News Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore on top in new rankings system

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore on top in new rankings system

racing

Ryan Moore is the world's top jockey and Aidan O'Brien the number one trainer, according to an authoritative new set of horse racing world rankings.

The TRC Global Rankings produce standings not just for jockeys, but also for trainers, owners and stallions.

The worldwide top 500 is listed in each category, and the lists will be updated weekly, based on a rolling three-year period.

Overall, the TRC Global Rankings represent a triumph for the Irish racing and breeding operation Coolmore, who head every category.

O'Brien is their main trainer, and his unprecedented recent level of success included saddling the one-two-three in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and one-twos in three British Group One races for two-year-olds - the Cheveley Park Stakes, the Fillies' Mile and the Dewhurst Stakes.

Moore, who rode the winners in all those races, is their main stable jockey, 'Coolmore Partners' top the owners' list, and their stallion Galileo is the world's number one sire.

The TRC Global Rankings have been developed by Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (www.thoroughbredracing.com), an international website for racing fans and people who work in the sport.

The rankings algorithm has been written by analyst James Willoughby, a racing journalist and broadcaster.

TRC editor Chris Smith said: "Most major sports have world rankings. Golf and tennis have had them for years, and they are integral parts of those sports.

"Yet horseracing, a massive, multi-billion pound industry with huge jurisdictions on every continent, has no real rankings for the people involved. We thought it was high time it had.

"They are heavyweight, robust listings that dig very deep into worldwide racing, interrogating only what has happened on the racecourse.

"Many times we changed direction as we sought the correct way to allow for and measure different factors at work in each jurisdiction.

"We believe we have arrived at an industry-standard system that truly reflects the impact jockeys, trainers, owners and stallions have been making over a rolling three-year period.

"There is nothing else like this in existence for racing."

Coolmore Partners lead the owners' rankings ahead of Godolphin, who have achieved more Group-race success in Australia than in Europe or the US.

Seven of the top 20 stallions - Galileo, Shamardal, Dark Angel, Sea The Stars, Teofilo, Invincible Spirit and Lope de Vega - stand in Ireland.

Second-placed Dubawi, stands in Britain.