Knicks goes to the top of the equine world
Gulfstream Park, Knicks Go, Joel Rosario
Knicks Go, the decisive winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, has been honoured with the award for the Longines World’s Best Racehorse of 2021.
The six-year-old, who has six Group 1 wins to his name, is due to line-up for the final time in his career this weekend, in the Pegasus World Cup, a race he won 12 months ago.
The Brad Cox-trained son of Paynter was beaten into fourth by Mishriff in the Saudi Cup and filled the same spot in the Metropolitan Handicap, he subsequently won his next four races.
Having got back to winning ways at Prairie Meadows in Grade 3 company, he won the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga, the Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs before his clear cut win under Joel Rosario in the Classic, from Medina Spirit.
"Going into the Classic we had a lot of confidence with him, he'd been training well," Cox told World Horse Racing.
"I had a fantastic start to the season, had a little bit of a setback at Belmont but the second half of the year was fantastic with a big win at Saratoga, one at Churchill and ultimately the Breeders' Cup Classic which helped him to the position as the top-rated horse in the world.
"He obviously had a fantastic year and this was the cherry on the top. To be at the top is a true honour and something I'm very proud of."
Knicks Go earned a rating of 129, 2lb ahead of three horses who tied for second place - Aidan O'Brien's St Mark's Basilica, Charlie Appleby's Derby and King George hero Adayar and John Gosden's Mishriff.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was named the World's Best Race, ahead of the Breeders' Cup Classic and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
