Better than Baaeed? Flawless Flightline soars to 19-length rout at Del Mar

Flightline produced a devastating performance to win the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, staking his claim to be the world's best racehorse in the process.

The John Sadler-trained 30-100 favourite entered the gates rated just 1lb behind Baaeed in the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings but may have eclipsed that rival with a stunning 19-and-a-quarter length romp.

Those rankings do not take Baaeed's Juddmonte International triumph into consideration, however, a win for which he was raised 12lb on Racing Post Ratings.

Flightline gained a Racing Post Rating of 140 for his victory in the Pacific Classic, 2lb higher than Baaeed's best RPR achieved at York.

Flavien Prat attempted to settle his mount on the outside of Extra Hope as they turned into the back straight but Flightline's cruising speed was too much for his rivals which included Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer and he soon drew clear into an unassailable lead, one which grew with every stride he took.

Flightline was cut to 11-10 (from 5-2) for the Breeders' Cup Classic by bet365.

"I was just trying not to start crying so hard that I wouldn't be able to see him when he came across the finish line," winning breeder Jane Lyon said.

"You can't expect this. You can't wish it and to have it happen and for him to continue to grow like he is, better and better and better, it's just a miracle."

Sadler has tasted big-race success with the likes of Stellar Wind and Hard Aces but was unstinting in his praise for Flightline, who he believes is in a world of his own.

"This horse is so brilliant you have to space his races a little bit apart because he is his own category," Sadler said.

"I know him well, and I know what's best for him is to build up his energy between one race to the next. We'd all want to see him run more times but when he runs like this you don't need to run him more times. Enjoy the ones you run in."

The Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita next month is the intended next destination for the son of Tapit, which is likely to be his final preparation ahead of a date with destiny in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

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