It’s been a mixed few days for Irish trainer Ger Lyons. On the one hand he’s the biggest climber of the week anywhere in the world in latest edition of the TRC Global Rankings, yet on the other he has just lost one of his most important owners.
Qatar Racing are relocating their horses from Lyons after “a difference of opinion”, according to their racing manager, David Redvers. Those horses include last week’s Naas G3 winner Lightening Quick, an Irish 1000 Guineas possible, whose victory helped Lyons rise no less than 50 places in the rankings to #109.
The filly was one of two G3 winners over the week, the other being Leopardstown scorer Who’s Steph. Lyons, third in the Irish trainers’ championship last season, gains nine world ranking points week on week.
Qatar Racing have enjoyed a number of important winners with Lyons, including their first G1 with Lightening Pearl (under their Pearl Bloodstock brand) in the 2011 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (also a first G1 for Lyons).
Qatar Racing, for their part, rise to #41 from #56 among owners. In addition to Lightening Quick at Naas, they are partners in G2 Doomben scorer Zousain. The son of 179-ranked stallion Zoustar was one of two winners for jockey Kerrin McEvoy, gaining the new world #9 another four points.
Frankel eases ahead of Snitzel
Frankel regained his world #4 ranking from Australian champion Snitzel in the sires’ classification thanks to G3 Naas scorer Lightening Quick. It could have been better still for the Juddmonte phenomenon, however, as hot favourite Eminent disappointed in a G2 at Chester.
The world’s #1 stallion Galileo had three winners (at Naas, Chester and the Curragh), while #2 Dubawi had one (a 150/1 scorer at Doomben) and world #3 Deep Impact had two (at Tokyo and Saint Cloud). They remain locked in the same three places, though Deep Impact narrowed the gap on Dubawi to just 12 points.
Weld back in the reckoning
Former world #9 Dermot Weld rises eight places to #35 in the trainers’ standings this week on account of Hazapour’s upset win in the G3 Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday. The colt's owner, the Aga Khan, moves up two places to #8.
Hazapour, a nephew of Weld’s 2016 Epsom Derby hero Harzand, is now generally 14/1 third favourite for the Derby on June 2.
Mirco’s brother isn’t doing badly either
G1 French 2000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Poulains) winner Olmedo is another brick in the wall of impressive rider Cristian Demuro. World #2 Mirco’s brother gains five points, which is good for a rise to #33 from #40 in the jockeys’ rankings - the French-based Italian’s highest career ranking.
Watch out for a Simcock revival
Newmarket trainer David Simcock sent out the French 1000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Pouliches) heroine Teppal, gaining four points and moving up from #69 to #64 in the trainers’ standings. Simcock made it to #27 in the rankings of October 30, 2016, and could be poised to stage a revival.
Waller closes the gap on Weir - just
Chris Waller (1021 pts) now trails Darren Weir (1048 pts) by 27 points in their battle for Australia’s highest-ranked trainer. Waller gained two points by sending out a pair of G2 scorers at Doomben, while Weir adds one point for the G1 South Australian Derby winner Leicester at Morphettville on Saturday.
Japan’s trainer on the up
In Japan, Kazuo Fujisawa entered the world’s top 30 trainers by dint of Moonquake’s win in the G2 Spring Cup at Tokyo. Fujisawa was ranked only #109 as recently as last December but has made strong progress of late.
Click here for a list of all last week’s biggest TRC Global Rankings points gainers.
Click here for a list of all the week’s Group and Graded winners.