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Harris hoping for memorable result; Kanjistar better for latest outing; Australian speedsters rule.

Harris hoping for memorable result

Victory in Saturday’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile for Noel Harris would result in celebrations of double significance.

He will partner Pondarosa Miss and should they be successful the 60-year-old will become the oldest jockey to win a Group One event, surpassing Lester Piggott, who was 57 when he won the 1992 English 2000 Guineas aboard Rodrigo De Triano.

Harris was also honoured last Saturday at Trentham with a life membership of the Wellington Racing Club.

Kanjistar better for latest outing

Multiple Australian winner Kanjistar will strip a fitter horse at Trentham on Saturday.

The six-year-old went close to justifying his strong support earlier this month at Thames where he finished runner-up over 1000 metres.

“He won four in Australia before he came back and he was first-up the other day without a trial,” co-trainer Mark Fraser-Campin said. “There’s still a bit of improvement in him, but he should go a nice race.”

Kanjistar finished second in his New Zealand debut as a three-year-old before he joined Gerald Ryan’s Sydney stable and picked up wins at Gosford (two), Randwick and Canterbury.

Two of his successes were over 1200 metres, a distance he tackles in the Phil Cataldo Bloodstock Premier.

Australian speedsters rule

Australian sprinters are on top of the world again in the latest Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2014 released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

They provide the three highest-rated horses in the category with Lankan Rupee (123) and Terravista sharing the title of champion sprinter on a joint 123 ranking, ahead of Chautauqua on 122.

Lankan Rupee won Group One titles last year in the Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap and the TJ Smith Stakes while Terravista claimed the Gr.1 Darley Classic.

New Zealand-bred horses to feature in the rankings are Dundeel (122), Sacred Falls (120) and Silent Achiever (117). Japanese galloper Just The Way (130) is rated the world’s best galloper with the Hong Kong-based Able Friend (127) the top Australasian-bred.