IS GOLDIKOVA ABOVE FRANKEL & ROCK OF GIBRALTAR? | TOP 5 GREATEST MILERS RANKED!

[@WilliamHillRacing]

Thumbs up if you enjoyed the video! Who are your Top 5 all-time milers? Tell us in the comments!

[@fleetwood1125]

Greetings from America. As it's too difficult to narrow down to five, I will give you my Top 10. It's refreshing to know that Jane might print out several copies of my list and set them ablaze to keep herself warm this autumn and winter season. Ross made a very compelling argument for Goldikova, but for my list, I will start with Frankel. 1) Frankel - If you limited races to just 1 mile you could make compelling arguments for other horses. In my estimation though, his 2012 Queen Anne singlehandedly puts him over the top. It's almost unbelievable. The only perfromance that tops this is Secretariat's 1973 Belmont. Frankel embarrassed Excelebration. 10.58 furlong on soft ground at Ascot? Easily a 10.3 on firm, flat tracks here in America. 2) Dr. Fager - I know, I know. Us dreadful Americans always touting our horses. But this horse's accomplishments merit the ranking. For the purposes of this list, I will only include horses that won at least one race on turf (otherwise I might consider Gulch or Cody's Wish), and Dr. Fager was 1968 Turf Horse of the Year. In the United Nations Handicap he carried 134 lbs. (or 9 stone 8 lbs. for those far more sophisticated) and beat 1967 Turf Horse of the Year Fort Marcy while giving him 16 lbs. In his last race, he was 1 pound shy of carrying 10 stone and won that 7 furlong race impressively, running the first 6 furlongs in 1:07.80. But it's the 1968 Washington Handicap that puts him in this spot. Dr. Fager carried 134 lbs. while setting the world record for 1 mile on dirt which still stands. His second quarter mile was run in 20.6 seconds. The only other horses capable of running these kind of jaw-dropping fractions (or sectionals if you prefer) are Frankel, Winx, Secretariat, Dancing Brave, and perhaps Sea Bird. While us Americans overemphasize "times", the way records are set provides context. If you set a world record that has lasted almost 60 years while carrying over 9.5 stone, you belong on this list. 3) Goldikova - If you can win the Queen Anne, the Prix Jacques le Marois, and the Breeders Cup Mile, you also belong on this list. But you add in a couple of Prix d'Ispahans and realize no other horse has more Breeders Cup wins, let alone Breeders Cup Mile, and you realize why Ross rated her number 1. Definitely deserving, and this American believes she would have beaten Rock of Gibraltar. OK, this comment alone is going to end up in Jane's fireplace, but that is okay. 4) Miesque - What is it about French fillies and mares that makes them so good at 1 mile or 1600 meter races? She won the 1000 Guineas, and became the first horse to win two Breeders Cup races and also the first horse to win the Prix Jacques le Marois twice. In 1988, she beat a very talented Warning in both of those races, the 1988 Breeders Cup Mile she beat Belmont winner Bet Twice, Steinlen, and Warning and buried them in the home stretch (or straight), drawing away by 4 lengths. Absolutely belongs on this list. 5) Brigadier Gerard - It is tough to put him all the way down here, and he has an incredible resume (or CV if you prefer) if you remove his 10 and 12 furlong wins. He won a lot of great races over 1 mile, but he didn't cross the Atlantic like Goldikova and Miesque, and while his wins had brilliance, it's just short of the performances we saw in the 2012 Queen Anne and 1968 Washington. However, if one were to put Brigadier Gerard on top, I wouldn't offer much of a rebuttal, but in my opinion, I've got him here. On the plus side, now Laurie Williamson will join Jane in printing out my list and turn into a smoldering inferno. Here in America, we roast hot dogs and beer brats over open fire. Laurie and Jane can cook a banger over my burning list of racing blasphemy. Turn it regularly, give it a nice even browning on the outside, while you discuss why Brigadier Gerard should be higher on this list and why Dr. Fager and Miesque should be lower. 6) Winx - While she did not quite face the quality of competition, I would offer no argument if you were to place her on top. Closing speed that's almost hard to believe. Could reach 70 km/h in the final legs of race, absolutely unmatched. She broke Exterminator's world record of 33 stakes wins (for major racing nations) with 35, a record no one thought would be broken. For a combination of brilliance of longevity, her CV stands on its own. 7) Rock of Gibraltar - He did not have a dominating performance like the horses in the top spots, but he made up for it with consistency. Seven consecutive G1 wins. Would have been eight if not for Domedriver turning in a brilliant performance at Arlington Park, which sadly is no more. 8) Zilzal - One of the best horses in the world in 1989, and would have been given proper respect if not for the likes of Easy Goer...and Nashwan...and Old Vic...and Sunday Silence. Much like Alydar, Excelebration, Sham, and a long of list of others, just born in the wrong year. But he ran at shorter distances than Nashwan and Old Vic, so built up quite the racing record with wins over Warning, Polish Precedent, and Markofdistinction, as well as other talented horses. 9) Wise Dan - Back-to-back Breeders Cup Miles. Defeated what may be the most talented Breeders Cup Mile field ever in 2012. Animal Kingdom, Excelebration, Obviously, and Moonlight Cloud. Of course, what if Frankel closed out his career in this race, as he was clearly the best miler in 2012? Wise Dan might have risen higher on this list, even in defeat, had that happened and he showed well. 10) Hula Dancer - Goldikova, Miesque, Six Perfections, Moonlight Cloud, Darjina, Evedya, Esoterique, Flying Water, Lianga, Nebraska Tornado, we could go all day, couldn't we? France produces mares that master this distance and can beat the boys. Hula Dancer is very underrated in my opinion. Her race record suggests she should mentioned in the same breath as Goldikova and Miesque...and I do. She won the 1000 Guineas and Champion Stakes in England. She took on the boys in five of her eight races, and won every single one of them, including a win over Relko, Epsom Derby winner. She only lost one race in her career, the Prix de Diane, and we can blame that on the distance. At a mile, she's brilliant, and I considered putting her much higher, but look at the nine abover her. Who do you drop? I actually considered Golden Sixty and Tepin for the 10 spot, but Hula Dancer faced better competition and has a higher winning percentage. Get the fire pit ready.

