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The top-rated runners of 2024

3 minute read

A look at the horses who returned the highest-rated performances of 2024

VIA SISTINA winning the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

We are now less than a week away from the end of the year, which is a good time to look back on the top performances of 2024.

This year signalled a couple of changings of the guard with Pride Of Jenni claiming the mantle as the country's best horse before handing over the baton to Via Sistina by the end of the Melbourne spring.

All up, 32 horses ran a rating of at least 120 on the Racing And Sports Ratings scale with a look at the top performances below.

Top-rating performances

132 – Via Sistina - Cox Plate
129 – Pride Of Jenni - Queen Elizabeth Stakes
125 – Mr Brightside - Champions Mile & Makybe Diva Stakes
125 – I Wish I Win - Kingsford Smith Cup
125 – Ceolwulf - King Charles III Stakes
125 – Switzerland - Coolmore Stud Stakes
124 – Antino - Toorak Handicap
124 – Fangirl - Apollo Stakes
124 – Think It Over - Verry Elleegant Stakes

Most 120+ performances

6 – Bella Nipotina, Mr Brightside, Pride Of Jenni
5 – Via Sistina

120+ mares (peak performance)

132 – Via Sistina - Cox Plate
129 – Pride Of Jenni - Queen Elizabeth Stakes
124 – Fangirl - Apollo Stakes
123 – Bella Nipotina - The Everest
122 – Imperatriz - Black Caviar Lightning
122 – Stefi Magnetica - Champions Mile 4th
121 – Lady Laguna - Canterbury Stakes
120 – Atishu - Champions Stakes 2nd
120 – Joliestar - Show County Quality

120+ Three-Year-Olds (peak performance)

125 – Switzerland - Coolmore Stud Stakes
121 – Cylinder - Newmarket Handicap
121 – Veight - George Ryder Stakes
120 – Growing Empire - Manikato Stakes 2nd
120 – Stefi Magnetica - Stradbroke Handicap

Multiple 120-raters – Trainers

8 – Chris Waller (Via Sistina, Switzerland, Fangirl, Buckaroo, My Oberon, Lindermann, Atishu, Joliestar)
6 – Ciaron Maher (Pride Of Jenni, Bella Nipotina, Duke De Sessa, Southport Tycoon, Nadal, Growing Empire)
3 – James Cummings (Cascadian, Cylinder, Vilana)
2 – Joe Pride (Ceolwulf, Private Eye)
2 – Bjorn Baker (Stefi Magnetica, Overpass)

Multiple 120-raters – Stallions (all with two)

Fastnet Rock (Via Sistina, Buckaroo)
Pride Of Dubai (Pride Of Jenni, Bella Nipotina)
Savabeel (I Wish I Win, Atishu)
Snitzel (Switzerland, Baraqiel)
Zoustar (Growing Empire, Joliestar)