2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings Explained

The 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings was the inaugural edition of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. It is an assessment of racehorses which was issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in January 2005. It includes horses aged three or older which raced or were trained during 2004 in countries where the flat racing year runs from January 1 to December 31. These countries are generally in the Northern Hemisphere.

The ratings represent a weight value in pounds, with higher values given to horses which showed greater ability. It is judged that these weights would equalize the abilities of the horses if carried in a theoretical handicap race. The list includes all horses rated 115 or above, and it also shows the surface and the distances at which the rating was achieved.

The highest rating in the 2004 season was 130, which was given to the performance of Ghostzapper in the Breeders' Cup Classic. In total, 162 horses were included in the list.

Full rankings for 2004

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RankRatingHorseAgeSexTrainedSurfaceDistance (m)
1130Ghostzapper (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt2,000
2128Smarty Jones (USA)3CUnited StatesDirt1,900
3127Doyen (IRE)4CGreat BritainTurf2,400
4126Bago (FR)3CFranceTurf2,400
4126Pleasantly Perfect (USA)6HUnited StatesDirt2,000
6125Cherry Mix (FR)3CFranceTurf2,400
7124Haafhd (GB)3CGreat BritainTurf2,000
7124Medaglia d'Oro (USA)5HUnited StatesDirt2,000
9123Azamour (IRE)3CIrelandTurf2,000
9123Grey Swallow (IRE)3CIrelandTurf2,400
9123Pico Central (BRZ)5HUnited StatesDirt1,200
9123Rakti (GB)5HGreat BritainTurf1,600
9123Roses in May (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt2,000
9123Sulamani (IRE)5HGreat BritainTurf2,000
15122Kitten's Joy (USA)3CUnited StatesTurf2,400
15122Lucky Story (USA)3CGreat BritainTurf1,600
15122North Light (IRE)3CGreat BritainTurf2,400
15122Southern Image (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,800 / 1,900
15122Speightstown (USA)6HUnited StatesDirt1,200
15122Zenno Rob Roy (JPN)4CJapanTurf2,400
21121Better Talk Now (USA)5HUnited StatesTurf2,400
21121Norse Dancer (IRE)4CGreat BritainTurf2,000
21121Refuse to Bend (IRE)4CGreat BritainTurf1,600 / 2,000
24120Acropolis (IRE)3CIrelandTurf2,400
24120Birdstone (USA)3CUnited StatesDirt2,000 / 2,400
24120Durandal (JPN)5HJapanTurf1,600
24120Hard Buck (BRZ)5HUnited StatesTurf2,400
24120Ouija Board (GB)3FGreat BritainTurf2,400
24120Powerscourt (GB)4CIrelandTurf2,000
24120Rule of Law (USA)3CGreat BritainTurf2,900
24120Tap Dance City (USA)7HJapanTurf2,200
24120Tycoon (GB)3CIrelandTurf2,400
24120Warrsan (IRE)6HGreat BritainTurf2,000
34119Papineau (GB)4CGreat BritainTurf4,000
34119Peace Rules (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,800 / 2,000
34119Perfect Drift (USA)5HUnited StatesDirt1,800 / 2,000
34119Saint Liam (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,800
34119Shirocco (GER)3CGermanyTurf2,400
34119Soviet Song (IRE)4FGreat BritainTurf1,600
34119Vinnie Roe (IRE)6HIrelandTurf2,800 / 3,200
41118Attraction (GB)3FGreat BritainTurf1,600
41118Azeri (USA)6MUnited StatesDirt1,800
41118Bachelor Duke (USA)3CGreat BritainTurf1,600
41118Bandari (IRE)5HGreat BritainTurf2,400
41118Electrocutionist (USA)3CItalyTurf2,400
41118Gamut (IRE)5HGreat BritainTurf2,400
41118Kela (USA)6HUnited StatesDirt1,200 / 1,400
41118Let the Lion Roar (GB)3CGreat BritainTurf2,400
41118Midas Eyes (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,400
41118Nayyir (GB)6HGreat BritainTurf1,600
41118Sightseek (USA)5MUnited StatesDirt1,800
41118Singletary (USA)4CUnited StatesTurf1,600
41118Snow Ridge (IRE)3CGreat BritainTurf1,600
41118Somnus (GB)4GGreat BritainTurf1,400
41118Westerner (GB)5HFranceTurf3,100
41118Whipper (USA)3CFranceTurf1,600
57117Ancient World (USA)4GGreat BritainTurf1,600
57117Antonius Pius (USA)3CIrelandTurf1,600
57117Ashado (USA)3FUnited StatesDirt1,800
57117Chic (GB)4FGreat BritainTurf1,600
57117Chorist (GB)5MGreat BritainTurf2,000
57117Cosmo Bulk (JPN)3CJapanTurf2,400
57117Diamond Green (FR)3CFranceTurf1,600
57117Egerton (GER)3CGermanyTurf2,400
57117Epalo (GER)5HGermanyTurf2,000
57117Kicken Kris (USA)4CUnited StatesTurf2,000
57117King Kamehameha (JPN)3CJapanTurf1,600 / 2,400
57117Latice (IRE)3FFranceTurf2,100
57117Lion Heart (USA)3CUnited StatesDirt2,000
