Sinndar was best three-year-old - and that's official

Dual Derby winner Sinndar has been hailed as the best three-year-old in the world last year.

The Aga Khan's colt, successful in the Epsom and Curragh Classics and retired after following up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, heads the International Classifications on a mark of 132.

That puts Irish trainer John Oxx's star 5lb clear of Giant's Causeway, who won five Group One events in 2000, and US pair Fusaichi Pegasus and Tiznow who were also rated 127.

But all four must bow to Dubai Millennium, a wide-margin winner of all his three races last season including the Dubai World Cup, whose rating of 134 makes him the best horse seen anywhere last year.

Godolphin's four-year-old is officially 4lb better than the next best older horse Montjeu, rated the pick of the 1999 Classic crop last year, who took the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in July.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Breeders' Cup Turf winner Kalanisi trails the pair on 126, with Emirates World Series winner Fantastic Light on 124.

Aidan O'Brien has Europe's top two-year-old for the second season running, Minardi succeeding the Irish trainer's 1999 star Fasliyev.

His Middle Park Stakes winner's rating of 123 is the same as recent juvenile champions Mujahid (1998) and Revoque (1996), though none has had a lower mark since Grand Lodge headed the list on 120 in 1993.

French colt Okawango is next on 121, 1lb ahead of the top British pair Mick Channon-trained Dewhurst Stakes winner Tobougg and William Haggas' Prix de l'Abbaye runner-up Superstar Leo.

The last-named is the highest rated two-year-old filly since Lyric Fantasy in 1992.

The classifications were drawn up by an international panel of handicappers, whose chairman Geoffrey Gibbs hailed Giant's Causeway's "relentless consistency, courage and durability", stressing "such qualities cannot be measured by a rating alone".