[@rogerlamothe4750]

Oh bless,the young when will you ever listen, when will you ever learn! Zafonic, Zilzal,Miesque and El gran senor!! These were MILERS!!

[@WilliamHillRacing]

They did admit to some recency bias, to be fair!

[@user-cx1vh8ns8m]

Brigadier Gerard won one of the best guineas, frankel won one of the worst

[@WilliamHillRacing]

Did the panel give Brigadier Gerard enough credit?

[@jackkelsey9326]

No. Subsequently to his York mishap, he broke the Ascot mile record on the owners instruction. I think Frankel went through his career without a course record, and really he beat nothing.

[@levenscott645]

I like this group's discussion.

[@WilliamHillRacing]

Brilliant panel - thanks for watching!

[@ashleylilly9616]

Hawk wing performance in the lockinege stakes was as good as performance you'd ever see at a mile. Though he was a bit inconsistent.

[@WilliamHillRacing]

Where would he rank among the five on our list?

[@ashleylilly9616]

I'd say going on the lockinege performance 2nd to frankel. Remember he is the highest ever rated horse trained by aidan obrien and he has trained loads of great horses.

[@dermotfox1761]

EL GRAN SENOR is the best ive ever seen on a 2000 guineas time as a 3 yr old. Frankel was exceptional horse but was too immature in guineas and st james palace too free going. Frankel got very tired in both above races. El gran senor beat a truly truly great horse in Chief Singer he ran away with coventry, st james palace, sussex stakes and july cup. Now in frankel later races was brilliant. That would be some race then still favour the senor just with the brigadiar 3rd.

[@WilliamHillRacing]

El Gran Senor vs Frankel would be some race!

[@declanrichardson1761]

Forgot about goldikova what horse oliver peslier used to ride when i was first in to the horses never forget the horse

[@WilliamHillRacing]

A legend!

[@declanrichardson1761]

@@WilliamHillRacing sure was Frankel and goldikova best the sports seen over a mile

[@rogerlamothe4750]

Let me say this,on that particular day when Zafonic won the Guineas I would have happily opposed Frankel! If El Gran Senor raced in this Era he'd still be classed as a superstar!! Remember, greatness is always attached to what we're the achievements of the runners up. So yes Frankel is right there but so was the Senor beating the GREAT Chief Singer,and Zafonic beating a Breeders cup Dirt winner later that same season called Barathea!!

[@WilliamHillRacing]

Nicely put!