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Rating the 2023/24 Group 1 season

3 minute read

A look at the highest-rating Australian-trained horses for the Group 1 season.

Pride Of Jenni winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

As is now custom, the Tattersall's Tiara brought down the curtain on the Australian Group 1 season, with Bella Nipotina registering a third elite-level win in the 1400m event.

Below is a look at the horses who have been the stars of the season from a Timeform rating perspective.

HIGHEST-RATED HORSES

Ciaron Maher's star six-year-old became the first mare to top the ratings since Winx when she ran 129 in her jaw-dropping Queen Elizabeth Stakes win.

Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight and The Everest winner Think About IT were next best and are among 11 horses who ran to at least 124 on at least one occasion throughout the season.

129: PRIDE OF JENNI (Queen Elizabeth Stakes win)
127+: WITHOUT A FIGHT (Melbourne Cup win)
127: THINK ABOUT IT (The Everest win)
126: GOLD TRIP (Caulfield Cup 3rd)
126: I WISH I WIN (Kingsford Smith Cup win)
125+: MR BRIGHTSIDE (Makybe Diva Stakes win, Cox Plate 2nd)
125: PRIVATE EYE (The Shorts win)
124: ALLIGATOR BLOOD (Cox Plate 3rd)
124: IMPERATRIZ (Moir Stakes win, Manikato Stakes win)
124: MILITARIZE (Doncaster Mile 3rd)
124: THINK IT OVER (Verry Elleegant Stakes win)

HIGHEST-RATED 2YOs

Broadsiding was the only dual Group 1 winner among the juveniles and is considered the leading contender for the 2YO of the Year award by many, but it was another colt who returned the highest juvenile rating for the season.

Matt Laurie's Pierata youngster Coleman was edged out by Lady Of Camelot in the Golden Slipper and earned a rating of 120 for that run, which was two pounds higher than Lady Of Camelot owing to the Written Tycoon filly's weight advantage.

That weight edge is the same reason Tassort colt Traffic Warden (119) rates a mention in the top six and his ATC Sires' conqueror Manaal (115) does not.

120: COLEMAN (Golden Slipper 2nd)
119: TRAFFIC WARDEN (ATC Sires' 2nd)
118: LADY OF CAMELOT (Golden Slipper win)
117: SWITZERLAND (Todman Stakes win)
116: BROADSIDING (Champagne Stakes win, JJ Atkins win)
116: STORM BOY (Magic Millions 2YO Classic win)

HIGHEST-RATED 3YOs

Militarize's sole Group 1 win as a 3YO came in the Golden Rose during spring, but his peak rating came when third to another 3YO, Celestial Legend, in the Doncaster Mile.

The now-retired Dundeel colt earned a rating of 124 for that run, which made him the only 3YO to run a number in the top 10 by Australian-trained horses for the season.

124: MILITARIZE (Doncaster Mile 3rd)
123: CYLINDER (The Everest 5th)
122: VEIGHT (George Ryder Stakes win)
121: WARMONGER (Queensland Derby win)
120: OZZMOSIS (Coolmore Stud Stakes win)
119: RIFF ROCKET (Australian Derby win, Rosehill Guineas win)
119: SOUTHPORT TYCOON (Australian Guineas win)

HIGHEST-RATED MARES

129: PRIDE OF JENNI (Queen Elizabeth Stakes win)
124: IMPERATRIZ (Moir Stakes win, Manikato Stakes win)
123: BELLA NIPOTINA (Stradbroke Handicap 2nd)
122: FANGIRL (Apollo Stakes win)
121: ASFOORA (King Charles III Stakes win)
121: LADY LAGUNA (Canterbury Stakes win)
121: VIA SISTINA (Ranvet Stakes win)