sire, Dubawi, won five of his eight starts, taking the Group 1 National Stakes as a juvenile and the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas and Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at three.
Ghaiyyath’s grandfather, Dubai Millennium, won nine of his 10 starts, including four Group 1s, the Prix Jacques le Marois, Ascot’s QEII, Dubai World Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s top miler Mohaather has been retired after suffering an injury.
The four-year-old Showcasing colt trained by Marcus Tregoning won five of his eight career starts, including the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in his last start.
________________
Greatest race horses in history
-
Secretariat (foaled in 1970). Demolished his rivals by 31 lengths in the Belmont Stakes to complete the Triple Crown. Popularly known as ‘Big Red’, the American Hall of Famer won 16 of his 21 career starts. Widely regarded as one of the top three race horses of all time and got his own Hollywood movie. Getty Images -
Mill Reef (1968). His campaign was highlighted by winning both the Epsom Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Bred in the USA and raced in the UK, he won 12 of his 14 starts and was runner-up twice. Getty -
Brigadier Gerard (1968). Was successful in 17 of his 18 career starts and runner-up in the other. The 1972 British Horse of the Year, he won the 2000 Guineas in an epic clash over 'rival' Mill Reef in 1971. Getty -
Frankel (2008). The king of modern racing. The European champion was undefeated in 14 starts, which included 10 Group 1 prizes. Frankel, the son of Galileo, was the highest rated thoroughbred in the world at 147 from May 2011. Getty -
Black Caviar (2006). The Australian Hall of Famer mare won 15 Group 1 prizes and was undefeated in 25 starts. She was named the WTRR (World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings) champion sprinter four years in a row from 2010. Getty -
Cigar (1990). He lived up to his top billing by winning the inaugural Dubai World Cup. He became a star performer after switching to the dirt surface to win 16 consecutive races. Getty -
American Pharoah (2012). The first horse to win the American Grand Slam of thoroughbred racing by becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner and the Breeder’s Cup Classic champion. He won the 2015 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. Reuters -
Arkle (1957). His career was highlighted by a hat-trick at the Cheltenham Gold Cup (1964-1966). The Irish-bred son of Archive had an extraordinary ability to carry heavier weights and never fell. Getty -
Red Rum (1965). The only horse to win the Grand National three times to date. He was successful in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and was runner up in-between. A horse suited for a thorough test of stamina. Getty -
Desert Orchid (1979). Dessie, as he was affectionately nicknamed, was one of the most lovable steeple chasers in Britain. He won 34 of his 70 races including the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Irish Grand National. Reuters
