Best racehorses of the 21st century

Retired to stud after a fantastic 2009 flat season. Among the progeny include Oaks winner, Taghrooda, Masar (who won the 2018 Epsom Derby) and top stayer Stradivarius (two Goodwood Cups, 2017 & 2018 and an Ascot Gold Cup 2018).

He had stamina, tremendous acceleration and the balance to handle courses as different as Epsom & Longchamps. Mick Kinane who also rode Galileo said he had never felt such power beneath him when asked to go. In contrast to the likes of Frankel and Mill Reef, he was not a relentless galloper and had a tendency to idle when he had nothing to chase. To quote Sir Anthony McCoy, "We never got to the bottom of him." How he would have compared with Pinza, Sea-Bird, Nijinsky, Mill Reef and Shergar is anyone's guess, but for what my opinion is worth, the best European racehorse we have seen this century to date.

Sired the 2016 Epsom Derby winner, Harzand and also an Oaks winner, Taghrooda in 2014

Passed away in 2021 but Content's victory in a Group 1 at York recently meant that it is the late Derby winner's 100th individual Group one sired.

2001 Epsom Derby winner who passed away in 2021. Retired to stud and became a legendary sire.

Has just become the greatest sire of all time, 171 Group Ones as of 19th September 2019, surpassing Danehill's 168.

As of 10th May 2019, has sired over 150 Group 1 winners including Hermosa, the recent Newmarket 1000 Guineas winner. One of the top flat horses of 2001 and has sired the likes of Minding, Winter, Australia, New Approach, Frankel and Churchill.

Has sired over 150 Group 1 winners as of 9th May 2017 including Churchill and Winter, the Newmarket 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas winners respectively.

One of the top flat horses of 2001 and now a successful sire, many of them classic winners including Frankel, Australia and Minding.

One of the top flat horses of 2001 and now a succesful sire, many of them classic winners.

One of the great flat horses of all time.

El Encino Stakes (2008) Apple Blossom Handicap (2008, 2010) Milady Handicap (2008,2009) Vanity Handicap (2008,2009,2010) Clement Hirsch Handicap (2008, 2009, 2010) Lady's Secret Stakes (2008,2009,2010) Santa Margarita Handicap (2010) Breeders' Cup: Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (2008) Breeders' Cup Classic (2009) Awards American Champion Older Female Horse (2008, 2009, 2010) American Horse of the Year (2010) Secretariat Vox Populi Award[1] (2010) William H. May Award (2011) Honours Zenyatta Stakes (2010) NTRA "Moment of the Year" (2008, 2009) SI – Top 10 Female Race Horses of All Time (2010)

Should have been 20 and 0 but ran out of racetrack her last time out! The most exciting closer to watch period.

deserves to be number 1

Another of those great milers.

One of the great flat horses of the last decade. Later became a sire and has now passed away. Won the Derby in 2002 at Epsom and twice a Breeders Cup Turf winner including the famous dead heat in 2003.

Another great miler from the early 2000's trained by Aidan O Brien.

Our 1st Grand Slam horse racing winner. One of the all time greats.

most popular horse in modern times and 1st grand slam winner and defeated older horses on his 1st and only attempt.

Great run winning the Triple Crown, Haskell, and Breeders Cup Classic, and only lost the Travers by half a length. Best horse of the 21st century. Would have done great things as a 4 year old if he were allowed to run.

As many have said, he is a horse of a lifetime. Great personality and could cruise at high speed. Once he got out front, no horse was going to catch him.

won on 8 different race tracks and unusual durability for a modern thoroughbred and 1st Triple Crown winner in 37 years

a horse racing grand slam and fantastic three year old season.

Has now added the Breeders Cup Classic to round off a fabulous year.

A grand slam winner of horse racing and had one of the best 3 year old seasons ever.

Maybe one of the great horses ever. Would really be outstanding if he were allowed to race as a 4 year old, but we can always imagine what would it would be like.

HAS TO BE ONE OF THE GREAT MODERN HORSES TO RUN winning the 1st triple crown in 37 years and continuing to run all the way into the fall season.

although he finished 2nd in the Travers, it was still one of the classic races ever run. He will have a chance against older horses in the Breeder's Cup Classic.

Also won the 2015 William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes

Another of the great Aidan O'Brien trained flat horses in the last twenty years.

Retired unbeaten as of 2018 and went to stud. Among the progeny is Cracksman, the 2017 Champion Stakes winner.

The 2012 dual Derby and 2,000 Guineas winner has retired to stud as of 2019. Sired an Irish Derby winner, Latrobe who won it in 2018.

One of the equine stars of 2012 but a legend no doubt.

