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THE BEST OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE
Here is our list if the best of the rest of the British and French trained horses from the last 10 years...
BRITAIN
DUBAI MILLENNIUM (1998-2000)
The greatest racehorse associated with Sheikh Mohammed and the Maktoum familiy, and given a rating by Timeform to compare him to the greats of the turf.
Only ever defeated when down the field in the 1999 Derby behind Oath, a year in which the son of Seeking The Gold won the Prix Jacques le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Dubai Millennium was a sensational winner of the Dubai World Cup and Prince Of Wales's Stakes in a vintage 2000 season.
A rare champion on both dirt and turf, the outstanding flagship horse in Godolphin's stunning history to date.
SAKHEE (1999-2002)
Runner-up in Sinndar's Derby, transferred to Godolphin and the champion older horse in 2001.
Seven length winner of Juddmonte International at York, and six-length winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before second in the Breeders Cup Classic.
Never an easy horse to keep sound, but top-class at his best, and a brilliant Arc winner on the day.
FALBRAV (2002-03)
A bull of a horse, who developed into one of the best performers in the World at any distance from a mile to a mile and a half.
A top performer in Italy, he represented that country when winning the Japan Cup in 2002, before taking residence at Luca Cumani's stable as a five-year-old in 2003 when excelling as an outstanding international performer.
Won the Prix d'Ispahan , the Eclipse Stakes, and was brilliant in both the Juddmonte International and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Just beaten by the dead-heaters High Chaparral and Johar in an epic Breeders Cup Turf, before beating Rakti in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.
An illustrious career, a racehorse of rare quality and versatility.
RAKTI (2002-05)
Like Falbrav, an Italian import, who became one of the most exciting and best racehorses in the world throughout a spectacular career of highs and lows.
The winner of the Italian Derby, this powerful looking son of Polish Precedent first came to prominence in Britain when failing to enter the stalls for the 2002 Champion Stakes.
He came to Michael Jarvis as a four-year-old in 2003, and won a Group 1 in Rome before finding only Nayef too good for him in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, before storming home in the Champion Stakes against a strong looking field.
In 2005, he dissopointed in both the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, but in the Prince Of Wales's and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Rakti was superlative.
A hard puller, he could get very much on edge and prove reluctant at times, but like Falbrav, he was an outstanding international performer, and one of the best horses in the world.
AUTHORIZED (2006-07)
One of the outstanding sons to date of Montjeu, provided Frankie Dettori with his only success so far in the Derby with a brilliant performance at Epsom, romping home by five lengths.
Won the Racing Post Trophy as a two-year-old, and a very impressive winner of the Dante prior to his triumph in the blue riband.
Defeated Dylan Thomas in the Juddmonte International, but dissopointed in both the Eclipse and the Arc.
Cruised around Epsom, an emphatic Derby winner, and another Dalham Hall, Darley stallion.
RAVEN'S PASS (2007-08)
This John Gosden trained chestnut colt by Elusive Quality was as tough and as consistant as any top miler throughout the last 10 years, and following a succession of narrow defeats he finally hit the jackpot and received just reward for his efforts.
A hugely impressive winner at Sandown as a two-year-old, he came up against Henrythenavigator in the Guineas, St James's Palace, and Sussex Stakes, before at last getting one back on his nemesis in the Queen Elizaeth II Stakes, following his Group 2 success in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
Santa Anita, the Breeders Cup Classic, and a glorious conclusion to his career, as Raven's Pass defeated his old rival again to become the first British trained winner of this great race.
CONDUIT (2007-09)
Any horse that can win the St Leger, Breeders Cup Turf (twice), and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes has to be outstanding in my opinion.
No match for Sea The Stars in the Eclipse and Arc, but the son of Dalakhani has an illustrious big-race record, and is one of the best St Leger winners in many years.
One of the best horses to have carried the famous Ballymacoll colours since the mighty Troy.
FRANCE
MANDURO (2004-07)
Described by Andre Fabre as being "the best I have trained", this late-developing son of Monsun was the top-rated horse in the world following a remarkable 2007 season when he went unbeaten in five races, ranging in distance from a mile to a mile-and-a-half.
He began by winning the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, prior to landing the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp running out an easy five length winner.
He returned to Britain to win a vintage renewal of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting, showing a clean pair of heels to Dylan Thomas and Notnowcato, and was brilliant when dropped back to a mile in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
He suffered a career-ending injury when winning the Prix Foy, in a year when he may well have won the Arc.
Retired to Kildangan Stud under the Darley banner, one of the most talented and distinguished racehorses seen in Europe this decade.
GOLDIKOVA (2007-09)
Undoubtably one of the very best distaff performers in the world this decade.
Freddie Head's remarkable daughter of Anabaa emulated the great Miesque in the 1980s with back-to-back victories in the Breeders Cup Mile, both at Santa Anita.
Running in the distinguished colours of the Wertheimer familiy, Goldikova has to date recorded seven victories at the highest level, her most impressive performance coming this summer in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville where she destroyed the opposition in undeniably one of the greatest miling performances of the modern era, as she slammed subsequent Group 1 winner Aqlaam by six lengths.
Also duel winner of the Prix Rothschild, a Prix du Moulin, and the Falmouth Stakes, Goldikova twice met defeat in French classics at the hands of the unbeaten Zarkava, and in these two outstanding performers, France have produced two of the greatest post-war female runners.
DALAKHANI (2002-03)
The champion middle-distance colt of his generation in Europe in 2003, one of the best colts in recent years to have represented his owner/breeder The Aga Khan.
The grey son of Darshaan emulated his sire by winning the Prix du Jockey-Club, and met the only defeat of his career when going down to Alamshar in the Irish Derby.
Defeated a field which included High Chaparral, Kris Kin and Doyen in the Arc. A great colt.
HURRICANE RUN (2004-06)
The highest rated son of Montjeu to date, a winner of the Irish Derby, the Arc and a King George, Michael Tabor's champion defeated a strong field in the Arc of 2005 which included Group 1 winners Westerner, Bago, Shirocco, Motivator, Pride, and Scorpion.
Defeated Electrocutionist and Japan champion Heart's Cry in a great battle for the 2006 King George at Ascot, becoming only the seventh horse to win both the Arc and the King George, he ended his three-year-old season as the top rated horse in the World Thoroughbred Rankings.
A great international middle-distance runner, one of the best French-trained colts of recent years.
RAIL LINK (2005-06)
Represented the Juddmonte operation with huge distinction, the Fabre trained son of Dansili progressed into the best colt of his generation in France.
Won the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel en-route to a monumental triumph in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe of 2006, defeating a stunning line-up that included three of the very best horses in the world at the time - Japanese superstar Deep Impact, King George and Arc winner Hurricane Run, and the Breeders Cup Tuf and Coronation Cup winner Shirocco.
But Rail Link conquered the world to follow in the hoof-prints of Khalid Abdulla's other Arc winners Rainbow Quest and Dancing Brave.
© Andrew Scott, 2009
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