Chad Brown is back as the second highest-ranked trainer in the world after a memorable Breeders’ Cup that produced not only a series of stirring performances but also a number of significant moves in the TRC Global Rankings.
Most notable climber in the upper reaches of the jockeys’ standings is ‘Big Money’ Mike Smith, who moves up four places to world No. 13 after a fabulous Breeders’ Cup, featuring three wins (Tamarkuz, Finest City and Arrogate) and the heroic second place of Songbird.
Other climbers after the results at Santa Anita include Joel Rosario (successful on Tourist) who moves up four places to 20 (joint fifth-ranked American), Julian Leparoux (Classic Empire) who goes from 32 to 29, and Seamie Heffernan, whose virtuoso ride on Highland Reel helps push him up one spot to 31. He is the second-ranked Irish jockey (behind world No. 9 Pat Smullen).
Ahead of all of them is Brazilian Joao Moreira, who plies his trade in Hong Kong and Australia and who breaks into the world top 10 with a big points gain in a week that featured his tantalising head defeat in the Melbourne Cup on the Irish raider Heartbreak City last Tuesday.
The Cup, of course, was won by Almandin, whose jockey, Kerrin McEvoy, is very much in form. McEvoy climbed six places last week even before his victory at Flemington, which moves him up one more slot to world No. 18.
Chad Brown swaps places in the trainers’ standings with Aussie Chris Waller after the Breeders’ Cup win of New Money Honey helped him to a four-point gain. Bob Baffert did even better than that, gaining five points, thanks in no small part to Arrogate’s epic performance in the Classic and Drefong’s win in the Sprint. That pushes Baffert up one place to No. 5 (and U.S. No. 2), trading places with Todd Pletcher (who drops from 5 to joint 6 with Australian Darren Weir).
Biggest climber among North American trainers is Mark Casse, up five places to 14 after a Breeders’ Cup that included Classic Empire’s win in the Juvenile.
Others to advance in the trainers’ standings
Sir Michael Stoute (Queen’s Trust at Santa Anita) - up one place to joint 14.
Richard Mandella (Beholder) - up six slots to 54.
Charlie Appleby (a good week in Australia for the Brit) - up one place to 10.
Andreas Wohler (a G1 winner in Italy for the German) - up two places to joint 14.
Significant climbers in the owners’ standings
Spendthrift Farm (Beholder) - up two places to 19.
Cheveley Park Stud (Queen’s Trust) - up one place to 20.
Stronach Stables - up from 360 to 254.
Juddmonte Farms (Arrogate) gained five points on the week, which consolidated their position at 5.
On the way up in the sires’ standings
Monsun rises from 11 to 9 after Almandin became his third Melbourne Cup winner in four years.
City Zip (Finest City) is up five places to 17.
Dansili (Queen’s Trust) climbs four places to 25.
Pioneerof The Nile (Classic Empire) is up seven places to 28.
Kitten’s Joy (New Money Honey) goes from 38 to 33.
Henny Hughes (Beholder) is up nine places to 36.
Unbridled’s Song (Arrogate) goesfrom 61 to 47.
Big Brown breaks into the top 100, climbing 30 places to 95.
Smart Strike also climbs 30 places - to 102.
Gio Ponti (Drefong) shoots up 98 places to 236.