Golden Rod Stakes (2008) Martha Washington Stakes (2009) Fair Grounds Oaks (2009) Fantasy Stakes (2009) Kentucky Oaks (2009) Mother Goose Stakes (2009) Haskell Invitational Handicap (2009) Woodward Stakes (2009) Fleur de Lis Handicap (2010) Triple Crown classic race wins: Preakness Stakes (2009)

She also won the Preakness in 2009 :)

Now retired but an outstanding flat horse.

One of the great flat stayers trained by Aidan O'Brien.

Totally underrated horse due to his inconsitency which was down to his temarament. Won the Derby in record time and his win in the Arc was commanding

Arrogate won four G1s in a row, but then completely fell off. No way he is better than Curlin AP, Ghostzapper, Zenyatta, CC, and more. Not consistent, and didn't even race in the TC series.

Recently won a Breeders Cup race just getting the better of Songbird in a closely fought finish.

I can't wait until California Chrome bursts the Beholder bubble. Her owner already cursed her with his "Who's that?" rhetorical question when an interviewer asked him about facing Chrome in the 2016 Breeder's Cup.

Sired Masar, the 2018 Epsom Derby winner.

Became a top stallion including Hurricane Fly, St Nicholas Abbey and Camelot among the progeny.

The King George of 2010 at Ascot is the undoubted highlight in this horse's short lived career.

One of the flat stars of 2008 trained by Aidan O'Brien. Multiple Group 1 winner including the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Trained I think by John Oxx who nine years later would train another flat superstar just like Sinndar was in 2000.

Now retired but what an outstanding flat horse.

Now a three time winner of the Coronation Cup.

Also won the 2013 Sheema Classic in Dubai.

One of the recent great milers. For me, the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009 led this horse to a string of Group 1 victories including the 2011 Queen Anne and Lockinge Stakes.

, Lockinge Stakes (2011), Queen Anne Stakes (2011),

Now retired as a multiple Group 1 winner. Final victory was in Hong Kong at the end of 2017. Formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien. Sired by Galileo.

Multiple Group 1 winner including two Group 1 victories in 2017, the Coronation Cup and Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Multiple Group 1 winner including the 2017 Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Retired but what an outstanding mare, probably the best since Dawn Run. Six Cheltenham Mares championship between 2009 and 2014.

Former champion hurdler who had gone chasing since including a Grade 1 novice victory at Leopardstown in February 2020.

As of January 2016, multiple Grade 1 winner including the Champion Hurdle and two time Christmas Hurdle winner. Was the top novice hurdler of 2014.

Won the 2015 Champion Hurdle. Last appeared in the Punchestown version and prevailed. Unbeaten as of 23rd May 2015

Sorry, this should have been Snow Fairy.

Breeders Cup Turf (2015) & Arc De Triomphe winner who has placed many times in Group 1 races, the Irish Champion Stakes being the most recent in September 2016 prior to winning the Arc that held at Chantilly instead of Longchamp due to redevelopment.

Now retired after a disappointing Eclipse Stakes at Sandown that turned out to be her last appearance.

Prince of Wales's Stakes (2014).

Also won a Prince of Wales's Stakes (2024)

One of Aidan O'Brien's greatest ever runners, eight Group Ones as of October 5th. Most recent was in France (Prix Du Cadran), made all the running. An incredible stayer, even ahead of Yeats. By the late sire, Galileo.

This staying star has just achieved the Ascot/Goodwood Cup double repeating 2022's successes. Also won big prizes in Ireland and France.

TThis staying star has just become a two time winner of the Ascot Gold Cup, (2022 & 2024).

As of 21st June 2020, this stayer has become a three time winner of the Ascot Gold Cup. The latest renewal ran behind closed doors due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.

As of 7th April 2019, this horse has just become a two time Grand National winner (2018 & 2019). Also a Cheltenham Festival regular including the Triumph Hurdle in 2014.

As of 16th March 2019, a two time Queen Mother Champion chaser among a host of Grade 1 victories so far.

Recently retired as of March 13th 2020.

My mistake, it was the Dubai Sheema Classic (2017) as well as the Irish Derby in 2015.

Multiple Group 1 winning filly including the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 1st.

As of 4th February 2019, a multiple Grade 1 winner including the Irish Champion Hurdle on 2nd February. Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, now with Gordon Elliott.

As of April 2018, this Grade 1 winning hurdler, formerly with Willie Mullins now trained by Gordon Elliott.

As of 4th February 2019, retired to stud as a top stayer winning two Irish St Legers and an Ascot Gold Cup during the horse's longevity. Was also placed in the Arc De Triomphe formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien.

Irish St Leger (2015 & 2017), Ascot Gold Cup (2016)