Godolphin owned galloper Sakhee has been
crowned the leading galloper of 2001 after the International Classifications were released
this week.
A four-year-old by Bahri, Sakhee (133) was undefeated at
his three runs on turf during the year. Among his highlight performances was when he
trounced his opposition in the Juddmonte International (G1-2000m) at York, winning by
seven lengths.
He backed up later in the year to crush the world's best by
six lengths in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1-2400m) at Longchamp in France.
His winning run ended when Tiznow went back to back to win
the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1-2000m) on dirt in America.
There was no surprise when the brilliant Galileo was
crowned the champion three-year-old on turf. A son of the champion Sadler's Wells, Galileo
(129) won both the English and Irish Derbies and then beat the older horses in the King
George V1 & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
The United States star Point Given (130) was sensational on
the dirt. He won six of his seven starts, five of the six were at Group One level. Point
Given won two legs of the American Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (G1-1800m) and the
Belmont Stakes (G1-2400m).
In the two-year-old division Johannesburg (126) was the
logical selection after he displayed his class with Group One wins in no less than four
countries. He won at the top level on both sides of the Atlantic and showed his
versatility by starring on both dirt and turf. His greatest win would have had to have
been when he travelled to American and easily beat the best that country had on offer in
the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1-1600m).
The 2001 International Classifications
The 25th International Classifications Committee
(ICC) meeting was held in Dublin in December 2001. The International Classifications have
been published annually since 1977and a rating of 110 or more, assessed by a panel of
Handicappers and Officials, is required for a horse to be included.
The International Classifications Committee 2001 was
composed of Handicappers and Racing Officials from all over the globe.
Chairman - Geoffrey Gibbs
France - Gerald Sauque
Germany - Peter Schmanns
Germany - Harald Siemen
Hong Kong - Ciaran Kennelly
Italy - Marco Rinaldi
Ireland - Garry O' Gorman
Japan - Isamu Kosa
Singapore - Mike Wanklin
UAE - Melvin Day
UK - Nigel Gray
UK - Dominic Gardiner-Hill
UK - Matthew Tester
USA - Howard Battle
USA - Frank Gabriel
USA - Mike Lakow
Several horses from the Southern Hemisphere were also
included in the IC. These horses were discussed at a handicapper's symposium in Hong Kong
and the following countries were represented:
Australia - James A.R. Bowler
New Zealand - Dean Nowell
South Africa - Roger Smith |
