It may not have been enough to move him higher than world #8, but jockey Jose Ortiz produced another tour de force last week, making him the most notable achiever in top-level racing around the world counting towards the TRC Global Rankings.
Nine rides in Graded stakes yielded three wins and two seconds - and a three-point gain week on week. The highlight for the pride of Puerto Rico, of course, came via his buddy Good Magic’s impressive romp in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
Stonestreet Farm-owned sire Curlin reached #4 in 2017, and had two winners this week: Good Magic in the G1 Haskell at Monmouth and Tenfold in the G2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Curlin (+3pts) is up one place to #7.
Stonestreet Stables – the racing arm of Barbara Banke’s operation – also benefit to the tune of 2pts for Good Magic’s victory, reaching world #15 in the owners’ category.
The race, which is another Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ event, helped trainer Chad Brown to a 1pt improvement. He remains world #4.
Bravo for Joe
‘Jersey’ Joe Bravo (+4pts, up to #32 from #35) lived up to his moniker on the shoreline of his home state at Monmouth Park. The popular 46-year-old steered home a pair of G3 winners, Berned in the Molly Pitcher Stakes and Synchrony in the Oceanport.
Godolphin men on the mark
Godolphin’s British-based trainers Charlie Appleby (+2pts, stays #3) and Saeed bin Suroor (+4pts, stays #8) had one Group runner on the week each – and both were successful. The former sent Beyond Reason to win the G3 Prix Six Perfections at Deauville, while the latter authored the G1 victory of Benbatl in the G1 Grosser Dallmyr Preis in Munich, Germany.
Greyville gainers
Sean Tarry (+4pts, #38 from #43) broke back into the world’s top 40 trainers with another G1 strike when Return Flight won the Thekwini Stakes at Greyville, South Africa. Also successful at the same course was former world #11 Mike De Kock (+5pts, #54 from #61), who saddled Soqrat to win the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes.
The return of Malibu Moon
Spendthrift Farm, Kentucky-based Malibu Moon (+5pts, #27 from #35) returned to the top 30 stallions when Ransom The Moon won the G1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and Farrell circled the G3 Shuvee at Saratoga. The son of A P Indy has been responsible for a string of quality placed horses since Magnum Moon won the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in April.
French trainers on the move
French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard moved up 13 places to #77 after Homerique won the G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville.
Fellow Chantilly-based Freddy Head – a former six-time champion jockey of his country – gained one place to #47 for With You’s G1 Prix Rothschild.
Watch out for this Darley shuttle stallion
Nine-year-old Darley stallion Epaulette (+7pts) had his first Group runner only last year and is one to keep an eye on. Shuttling between Ireland and Australia, he now reaches #142 from #207 on the back of Soqrat’s win in the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville, South Africa.
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.