Johannesburg confirmed as champion Johannesburg, winner of the Breeders` Cup Juvenile, was today confirmed as champion two-year-old of Europe with a rating of 126.Aidan O`Brien`s colt took the racing world by storm, last October, when becoming the first Irish trained winner of America`s top two-year-old event.But the International handicappers gave the son of Hennessy only an average mark of 126. Arazi, the only previous European Breeder`s Cup Juvenile winner, was awarded a mark of 130.Johannesburg is also rated behind horses like Xaar (127), Celtic Swing (130) and equal with the much-hyped Alhaarth (126), who all proved rather disappointing at three.Johannesburg`s win over a mile at Belmont Park was his fourth successive triumph in a Group One, all in different countries.He won the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix at Leopardstown, the Prix Morny Casinos Barriere at Deauville and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.His trainer Aidan O`Brien is also responsible for the joint-second rated two-year-old, Hawk Wing.The son of Woodman, who won the Group One Aga Khan Studs National Stakes at the Curragh, has a rating of 122, the same as the filly Queen`s Logic.The Mick Channon-trained daughter of Grand Lodge put up a scintillating display when taking the Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes by seven lengths.Just 3lb behind her is David Loder`s Dubai Destination, who looked a tip-top prospect when landing the Rothmans Royals Champagne Stakes, and Rock Of Gibraltar.He was second to Dubai Destination at Doncaster, but ended the season with Group One victories in the Grand Criterium-Lucien Barriere at Longchamp and Newmarket`s Darley Dewhurst Stakes in the colours of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.Top two-year-olds of 2001 126Johannesburg - Aidan O`Brien (Ireland)122Hawk Wing - Aidan O`Brien (Ireland)Queen`s Logic - Mick Channon (England)119Captain Rio - Richard Whitaker(England)Dubai Destination - David Loder (England)Rock Of Gibraltar - Aidan O`Brien (Ireland)117Act One - Jonathan Pease (France)High Chaparral - Aidan O`Brien (Ireland)116Zipping - Robert Collet (France)115Ballingarry - Aidan O`Brien (Ireland)Castle Gandolfo - Aidan O`Brien (Ireland)Landseer - Aidan O`Brien (Ireland)Naheef - David Loder (England)Shaanmer - Andre Fabre (France)Top two-year-olds since 19812001 Johannesburg 126 2000 Minardi 123 1999 Fasliyev 125 1998 Mujahid 123 1997 Xaar 127 1996 Revoque 123 1995 Alhaarth 126 1994 Celtic Swing 130 1993 Grand Lodge 120 1992 Zafonic 1251991 Arazi 130 1990 Hector Protector 126 1989 Machiavellian 125 1988 High Estate 125 1987 Ravinella 125, Warning 125 1986 Reference Point 1271985 Bakharoff 83* 1984 Kala Dancer 84* 1983 El Gran Senor 88* 1982 Diesis 87* 1981 Green Forest 88* *Official figures were rebased in 1986 to bring them into line with commercial ratings.
