Harbinger named top horse

Harbinger earned a rating of 135, well clear of 129-rated Blame, who defeated previously unbeaten Zenyatta in a thrilling Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November.

Harbinger's mark is just 1lb behind the rating awarded to Sea The Stars, who won six consecutive Group One races in 2009.

Trained by Michael Stoute at Newmarket, Harbinger won six of his nine career starts but was retired to stud after breaking his shin bone on the exercise gallops in August.

A scintillating 11-length victory in the King George Ascot showpiece in July, when Epsom Derby winner and stablemate Workforce could only finish fifth, had made Harbinger hot favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before his untimely career-ending injury.

Workforce returned to his brilliant best to win a thrilling Arc in Paris, becoming only the sixth horse to complete the Derby/Arc double. He was ranked joint third on a rating of 128, along with English 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi, trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, and American-trained Quality Road.