World’s best racehorse Flightline equals rating of Frankel

With an official rating of 140, Flightline equals Frankel’s benchmark set in 2012 under the current system. Previously, the highest rating given to a dirt horse was the 135 achieved by Cigar in 1996.

Flightline retired unbeaten in six starts, earning his historic rating in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in September, which he won by a staggering 19 and a quarter lengths from Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer.

He also won the Metropolitan Handicap and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2022, with the latter contest picking up the award for the world’s best race.

Sadler was understandably proud to see Flightline match Frankel’s rating, saying: “He never hid his talent – he was a star from the day he walked into the barn and that’s the way he walked out.

“We’re so grateful to have a horse like this in my career. Most horsemen never get one like this, so I feel very blessed.

“We watched Frankel run. Racing gets more international and we follow what’s happening over here so we thought that was kind of a good comparison.

“I’d like to thank Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities for this wonderful party. Everybody has treated us fabulously here in London.

“I think another point that works well is that this horse ran medication free, which I think fits really well into the international community moving forward.”

Flightline has inevitably drawn comparisons with American legend Secretariat, but Sadler prefers to focus on his own horse’s achievements and is already looking forward to what he can achieve in his second career as a stallion.

He added: “The comparisons to other horses are kind of joy killers. There’s no win in that as they’re all great horses and it’s hard to compare horses from different eras.

“He’s certainly the best we’ve seen in America for quite a while because of his brilliance, the fact that he can be so fast over a distance of ground.

“The story will keep going because he’s so well-bred, out of Tapit who is the leading sire in America. It doesn’t make it happen, but he’s got all the check marks of having a brilliant next career.

“His racing career was what it was. Each horse writes its own history and we did what we felt was best for this horse, not necessarily what was best for us. If we’d had our way we’d have raced him for another two years or something.

“But for Flightline it was time for him to go to stud and he’s got a really beautiful book (of mares) right off the bat, so he’s going to have a great opportunity.”

With the pressure now off, Sadler is delighted he is finally able to bask in the glory of what Flightline did on the track.

“We had a great party when we got back to Los Angeles and this has been a great trip for me. We’ve been here two or three days and it’s been a lot of fun,” he said.

“It warmed my heart when we were running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and I’m putting the rider up and John Gosden, who did his early years in California, was right there as a fan.

“Flightline never disappointed. When he’s running it’s hard to be aggressive and say he dominates because it’s kind of bad luck. Now that it’s over now we can enjoy it a lot more.”

Drew Fleming, president and chief executive officer of Breeders’ Cup, was elated to see the Classic named World’s Best Race and admits Flightline’s display will live long in the memory.

“It was truly spectacular,” he said.

“I was very fortunate to watch Flightline run in the Met Mile and then go on to the Pacific Classic and there he just kept going and going – and the journey didn’t stop.

“Flightline came to the Breeders’ Cup and it was like The Beatles walking into the paddock – it was amazing. And then to see Flightline around the turn, in a beautiful Keeneland, it was just a truly magical day.”

Baaeed the world’s best on turf

Baaeed was crowned the world’s highest-rated turf horse at the the 2022 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Awards in London.

The William Haggas-trained superstar also finished second to the imperious Flightline in the overall standings and was handed a rating of 135 which is just 5lb shy of the 140 handed to Frankel in 2012, which makes Baaeed the best turf horse to set foot on a racecourse since Sir Henry Cecil’s unbeaten colt.

Although suffering his only defeat in his final racecourse appearance on Qipco British Champions Day, Baaeed captured the imagination by going unbeaten in his first 10 starts.

Having taken the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on his final start at three, it was Group One action all the way at four and having outlined his credentials to be the standout miler of his generation was tasked with proving so in the Queen Anne Stakes which kicked off Royal Ascot.

“I think before Ascot I was at my most nervous because it is the first race of such a prestigious meeting for us,” explained Haggas when asked about the experience of stewarding such a talent throughout his career.

“He was about 1/6 and everyone expected him to win and things can happen in horse racing.”

He continued: “Fortunately he did win and we’ve had a wonderful journey, much like the owners and trainer of Flightline – but we’ve had our own journey and it has been fantastic.

“I wish I could guarantee it would be repeated but I doubt it will.”

Baaeed received his rating of 135 after his performance in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York where the son of Sea The Stars replicated both his sire and Frankel by taking the 10-furlong event in style.

The man in the saddle that day and for the majority of Baaeed’s career was Jim Crowley, who went on to describe the feeling he got when sauntering to success on the Knavesmire.

He said: “It was an experience like I’ve never experienced before, it was like everything happened in slow motion.

“He was just a pleasure to ride, there was never a moment’s worry. When I could go between horses and just keep taking a pull and all season I had never really let the handbrake off. I always knew it was there so when I finally did let go, it was a great feeling.

“Just to hear the crowd clapping was unusual. Normally they cheer, but it was just applause and appreciation.”

A Shadwell homebred, Baaeed will now stand as a stallion at the operation’s Nunnery Stud and Richard Hills – a key member of the Shadwell team and closely associated with the horse’s preparations – looked back at his achievements with pride, while also highlighting the comfortable Queen Anne victory as the moment Baaeed fever really began to build.

“The most important thing for us was Royal Ascot,” said Hills. “Sheikha Hissa had never been to Royal Ascot before and we were the first race and nervous.

“Angus (Gold, racing manager) and I weren’t sure whether she should come down to the paddock and of course Baaeed, Jim and William did their stuff. Sheikha Hissa then got to lead the horse in which lifted us all and her.

“The journey started from there all the way through to York. We were very proud of him.”

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