The international classifications agreed with popular opinion in Rock of Gibraltar being the Horse of the Year for 2002. The now retired son of Danehill was given 128 pounds for his record breaking seven consecutive Group 1 wins. He is rated two pounds clear of the Derby winning pair of High Chaparral and Sulamani, who are the next highest rated three year olds on a joint 126. The classy fillies Islington and Bright Sky were the highest rated three year old fillies at 120, while dual classic winner Kazzia was overlooked. War Emblem was the highest rated American at 124. 

Sulamani’s Arc conqueror, Marienbard, also retired, was the highest rated older horse.

The son of Caerleon was rated 127 in a less than outstanding year ahead of World Series leader Grandera, Lockinge hero Keltos and King George winner, Golan. Inevitably, the outstanding North American filly, Azeri, was the highest rated older female on 125. Australian star, Northerly, who defeated Grandera in the Cox Plate, was given a rating of 124.

The two year olds were regarded as average with the two top colts being Middle Park victor, Oasis Dream (a Green Desert half brother to Zenda) and the Ali Royal colt, Tout Seul, an upset winner of the traditional classic pointer Dewhurst Stakes. Oasis Dream was given 122, 1 pound clear of Tout Seul.

The top rated two year old filly was the Marcel Boussac winner, Six Perfections - daughter of another leading two year old in Celtic Swing. The Pascal Bary trained youngster was rated 121 ahead of several leading colts, namely Morny winner Elusive City, Derby fancy Dalakhani, the Dewhurst and Middle Park runner up Tomahawk and the promising Hold That Tiger. The latter was given a rather low 117.

The ratings, as usual, contained various controversial areas. An example is the seemingly exposed Zafeen being rated equal to Hold That Tiger, an unlucky loser of the Breeders Cup Juvenile and a colt with huge potential.  The brilliant Street Cry is another who looks hard done by. A magnificent winner of the World Cup, and retired due to injury, the Machiavellian entire is surely better than 124?

Top-Rated Horses on the International Classifications (Courtesy of The Bloodhorse)

(Top 10 shown; including any ties for 10th)

2-Year-Olds--Excludes U.S.-based horses)
Weight--Horse--Sire--Trainer--Country

123--Oasis Dream--Green Desert--John Gosden--Great Britain
122-Tout Seul--Ali-Royal--Fulke Johnson Houghton--Great Britain
121--Six Perfections--Celtic Swing--Pascal Bary--France
119--Elusive City--Elusive Quality--Gerard Butler--Great Britain
119--Tomahawk--Seattle Slew--Aidan O'Brien--Ireland
118--Dalakhani--Darshaan--Alain de Royer Dupre--France
118--Somnus--Pivotal--Tim Easterby--Great Britain
117--Airwave--Air Express--Henry Candy--Great Britain
117--Hold That Tiger--Storm Cat--Aidan O'Brien--Ireland
117--Zafeen--Zafonic--Mick Channon--Great Britain

3-Year-Olds
Weight--Horse--Sire--Trainer--Country

128--Rock Of Gibraltar--Danehill--Aidan O'Brien--Ireland
126--High Chaparral--Sadler's Wells--Aidan O'Brien--Ireland
126--Sulamani--Hernando--Pascal Bary--France
124--War Emblem--Our Emblem--Bob Baffert--United States
123--Act One--In the Wings--Jonathan Pease--France
123--Hawk Wing--Woodman--Aidan O'Brien--Ireland
123--Where Or When--Danehill Dancer--Terry Mills--Great Britain
121--Came Home--Gone West--J Paco Gonzalez--United States
121--Medaglia d'Oro--El Prado--Bobby Frankel--United States
120--Bright Sky--Wolfhound--Elie Lellouche--France
120--Buddha--Unbridled's Song--H James Bond--United States
120--Gygistar--Prospector's Music--Mark Hennig--United States
120--Harlan's Holiday--Harlan--Todd A Pletcher--United States
120--Islington--Sadler's Wells--Sir Michael Stoute--Great Britain
120--Landseer--Danehill--Aidan O'Brien--Ireland
120--Moon Ballad--Singspiel--Saeed bin Suroor--Great Britain
120--Next Desert--Desert Style--A. Schutz--Germany
120--Repent--Louise Quartorze--Ken McPeek--United States
120--Sarava--Wild Again--Ken McPeek--United States
120--Thunderello--Montbrook--Scott Lake--United States

Older Horses
Weight--Horse--Sire--Trainer--Country

127--Marienbard--Caerleon--Saeed bin Suroor--Great Britain
126--Golan--Spectrum--Sir MichaelStoute--Great Britain
126--Grandera--Grand Lodge--Saeed bin Suroor--Great Britain
126--Keltos--Kendor--Carlos Laffon-Parias--France
125--Azeri--Jade Hunter--Laura de Seroux--United States
125--Nayef--Gulch--Marcus Tregoning--Great Britain
125--Volponi--Cryptoclearance--Philip Johnson--United States
124--Domedriver--Indian Ridge--Pascal Bary--France)
124--Northerly--Serheed--Fred Kersley--Australia
124--Orientate--Mt. Livermore--D Wayne Lukas--United States
124--Street Cry--Machiavellian--Saeed bin Suroor--Great Britain