RACING: Irish trainers will go into this year's flat campaign with officially their strongest pool of classic talent in a quarter of a century. But despite that, 2007 could still end up being dominated by Teofilo, who has been crowned Europe's champion juvenile of 2006.
The Jim Bolger-trained colt, unbeaten in five starts, including the Dewhurst Stakes and the National Stakes, topped the list of classic contenders in World Thoroughbred rankings released yesterday.
Teofilo has been allocated an official handicap figure of 123, a pound ahead of his old rival Holy Roman Emperor from Aidan O'Brien's yard, with the English-trained Prix Morny and Middle Park winner Dutch Art on 121.
But the good news for Ireland is that a remarkable nine of the top 20 horses in the rankings are from this country, which is the strongest representation since the vintage two-year-old crop of 1981.
That included the subsequent Derby winners Golden Fleece and Assert, and when asked yesterday to nominate a potential classic winner from the current crop, Ireland's handicapper, Garry O'Gorman, didn't hesitate to name Teofilo.
"I think he could be exceptional this year," said O'Gorman. "His figure of 123 as a two-year-old only makes him an average juvenile champion. Johannesburg was rated 126 and Fasliyev was 125. But he looks a horse to get even better as a three year old.
"I think he could be a monster," O'Gorman added. "There is every chance Teofilo has more in the tank. He has such scope, and when I think of horses that have excited me as much, I would have to go back to Hawk Wing. The sky is the limit with him."
Teofilo's stable companion, Finsceal Beo, winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Rockfel, is the highest rated filly on 119, while Aidan O'Brien's other Group One winner last year, the Criterium International winner Mount Nelson, is on the same mark.
"I am generally optimistic for this year and not just because of those nine. There are a lot of good maiden winners around, and not just from Ballydoyle. The Oxx, Weld, Prendergast and Wachman stables all have good prospects," O'Gorman added.
The rankings, which are organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, and which include contributions from all the major racing countries, are also reflected in the betting for this year's classics.
Teofilo is a best-priced 9 to 4 favourite for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and is a 7 to 2 market leader for the Epsom Derby. Finsceal Beo just shades favouritism with Sander Camillo in the 1,000 Guineas betting.
The rankings made good reading for Irish racing outside of the two-year division too, with four older turf horses being crowned top of their divisions.
George Washington is the joint-top-rated turf runner overall, alongside the Arc winner Rail Link and the Japanese superstar Deep Impact. Aidan O'Brien's enigmatic champion is also the top miler and the highest rated Irish runner since Hawk Wing in 2003.
Dylan Thomas (126) is top in the intermediate category (10 furlongs), while Alexandrova (118) is top in the three-year-old filly (long) division. John Oxx's Kastoria (117) is the top older staying turf mare in the world.
She travelled to Canada and Hong Kong last year.
But the world's official top horse overall, Invasor, made the unlikely journey from Uruguay to Breeders' Cup glory at Churchill Downs last November.
The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained horse has a mark of 129, one less than Hurricane Run last year, and edges out the Preakness and Jockey Club Cup winner Bernardini as well as Godolphin's Discreet Cat.
Invasor was purchased out of South America by Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud and climbed through the dirt rankings to surprise Bernardini in the Breeders' Cup.
International Ratings
EUROPE'S TOP TWO-YEAR-OLDS
Teofilo (J Bolger) 123
Holy Roman Emperor (A O'Brien) 122
Dutch Art (P Chapple-Hyam) 121
Finsceal Beo (J Bolger) 119
Mount Nelson (A O'Brien) 119
Spirit One (P Demercastel) 118
Battle Paint (JC Rouget) 117
Strategic Prince (P Cole) 117
Authorized (P Chapple Hyam) 116
Captain Marvelous (B Hills) 116
Eagle Mountain (A O'Brien) 116
Haatef (K Prendergast) 116
Halicarnassus (M Channon) 116
Vital Equine (E O'Neill) 116
Wid Dud (K Ryan) 116
Admiralofthefleet (A O'Brien) 115
Cockney Rebel (G Huffer) 115
He's A Decoy (D Wachman) 115
Sandor Camillo (J Noseda) 115
Yellowstone (A O'Brien) 115
WORLD'S TOP THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Bernardini (T Albertrani) 128
Discreet Cat ( S Bin Suroor) 128
George Washington (A O'Brien) 127
Rail Link (A Fabre) 127
Barbaro (M Matz) 126
Dylan Thomas (A O'Brien) 126
Araafa (J Noseda) 122
Admire Moon (H Matsuda) 121
Dream Passport (H Matsuda) 121
Sir Percy (M Tregoning) 121
WORLD'S TOP OLDER HORSES
Invasor (K McLaughlin)129
Deep Impact (Y Ikee) 127
Lava Man (D O'Neill) 127
Hurricane Run (A Fabre) 126
Electrocutionist (S Bin Suroor) 125
Shirocco (A Fabre) 125
Hearts Cry (K Hashigucki) 124
David Junior (B Meehan) 123
Premium Tap (J Kimmel) 123
Pride (A de Royer Dupre) 123
