Alpha Centauri is officially the best three-year-old Irish filly since Ridgewood Pearl 23 years ago after her rating was upped 2lb to 124 on Monday, a day on from her magical Marois display.
Alpha Centauri's new mark is the same as the rating given to Found after she had won the Arc in 2016 but, of course, that was as a four-year-old.
Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board senior Flat handicapper Gary O'Gorman said on Monday the way she conquered the colts in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville made a big impression.
Ridgewood Pearl, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Prix Du Moulin and Breeders' Cup Mile during a terrific campaign in 1995, reached a rating of 126 that year and is the only three-year-old filly to have soared to a higher mark than Alpha Centauri in recent times.
"I was extremely impressed by Alpha Centauri and after careful consideration I decided to put her up 2lb to a new mark of 124, which means she is the best three-year-old filly we have had here since Ridgewood Pearl in 1995. She is the first filly to be rated as high as 124 since Found won the Arc as a four-year-old," said Gorman.
Trainer Jessica Harrington and Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos family, both agree the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes on September 15 is where we are likely to see Alpha Centauri next, and Leopardstown chief executive Pat Keogh says he would be privileged to welcome a filly he thinks could become one of the best of all time.
"There's no doubt about it, Alpha Centauri has her own fan club now and she puts bums on seats," he said.
"She's an outstanding filly and could be one of the best of all time. We'd love to see her running during Longines Irish Champions Weekend, she'd be welcomed with open arms."
Horse Racing Ireland
