Toronado has officially usurped Dawn Approach at the top of the three-year-old tree after being awarded a rating of 126 following his narrow verdict in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last week.
Dawn Approach, who had beaten his old rival in both the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, headed into the mile showdown on a mark of 124 with Richard Hannon's Toronado rated just 1lb behind on 123.
However, those positions have now switched with British Horseracing Authority handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill putting Toronado up 3lb to 126 while Dawn Approach has risen 1lb to 125.
In his official BHA blog, Gardiner-Hill said: "Rated the best two three-year-olds in the world with pre-race ratings of 124 (Dawn Approach) and 123 (Toronado) following their tremendous scrap in the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot, the pair confirmed those positions but it is now Richard Hannon's colt who sits on top of the pile with a new mark of 126, whilst Dawn Approach is at his girth with a new mark of 125.
"I have taken the view that third placed Declaration of War has reproduced his Eclipse running of 120 and used him as the guide to the level of the Sussex - it is interesting to see that some of my international colleagues have taken the view that Aidan O'Brien's colt has only run up to the 118 it was generally acknowledged that he had produced when winning the Queen Anne and, accordingly, have lower figures on the two three-year-olds.
"I find it difficult to support that view as I felt that Declaration of War won at Royal Ascot despite not getting the clearest of runs and had the scope to improve on the figure as the season progressed - as he appeared to in the Eclipse, and the fact that he beat Trade Storm (pre-race 115, ran to 110) and Gregorian (115 and 107) a lot further than he did in the Queen Anne suggest to me that there is little reason to suggest that he hasn't run to 120 at Goodwood.
"Would I expect Toronado to confirm the form in the event of a fourth meeting between the pair? There is little doubt that he benefitted from a Richard Hughes master class on the Downs, mugging his old adversary wide and on the line - there is so little between the pair at present that I for one could not predict with any confidence the result of any future meetings!"
Gardiner-Hill was also impressed with the Hannon-trained Montiridge who won the Group Three Thoroughbred Stakes, putting him up to 115 while stablemate Wentworth is now on a mark of 106 after winning the Betfred Mile, a hike of 7lb.
