Australia's Best Racehorse, Up for Grabs

A vacancy has opened at the top of Australian racing, and the battle to fill it is about to begin. The retirement of Via Sistina brings an end to a period of dominance and leaves the title of Australia’s best racehorse wide open.

In this edition, we use the TopRate Best Racehorse Power Rankings to assess where things currently stand and explore how the picture could shift over the coming weeks as leading contenders return. Alongside that, and our regular features, we shine a light on a rising filly from the Andrew Gluyas stable who looks to have genuine stakes-class potential.

💎 Wrote To Arataki 99.0 - ran a new peak rating of 99, one point above her previous best of 98. The key was Yendall’s ability to dictate terms in front. He was able to use a favourable inside draw to slide forward underneath runners after jumping evenly and take control of the lead, rating her at a below-average tempo until the 600m before accelerating. That early energy she saved set up a fast final 600m, and the chasers could only make a minor impression on the margin. She’s now four wins from seven starts when leading, also producing her three career best ratings in those wins (99, 98, 97), compared to three wins from 20 starts when not leading. Despite being a 7YO mare, she’s still capable of finding career-best form when the scenario suits.

🎯 Willaidow 98.0 - was heavily backed from $6.50 to $4.60 with James McDonald riding first-up and justified that support, winning with a 98 rating over 1200m at Rosehill. That marked a new peak, improving on her previous best of 97. McDonald has now partnered with her six times for four wins.

⚡️ Sixties 97.5 - eased in betting from $3.00 to $4.20 as Roselyn’s Star firmed into odds-on, suggesting he may not have been fully wound up to show something near his best. Even so, he was far too good. Forced to ease back early when unable to work across, he settled well off the speed, sitting five lengths off an even tempo at the 600m and still 4.4 lengths back at the 400m. From there, he unleashed clearly the fastest final 400m rating of the meeting at +6.9 lengths above the TopRate standard, with the next best split only +5.3. He also recorded the best final 800m and final 600m ratings of the meeting as well, despite travelling only +0.3 lengths above standard between the 800m and 400m. That’s further testament to how good his last 400m was. He ran a 97.5 WFA Performance rating, less than a length below his 98.8 peak from last preparation when defeating subsequent G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy. Given the betting pattern and the position he was in turning for home, there is every reason to expect more improvement to come this preparation, with a new peak above his 98.8 well within reach.

🙌 Pippie Beach 97.0 - was put into the race from a good draw by James McDonald, settling just 2.2 lengths off the lead at the 800m and well within striking distance at the 400m, only 0.7 lengths back, and that made the difference. She closed with solid, sustained sectionals, holding off Cross Tasman to score with a 97 WFA Performance Rating, a clear improvement on her previous best of 93.5 from last preparation. Settling position has proven critical for her. She is now three wins from five starts when positioned within 2.5 lengths of the lead at the 800m and five wins from nine when within four lengths, compared to just one win from 11 starts when settling further than four lengths off the speed.

📈 Big Sky 96.8 - put himself firmly into Blue Diamond calculations with another dominant win, this time running a much improved 96.8 rating. That represented a significant step up on his 89 rated debut win and is exactly the type of progression you like to see from a colt who shapes as well above average. He led at an even tempo before extending from the 400m, clearly running the best final 400m and 200m of the race to stretch the margin to a dominant three lengths. He still raced a little keenly but importantly looked to finish with plenty more to give, a great indicator of upside. The caveat is that all we have seen so far is 1000m form. He now steps straight to the Group 1 Blue Diamond over 1200m in a much bigger field than the seven-runner races he has contested to date. He will need to relax much better to handle that jump in trip and pressure. When it does come together, however, he looks to have the profile to reach the top level against his own age group.

*Ratings are normalised to weight-for-age for each horse.

The retirement of Via Sistina has left a void at the top of Australian racing, sparking plenty of debate over who currently holds the title of the country’s best racehorse. For the past couple of seasons, there was absolutely no question about it. Via Sistina was dominant, and her status as the clear number one was undisputed. But with her off the scene, the throne is now officially vacant, and we’re all looking for the next star to claim it.

