Will world rankings finally give Ka Ying Rising his due?
The panel of international handicappers will release the next edition of the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings this week, providing another test of whether they are truly world rankings — or European middle-distance rankings by another name.
The two best performances since the last rankings were released are clearly Ka Ying Rising’s astonishing track-record return at Sha Tin on Sunday and Autumn Glow running the fastest Winx Stakes in history, smashing a quality field over 1400m last month.
The rankings tend to give bigger numbers for races at a mile and beyond, with traditional races in certain parts of the world often appearing to have a premium.
Ka Ying Rising and European star Ombudsman, who was beaten at York at his last appearance, shared top billing with a rating of 131 in the rankings released in August.
If the ratings are performance-based, Ka Ying Rising should hold the mantle by himself in the next rankings.
Although he didn’t beat much in his Group 3 return, Ka Ying Rising broke the 1200m track record by around five lengths and, if Zac Purton wanted to, he would have remarkably broken 1.06.
The last time something like that happened was in the 2021 Challenge Stakes when Eduardo and Nature Strip cleared out to smash the Randwick 1000m record by more than a second, but they were only given ratings of 121.
The international ratings have never looked upon sprinting with favour.
Ka Ying Rising should improve his number from Sunday’s effort.
Back to Australia, where Autumn Glow’s Winx Stakes victory should lift her rating of 120. It would be a change from the past couple of years, where Australian ratings have been kept lower.
Autumn Glow beat Sheza Alibi and Gringotts with something in hand, in a time that was faster than anything previously recorded in the race.
The same day, the newly minted City Of York Stakes was won by Notable Speech by a big space and the Europeans have made no secret they want this race to be respected.
He carries a 124 international mark already, but the quality behind him was nowhere near that which Autumn Glow beat in Sydney.
Timeform, which is independent of the official international rankings, gave Autumn Glow 128 for the Winx, while Notable Speech was rated at 126 for his York win.
What will their international ratings be?
McArdle plans for Europe campaign with My Gladiola
Mornington trainer John McArdle joked he might ask Peter Moody to borrow his Top Hat as he plans a Royal Ascot and European campaign for My Gladiola next year.
Her Group 1 win in the Moir Stakes ticked off the final box needed in Australia before chasing a dream preparation on the outside of the world.
“I have a big head, so I said to Peter Moody that I might need his Top Hat. It would probably be a bit big for me, which he didn’t like saying,” McArdle said.
“We want to take her over to Europe next year and have already started planning for it. From now on, everything will be about having her at her best over there.
“There are other races after Royal Ascot, so it would three or four runs over there, before probably looking to put her in foal to come back here.
“We needed a Group 1 and have got it now, so the plans are going to be locked in now.
“We thought about going this year, but we wanted to give her that bit more time to mature.
“We are only going to have a couple of more runs in the spring and then maybe the Lightning Stakes and the Galaxy next year before heading over there.
“We want to go over and win. You can’t do that without being well planned, so that she can show her best.”
Camilleri backs in Ninja for Everest for family reasons
Everest slotholder John Camilleri has long thought Ninja would be his best option to run in The Everest.
Camilleri owns a significant share in the gelding he bred and still owns the family, which will benefit from any of his deeds on the track.
“I thought he was the right horse for a while and when he won the Expressway Stakes it made it an easy deal to do,” Camilleri said.
“I still have his mum, and there is only upside for the family having him there.
“Ka Ying Rising will be very hard to beat, but Michael Freedman thinks we haven’t seen the best of Ninja yet.”
Camilleri has smart sprinter Plaintiff, which will race in his silks in Saturday’s Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill.
“She was definitely an option and might still run if someone wants her in their slot,” Camilleri said.
“She still has to do it, and there are plenty of races for her in the next couple of months where she can win if she lives up to expectations.”
One for the punters
Night Agent started favourite in benchmark company on Saturday and from the widest gate never had any luck. He kept finding the line after being blacked for clear running and might bob up at a good price in black type company before the end of the carnival.
One from the stewards
We made Cherry Bomshell, a filly to follow after being in season at her first-up failure a couple of weeks ago and although impressive late to run fourth in the Furious Stakes, she still had excuses. Jockey Ben Thompson reported to stewards, “it was his intention to settle in a forward position. He said, however, that Cherry Bomshell began awkwardly and lost ground, which resulted in the filly settling towards the rear of the field”. She will be closer in the Tea Rose and Flight Stakes, which will make her a real contender.
One for the bookies
There are those that will make excuses for beaten Tramway Stakes favourite Idle Flyer, but she was very disappointing and cannot be trusted in open company again. Her rating takes her out of contention for a Doncaster, so back to mares’ company might be her best option for now.
One for the Futures
Sing Your Song only won a maiden at Warwick Farm last Wednesday, but she oozes class. She is still $15 for the Flight Stakes, which is run over a mile, where she will be even more comfortable. She will front up against the better fillies in the Tea Rose Stakes, where a good performance might see her become Flight favourite.
