Pour Moi and St Nicholas Abbey top Middle Distance rankings

St Nicholas Abbey powers to victory in the Investec Coronation Cup. Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com.

Saturday’s Investec Derby winner, the French-trained Pour Moi, and Ireland’s winner of Friday’s Investec Coronation Cup, St Nicholas Abbey, are tied at the top of the rankings on 122 following the first two races in the Middle Distance division of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Pour Moi achieved his 122* rating (up from 113) thanks to his scintillating run from last to first to land the Epsom Classic, while the second horse, Treasure Beach, is on 121*(from 107) and the third, Carlton House, on 120 (from 116).

“Because he made up so much ground, I suspect that Pour Moi is better than I’ve been able to rate him,” said the BHA’s Senior Handicapper, Phil Smith.

“I also believe that Carlton House may well show himself capable of better.

“I rated the race through Recital in sixth place, who went into the race on 115 and has come out of it on 115. Native Khan, in fifth place, goes up two pounds to 118, paying another compliment to Frankel who beat him so comprehensively in the Guineas.”

St Nicholas Abbey, who appeared ill at ease on the track, did not improve his rating as a result of Friday’s win (Phil Smith had him running to 120), so stays on his previous rating of 122.

The Investec Coronation Cup runner-up, Midday, ran several pounds below her best but stays on 121, while Clowance, in third place, goes back up two pounds to her previous best of 112.

However, Pour Moi’s and St Nicholas’s Abbey’s stay at the top of the Middle Distance rankings is unlikely to last more than 10 days.

Their position will almost certainly be usurped at Royal Ascot next week when the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the third race in the category, is likely to feature the British debut of the currently 126-rated So You Think, possibly against the 128-rated Workforce and the 125-rated Twice Over, in what promises to be one of many races to savour at the Royal Meeting.

* This is the BHA’s recommended revised rating, but it has to be ratified by the handicappers in the country where the horse is trained.

To view the latest ranking tables, CLICK HERE and use the buttons above the Sprint table to look at the other divisions.