Murray gets high world ranking

South African jockey Callan Murray (21) is ranked No 11 on the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s (TRC) Global Rankings of the top riders who are 25 and under.

he standings are based on performances in all Group and Graded races worldwide over a rolling three-year period.

Jose Ortiz is the leading moneywinner in the USA so far in 2017 with more than $22 million, so it’s no surprise that he’s now ranked No 10 in the world and the 23-yearold is the world No 1 among riders aged 25 and under. His brother Irad Ortiz junior is world No 2.

Irad, who has developed a fruitful relationship with the Chad Brown-trained mare Lady Eli, isn’t doing too badly in the USA prize-money table – he is third with nearly $18 million, just ahead of Mike Smith and just behind Javier Castellano.

The 24-year-old’s Graded successes this year mean he is now ranked 24th in the world (joint ninth in the USA) with 25-yearold France-born Flavien Prat, who also shares second spot in the 25-year-olds and under list.

Both Ortiz brothers have been on a constantly upward trajectory since they arrived in the USA, Irad in 2011, Jose a year later. They are now in career-high positions, and show no sign of taking a backward step anytime soon.

Pratt rode Paradise Woods to victory in the Group 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anta in September and the highest 25-and-under British jockey is Oisin Murphy (22), who is ranked fourth.

Australian Damian Lane, winner of the Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick on Jon Snow in April, is fifth with France taking the next three positions on the list with Vincent Cheminaud, Pierre-Charles Boudet and Christian Demuro respectively.

Ireland’s Donacha O’Brien is 10th and Murray’s three Grade 1 wins on Champions Day in May put him in 11th place on the list. – ThoroughbredRacingCommentary