57117Magistretti (USA)4CUnited StatesTurf2,400
57117Millenary (GB)7HGreat BritainTurf2,800 / 3,600
57117Mr Dinos (IRE)5HGreat BritainTurf3,200
57117Mubtaker (USA)7HGreat BritainTurf2,600
57117Quiff (GB)3FGreat BritainTurf2,400
57117Russian Rhythm (USA)4FGreat BritainTurf1,600
57117Simonas (IRE)5HGermanyTurf2,400
57117Special Ring (USA)7HUnited StatesTurf1,800
57117Total Impact (CHI)6HUnited StatesDirt2,000
57117Touch of Land (FR)4CFranceTurf2,000
57117Var (USA)5HGreat BritainTurf1,000
57117Voix du Nord (FR)3CFranceTurf2,100
82116Adoration (USA)5MUnited StatesDirt1,800
82116Alexander Goldrun (IRE)3FIrelandTurf2,000
82116Altieri (GB)6HItalyTurf2,000
82116Bayamo (IRE)5HUnited StatesTurf1,800
82116Blue Canari (FR)3CFranceTurf2,400
82116Delta Blues (JPN)3CJapanTurf2,400
82116Funny Cide (USA)4GUnited StatesDirt2,000
82116Grey Lilas (IRE)3FFranceTurf1,600
82116Ikhtyar (IRE)4CGreat BritainTurf2,000
82116Intendant (GER)3CGermanyTurf2,000
82116Meteor Storm (GB)5HUnited StatesTurf2,000
82116Millemix (FR)3CFranceTurf2,100
82116Mister Monet (IRE)3CGreat BritainTurf2,000 / 2,100
82116Mr O'Brien (IRE)5HUnited StatesTurf1,600 / 2,200
82116Policy Maker (IRE)4CFranceTurf2,400
82116Prince Kirk (FR)4CItalyTurf1,800
82116Silk Famous (JPN)5HJapanTurf2,200 / 2,400
82116Soldier Hollow (GB)4CGermanyTurf2,000
82116Stroll (USA)4CUnited StatesTurf1,800
82116Strong Hope (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,400
82116Tsurumaru Boy (JPN)6HJapanTurf1,600
82116Valixir (IRE)3CFranceTurf2,000 / 2,400
104115Admire Don (JPN)5HJapanDirt1,600 / 2,000
104115American Post (GB)3CFranceTurf1,600
104115Artie Schiller (USA)3CUnited StatesTurf1,800 / 2,000
104115Ashdown Express (IRE)5HGreat BritainTurf1,200 / 1,400
104115Bahamian Pirate (USA)9GGreat BritainTurf1,000
104115Bluesthestandard (USA)7GUnited StatesDirt1,200
104115Cacique (IRE)3CFranceTurf2,000
104115Cape of Good Hope (GB)6HHong KongTurf1,000
104115Calstone Light O (JPN)6HJapanTurf1,200
104115Designed for Luck (USA)7GUnited StatesTurf1,600
104115Dynever (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,800
104115Ema Bovary (CHI)5MUnited StatesDirt1,200
104115Even the Score (USA)6HUnited StatesDirt1,800
104115Evening Attire (USA)6GUnited StatesDirt2,000
104115Execute (FR)7HFranceTurf2,100
104115Film Maker (USA)4FUnited StatesTurf2,200
104115Firebreak (GB)5HGreat BritainDirt / Turf1,400 / 1,600
104115Groom Tesse (GB)3CItalyTurf2,400
104115Ingrandire (JPN)5HJapanTurf3,200
104115Intercontinental (GB)4FUnited StatesTurf1,600
104115Island Fashion (USA)4FUnited StatesDirt1,400 / 2,000
104115Lincoln (JPN)4CJapanTurf2,200
104115Lundy's Liability (BRZ)4CUnited StatesDirt1,800
104115Lune d'Or (FR)3FFranceTurf2,000
104115Maraahel (IRE)3CGreat BritainTurf2,900
104115Midway Road (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,900
104115Mikado (GB)3CIrelandTurf2,900
104115Millionaia (IRE)3FFranceTurf2,100
104115My Cousin Matt (USA)5GUnited StatesDirt1,200
104115Narita Century (JPN)5HJapanTurf2,400
104115Nothing to Lose (USA)4CUnited StatesTurf1,600
104115Oriental Magic (IRE)4CGB / HKTurf2,000
104115Our New Recruit (USA)5HUnited StatesDirt1,200
104115Paolini (GER)7HGermanyTurf1,777
104115Passing Glance (GB)5HGreat BritainTurf1,700
104115Patavellian (IRE)6GGreat BritainTurf1,200
104115Percussionist (IRE)3CGreat BritainTurf2,400
104115Phoenix Reach (IRE)4CGreat BritainTurf2,400
104115Pivotal Point (GB)4GGreat BritainTurf1,200
104115Pohave (USA)6GUnited StatesDirt1,200
104115Polish Summer (GB)7HFranceTurf2,400
104115Prospect Park (GB)3CFranceTurf2,400
104115Purge (USA)3CUnited StatesDirt1,800
104115Read the Footnotes (USA)3CUnited StatesDirt1,800
104115Request for Parole (USA)5HUnited StatesTurf2,200 / 2,400
104115Sabiango (GER)6HUnited StatesTurf2,000
104115Salselon (GB)5HGreat BritainTurf1,600
104115Senex (GER)4CGermanyTurf2,400
104115Society Selection (USA)3FUnited StatesDirt2,000
104115Star over the Bay (USA)6GUnited StatesTurf2,000
104115Sweet Return (GB)4CUnited StatesTurf1,600 / 1,800
104115Tante Rose (IRE)4FGreat BritainTurf1,200
104115Telegnosis (JPN)5HJapanTurf1,600
104115Ten Most Wanted (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,800
104115The Cliff's Edge (USA)3CUnited StatesDirt1,800 / 2,000
104115The Tatling (IRE)7GGreat BritainTurf1,000
104115Time Paradox (JPN)6HJapanDirt2,100
104115Vallee Enchantee (IRE)4FFranceTurf2,400
104115Wonder Again (USA)5MUnited StatesTurf1,800 / 2,200

