Silent Witness On Top Of The World World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings 2004/2005(WTRR)SILENT WITNESS (123) re-affirmed the strength of Hong Kong racing internationally in becoming the World?s Top Ranked Horse on Turf in 2004/2005 in the new set of world rankings released worldwide today. The inaugural WTRR 2004/2005 saw Hong Kong trained horses figure very prominently, illustrating the world-class quality of Hong Kong?s six international races.With a season of outstanding performances, which included six consecutive wins and his second success in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (G1), SILENT WITNESS assumed the top position in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings 2004/2005. ROSES IN MAY (123) from the USA received the top ranking on Dirt after capturing the Dubai World Cup (G1). 'It is very gratifying to see four Hong Kong horses featuring in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. This really shows that our horses are equal to those of any other leading racing country with international judges ranking them amongst the very best in the world,' Hong Kong Jockey Club Director of Racing, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said today. 'With growing participation by Hong Kong horses in international competition in future years I would confidently expect our best horses to occupy more and more places within the rankings.' BULLISH LUCK (118), trained by Tony Cruz, attained the top ranking in the Mile category with his victory over SILENT WITNESS in the Champions Mile (HK-G1). He now shares the title of the World?s Top Ranked Miler in 2004/2005 with Dubai Duty Free winner, the Australian-trained ELVSTROEM.VENGEANCE OF RAIN (119) , trained by David Ferraris, having won the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby (HK-G1), the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (G1) and the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup (HK-G1) treble, earned himself the runner-up spot behind Australia?s GRAND ARMEE (120) in the Intermediate-distance category.Dual Group One winner CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (115), prepared by David Oughton, was the fourth Hong Kong-trained horse to make the 2004/2005 Rankings in winning the Lightning Stakes (G1) in Australia and the Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in the UK.Three Northern Hemisphere-trained horses qualified for inclusion in the 2004/2005 Rankings through their outstanding performances in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, namely TOUCH OF LAND (117) from France, ALEXANDER GOLDRUN (115) from Ireland and PHOENIX REACH (116) from the UK. In addition, South African-trained GREY?S INN (117) and Godolphin?s FIREBREAK (115)were included in the rankings by virtue of their achievements in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (G1) and the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (G1) respectively. Hong Kong Rankings 2004/2005In the Hong Kong Rankings 2004/2005, released by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to coincide with the world rankings publications, VENGEANCE OF RAIN was the Top Ranked Long Distance locally-trained performer with his Champion & Chater victory. SILENT WITNESS, VENGEANCE OF RAIN and BULLISH LUCK were each accorded Top Ranked titles within their respective distance categories, which mirrors their accomplishments in the world version. Further information is detailed in Attachment 4. Top 50 World´s Leading HorsesAlso published today was the latest standing of the Top 50 World´s Leading Horses which covers races that took place in the past six months. GHOSTZAPPER, the World´s Top Ranked Horse in 2004, continued to dominate the table with a mid-year assessment of 128 achieved in the Metropolitan Handicap in the USA.VENGEANCE OF RAIN joins SILENT WITNESS and BULLISH LUCK in the Top 50 club, improving Hong Kong´s representation from two to three since the list´s last update in March.The next world Top 50 update will be available in October following the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe race meeting in Paris, France.
