Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter has rated Black Caviar the greatest female equine athlete of the modern era after the undefeated mare was rated the champion sprinter in the world for the third successive year.

Black Caviar has been rated the world's champion sprinter for the third successive year. Photo by: Steven Dowden

Black Caviar was given a rating of 130 when the International Federation of Horse Authorities released the 2012 World Thoroughbred Rankings in London overnight.

“It confirms her position as the greatest sprinter and the greatest female equine athlete world racing has seen in the modern era,” Carpenter said.

Black Caviar raced through 2012 undefeated from six starts with five Group 1 wins taking her record to twenty-two wins and included the highlight of her illustrious career when trainer Peter Moody took her to England to win the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23.

The great mare’s rating of 130 was achieved when beating arch rival Hay List in the Group 1 $750,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 prompting the Victoria Racing Club to rename the Lightning to the Black Caviar Lightning.

Australian bred horses confirmed their international status with Hay List (125), Atlantic Jewel (122), Rocket Man (122), Sepoy (122), Foxwedge (121) and Mental (121) at the top of the rankings.

Black Caviar also beat More Joyous in the Four Years Old and Up Mares Mile category (1301m-1899m) being assigned a ranking of 125 courtesy of her effortless win in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield the week before the Lightning.

Apart from Black Caviar dominating the sprint sections, several other Australian horses achieved the highest rankings in their respective categories and were either named champion of equal champion.

Caulfield Guineas winner All Too Hard was equal champion for the three year old Mile on turf with a rating of 121 while the undefeated Atlantic Jewel was champion three year old filly sprinter (122).

Green Moon’s Melbourne Cup victory  saw him rated equal champion four year old and up stayer (2701m and further) with 118 while Hay List (125) gained the top spot as champion four year old and up male sprinter for his gutsy win in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Mosheen was named champion three year filly for the Mile and Sepoy gained the champion spot for three year old male sprinters.

“The 2012 World Thoroughbred Rankings provide a superb advertisement for the quality of Australia’s racing and breeding industries,” Carpenter said.

“While Black Caviar, Hay List, ,Atlantic Jewel and More Joyous were obvious standout performers, the depth of Australian racing was again shown by the total number of Australian trained horses included in the listings.

The rankings also highlighted the fact that Australian horses continue to increase in numbers among the highest ranked horses in the world.

“The number of Australian-trained horses to rate 120 or greater continues to grow with a record number of eight in this elite category in 2012, up from six the year prior, four in 2009 and just two in 2008, which continues this positive progression,” Carpenter said.

The World Thoroughbred Rankings also emphasised the fact that the Australian breeding industry is recognised around the world and continues to get high results.

“The Australian breeding industry had another stellar year internationally with a further 13 Australian-bred horses racing abroad with great distinction for trainers in Great Britain, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and Dubai,” Carpenter added.