While there’s a lot to play out over the upcoming autumn carnival, I thought it was worthwhile to look at our TopRate Best Racehorse Power Rankings to see where things stand. This is an objective methodology to rank the top-performing horses in the country using a consistent measurement process. The system is built on two key pillars: recency-weighted performance ratings and Group 1 level achievements.

Below, you’ll find the current top 10 with Via Sistina still there for comparison.

Currently ranked number one on 885 points, Jimmysstar (pictured above) earns the title of Australia’s best racehorse right now. He has built a standout 12-month profile, opening his 2025 autumn campaign with a Group 1 Oakleigh Plate win (102 rating) and closing it with victory in the G1 All Aged Stakes (102.5). The spring was where his ceiling really lifted, and he fulfilled his potential. He closed the preparation with four consecutive peak ratings, 103.1, 103.3, when 3rd in the G1 The Everest with clear extra merit, then a dominant 106.8 win in the Russell Balding Stakes over 1300m, followed by a 105.7 win in the G1 CF Orr Stakes over Angel Capital.

Three Group 1 wins across the year, paired with elite ratings at his most recent starts, give him the strongest CV in the country and justify his current top ranking.

The gap between the next group is extremely tight, with very few points separating them. The full article on Racing.com explores the likely challengers in that bracket, including Autumn Glow, and examines how the rankings could shift over the coming weeks as several horses just outside the top ten are expected to fire early in their preparation, while some currently ahead of them are likely to need a run or two to show their best.

Bassett Babe made a big statement on debut at Gawler on January 28th, stamping herself as a filly with a very bright future. She didn't just win her maiden; she dominated the field by 6.3 lengths in a performance that suggests her future lies in stakes-class company.

The numbers behind the win were just as impressive as the visual. She ran a 96 WFA Performance Rating 📊, leading from start to finish in fast time. One key aspect that stood out was her late strength; she ran +1.7 lengths above the TopRate standard for the final 200 metres, showing terrific substance at the end of an overall race also run above standard time.

Looking at her pedigree, there is every reason to believe she can get even better as she steps up in distance. Her dam, Liberty Lover, was a Rebel Raider mare who won twice over 2,000 metres. This mix of natural speed and some staying blood gives Bassett Babe plenty of scope to improve as she matures and steps up in distance.

It isn't all smooth sailing just yet, though. Trainer Andrew Gluyas noted that she still has some learning to do, mentioning she can be a bit temperamental. Those race day manners are something to keep an eye on as she moves up in grade.

Despite those minor quirks, the raw talent is undeniable. If she continues to head in the right direction and keeps her mind on the job, we are looking at a well-above-average prospect with stakes-class races well and truly within her reach.

Check out a replay of her win HERE

The Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival is a key fixture on the local calendar each season, headlined by the Group 3 Hobart Cup this Sunday. This week’s Brain Teasers focus on standout performers who began their path through Tasmanian feature races before going on to achieve notable success at Group 1 level on the mainland

*Answers at the bottom

➡ Hobart | Listed Magic Millions Tasmanian Derby 2200M

➡ Royal Randwick | Group 3 ESKIMO PRINCE STAKES 1200M
➡ Royal Randwick | Restricted Listed INGLIS MILLENNIUM - 2YOS 1100M
➡ Royal Randwick | Listed LONHRO PLATE 1000M
➡ Morphettville | Listed Sportsbet Premier's Plate 2006M
➡ Caulfield | Group 2 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes 1400M
➡ Caulfield | Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes 1400M
➡ Caulfield | Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes 1100M
➡ Caulfield | Group 2 Rubiton Stakes 1100M
➡ Caulfield | Group 3 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) 1100M
➡ Caulfield | Group 2 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Prelude (F) 1100M
➡ Caulfield | Group 3 T.S. Carlyon Cup 1600M
➡ Ascot | Listed CYRIL FLOWER STAKES 1200M

➡ Hobart | Listed Aviso TAS Insurance Brokers Strutt Stakes 2020M
➡ Hobart | Group 3 Kevin Sharkie Mystic Journey Stakes 1200M
➡ Hobart | Group 3 Ladbrokes Hobart Cup 2400M
➡ Hobart | Listed Wrest Point Thomas Lyons Stakes 1400M