Game On Dude Heads World's Best Racehorses

Game On Dude, who recently won the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) for a record-breaking third time, heads the first edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2014. The list is comprised of 3-year-olds and up that raced between Jan. 1 and March 9.

Already the winner of the Big 'Cap"in 2011 and 2013, Game On Dude secured his hat-trick at Santa Anita Park with a 1 3/4-length triumph over Will Take Charge, with the remainder of the field eight lengths and more behind.

Will Take Charge, who had edged out Game On Dude by a head in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs in November, had already shown his well-being this year when finishing a fine second to the progressive Lea in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park in February. Lea was following up his success in the Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream in January, and put up a career-best performance in the Donn, which he won by 1 1/2 lengths.

The leading 3-year-old on dirt so far this year is Cairo Prince. Now the winner of three of his four races, Cairo Prince made a successful seasonal debut when storming to a 5 3/4- length success in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream in January.

The highest rated performance on turf in 2014 to date has been put up by Military Attack, who returned to his very best in the Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (HK-I) at Sha Tin in February. The winner of the same race in 2013, Military Attack forged clear to score by three lengths from Dan Excel, with Dominant a close third.

The top ranked sprinter in the world so far this year is Lankan Rupee. Now the winner of his past five starts, Lankan Rupee has improved with each of those races, on his last two starts winning the Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (Aus-I) and the Lexus Newmarket Handicap (Aus-I) convincingly.

In Dubai, South African-trained Variety Club made a successful overseas debut in the Firebreak Stakes (UAE-III) at Meydan, in the process producing the best performance on an artificial surface of the year so far.

The full list and further information on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings are available on the IFHA website http://www.ifhaonline.org. 

The next edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings will be published April 10.

THE LONGINES WORLD'S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS 

for 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January and 9th March 2014