Greg Carpenter calls Lys Gracieux’s victory the best of the year

Racing Victoria’s renowned international expert Greg Carpenter believes Lys Gracieux’s win at her final start in the Arima Kinen was the best performance of 2019.

Lys Gracieux’s dominant win in the Arima Kinen in Japan on Sunday has been rated the best worldwide performance of the year by Racing Victoria’s Greg Carpenter.

Carpenter, who sits on the international panel of handicappers, said he expected the Japanese mare’s efforts to be recognised when the world ratings were announced in London on January 22.

“To defeat a field of that quality like that in my view was the best performance of any horse in the world in 2019,” Carpenter said.

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“When the ratings are announced I would think she’ll be close to the best in the world.”

Carpenter said before winning this year’s Cox Plate Lys Gracieux was regarded as close to Japan’s best horse and had only enhanced her form since.

“Unfortunately after the Cox Plate a lot of the commentary was that she wasn’t even in Japan’s top 10 horses which was wrong as she has won the Tazuka Kinen and with Almond Eye she was regarded as one of their best horses,” he told the Herald Sun on Monday.

Lys Gracieux has now registered stunning back-to-back wins heading into retirement.

Moonee Valley chief executive Michael Browell said Lys Gracieux’s win by five lengths at her final start in the Arima Kinen had franked the Cox Plate as a high-class international race.

Browell said after Winx retired everybody suggested that the Cox Plate would take a backward step but instead it had taken a step forward.

“After Winx the question was asked how do you follow her? As it’s now turned out, with one of the best horses in the world winning. The race took a big step forward and not back,” Browell said.

Lane and Lys Gracieux cross the finish line to win the Cox Plate.

Browell and Carpenter both said Lys Gracieux’s win would cement future Japanese representation in the Cox Plate.

“Japanese trainers would have sat back and taken note that you can run in a Cox Plate and eight weeks later you can win one of their most prestigious races,” Browell said.

Carpenter said Lys Gracieux’s win again demonstrated that Damian Lane was one of the best riders in the world.

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“Damian Lane has proven he’s one of Australian racing’s all time greats, he’s now one of the most outstanding young riders in the world.”

Lane said after the win it was a great privilege to have been given the opportunity by the Japanese Racing Association to ride in the Arima Kinen.

He said it would be a shame if Lys Gracieux’s connections retired her as she was at the peak of her powers.

Lys Gracieux would be competing with superstars such as Enable, Cracksman and Logician as the world’s best horse when Carpenter and his fellow judges release the world ratings next month.

What a duo! Australian jockey @LaneDamian and Lys Gracieux produce an incredible performance to win the Arima Kinen at Nakayama. @WHR https://t.co/kJKAZ9amZX

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) December 22, 2019

You’ll never see a better ride @LaneDamian on Lys Gracieux. And she blew ‘em away. Lane caps a heck of year: Slipper, Caul Cup, Cox Plate and now Arima Kinen. #onefortheages

— Adam Hamilton (@AdamTABSports) December 22, 2019

Simply breathtaking #lysgracieux 😱🥰

— Katelyn Mallyon (@katelynmallyon) December 22, 2019

The Cox Plare form stacks up nicely and @LaneDamian has had the year from heaven! pic.twitter.com/oAwnKQavEy

— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) December 22, 2019

Originally published as Greg Carpenter calls Lys Gracieux’s victory the best of the year