Godolphin's 'special one' Ghaiyyath officially the best horse in the world

Jockey William Buick celebrates after winning the Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) on Ghaiyyath during day one of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse on August 19, 2020 in York, England. Getty Images

Jockey William Buick celebrates after winning the Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) on Ghaiyyath during day one of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse in York, England. Getty Images

Jockey William Buick celebrates after winning the Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) on Ghaiyyath during day one of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse in York, England. Getty Images

Ghaiyyath ridden by jockey William Buick on the way to winning the Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) during day one of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse. PA Photo

Ghaiyyath ridden by jockey William Buick wins the Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) during day one of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse in York, England. Getty Images

Ghaiyyath ridden by jockey William Buick wins the Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) during day one of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse in York, England. Getty Images

Ghaiyyath ridden by jockey William Buick on the way to winning the Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) during day one of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse. PA Photo

Ghaiyyath (William Buick) wins the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park Racecourse on July 5, 2020 in Esher, England. Getty Images

Ghaiyyath and William Buick (blue) winning The Coral-Eclipse from Enable (pink cap) at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, England. Getty Images

Ghaiyyath and William Buick after winning the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park Racecourse. Getty Images

Ghaiyyath ridden by William Buick wins the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on June 5, 2020 in Newmarket, England. Getty Images

Ghaiyyath ridden by William Buick wins the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Getty Images

William Buick celebrates on board Ghaiyyath after winning the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Getty Images

Charlie Appleby said all major races are under consideration for Godolphin’s multiple Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath after he was officially announced the best horse in the world.

The five-year-old son of Dubawi earned a new career-high figure on Racing Post Ratings, and with the British Horseracing Authority's lead handicapper after his third consecutive Group 1 victory this season last week in the Juddmonte International.

His victory at York earned him a rating of 131 and also went clear in the race to be crowned Cartier Horse of the Year on 102 points.

Ghaiyyath is the first horse to hit the century mark in the Horse of the Year standings, followed by Aidan O’Brien’s filly Love on 96, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s sprinter Battaash, Fancy Blue and Magical, all on 80.

Appleby told the Godolphin website: “No decisions on his programme have been reached, but all the major races one would expect are under consideration — the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Ascot’s G1 Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.”

Ghaiyyath began 2020 with an impressive win over stable companion Spotify in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan in February.

He has since racked up three Group 1 prizes on British soil: the Coronation Cup Stakes at Newmarket, Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte International at the Ebor festival at York.

“Ghaiyyath has come back from York in fine order,” Appleby added. “He has taken it well, and post-race, he looks very good.

“The old racing cliche is applicable here — he will tell us where and when he goes next. We will monitor him closely and work something out by the end of the week.

“Our policy is always to do what is best for the horse. He is a great horse to be dealing with and a true champion from a sire line His Highness Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai] has nurtured and developed over the past two decades.

“It is a privilege to be training the progeny of Dubawi. They are fantastic racehorses, who have athleticism and willingness, which sets them apart.

“I’m so pleased for His Highness that he has another true champion in his stable. Ghaiyyath is indeed the special one.”

Ghaiyyath stretched his record to nine wins from 12 starts, including four Group 1s, three of them registered this year. His other win at the highest level came in last year’s Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden in Germany.

His sire, Dubawi, won five of his eight starts, taking the Group 1 National Stakes as a juvenile and the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas and Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at three.

Ghaiyyath’s grandfather, Dubai Millennium, won nine of his 10 starts, including four Group 1s, the Prix Jacques le Marois, Ascot’s QEII, Dubai World Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s top miler Mohaather has been retired after suffering an injury.

The four-year-old Showcasing colt trained by Marcus Tregoning won five of his eight career starts, including the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in his last start.

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