Certain horses may have also recorded a lesser rating over a distance different from that listed above. The IFHA publishes this information when the lower rating represents the overall top performance in a particular category. There were seven such additional ratings for this season:

RankRatingHorseAgeSexTrainedSurfaceDistance (m)
+123Ghostzapper (USA)4CUnited StatesDirt1,800
+122Haafhd (GB)3CGreat BritainTurf1,600
+118Smarty Jones (USA)3CUnited StatesDirt1,800
+117Azeri (USA)6MUnited StatesDirt2,000
+116Quiff (GB)3FGreat BritainTurf2,900
+115Ashado (USA)3FUnited StatesDirt2,000
+115Azeri (USA)6MUnited StatesDirt1,200

Top ranked horses

The tables below show the top ranked horses overall, the top fillies and mares, and the top three-year-olds in the 2004 Rankings. They also show the top performers in various subdivisions of each group, which are defined by the distances of races, and the surfaces on which they are run. The IFHA recognizes five distance categories — Sprint, Mile, Intermediate, Long and Extended — identified by the acronym "SMILE". These are framed as follows:

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All Horses
All SurfacesDirtTurf
All Distances 127 – Doyen
Sprint 117 – Var
Mile 123 – Rakti
Intermediate 124 – Haafhd
Long 127 – Doyen
Extended not listed 120 – Rule of Law
Fillies and Mares
All SurfacesDirtTurf
All Distances 120 – Ouija Board
Sprint 115 – Tante Rose
Mile 119 – Soviet Song
Intermediate 117 – Chorist
117 – Latice
Long not listed 120 – Ouija Board
Extended not listed 116 – Quiff
Three-Year-Olds
All SurfacesDirtTurf
All Distances 126 – Bago
Sprint not listed not listed not listed
Mile 122 – Haafhd
122 – Lucky Story
Intermediate 124 – Haafhd
Long 126 – Bago
Extended not listed 120 – Rule of Law

References

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