Cindy's Horse Racing Website Index

2002 International Classifications


Rock of Gibraltar is the high weight on the International Classifications at 128 pounds. He is also a finalist for the Horse of the Year Eclipse Award in North America despite finishing second in his only start there.


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Date: 01/15/03

The British Horseracing Board released their International Classifications for 2002 today, and Rock of Gibraltar, winner of 7 consecutive Group One races, was named the high weight for the year with 128 pounds. The International Classification weights are assigned by a panel of international handicappers for horses who raced in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.

Rock of Gibraltar's rating might have been higher than that had he been raced more agressively. British Horseracing Board handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill said: "Who knows how good he could have been? He could have been the best horse we've seen in the last 10 years. Sadly, he was never asked to win his races by far enough and never met the calibre of opposition that would allow us to rate him any higher."

Overall, 2002 was not a very good year for racing, with ratings lower than usual. Rock of Gibraltar's 128 pounds is the lowest highweight since the classification system was started 25 years ago. The top rated older horse, Marienbard, only got 127 pounds which is the lowest weight since 1994. The top rated US performers were Azeri at 125 and War Emblem at 124.

Two-Year-Olds
HorseWeightTrainerCountry
Oasis Dream123John GosdenUK
Tout Seul122Fulke Johnson HoughtonUK
Six Perfections121Pascal BaryFrance
Elusive City119Gerard ButlerUK
Tomahawk119Aidan O'BrienIreland
Dalakhani118Alain de Royer DupreFrance
Somnus118Tim EasterbyUK
Airwave117Henry CandyUK
Hold That Tiger117Aidan O'BrienIreland
Zafeen117Mick ChannonUK
 
Three-Year-Olds
HorseWeightTrainerCountry
Rock Of Gibraltar128Aidan O'BrienIreland
High Chaparral126Aidan O'BrienIreland
Sulamani126Pascal BaryFrance
War Emblem124Bob BaffertUSA
Act One123Jonathan PeaseFrance
Hawk Wing123Aidan O'BrienIreland
Where Or When123Terry MillsUK
Came Home121J Paco GonzalezUSA
Medaglia d'Oro121Bobby FrankelUSA
Bright Sky120Elie LelloucheFrance
Buddha120H James BondUSA
Gygistar120Mark HennigUSA
Harlan's Holiday120Todd A PletcherUSA
Islington120Sir Michael StouteUK
Landseer120Aidan O'BrienIreland
Moon Ballad120Saeed bin SuroorUK
Next Desert120A. SchutzGermany
Repent120Ken McPeekUSA
Sarava120Ken McPeekUSA
Thunderello120Scott LakeUSA
 
Older Horses
HorseWeightTrainerCountry
Marienbard127Saeed bin SuroorUK
Golan126Sir Michael StouteUK
Grandera126Saeed bin SuroorUK
Keltos126Carlos Laffon-PariasFrance
Azeri125Laura de SerouxUSA
Nayef125Marcus TregoningUK
Volponi125Philip JohnsonUSA
Domedriver124Pascal BaryFrance
Northerly124Fred KersleyAustralia
Orientate124D Wayne LukasUSA
Street Cry124Saeed bin SuroorUK

Photo ©2003, Cindy Pierson Dulay

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