The Longines Worlds Best Racehorse Rankings are for 3yos and upwards which raced between 1 January and 5 June 2016.
With an eye-catching performance in the Gr1 Prix d’Ispahan during his European debut, A SHIN HIKARI (JPN) [129] has claimed the top spot in the fourth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2016.
A Shin Hikari was making his first start of the year in the Prix d’Ispahan, and he turned it into a runaway, defeating Dariyan by open lengths. The son of Deep Impact ended his 2015 season with a one length victory in the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. His connections decided to campaign him internationally this year, and his next start is scheduled to be in the Gr1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes during Royal Ascot.
In Ireland, FASCINATING ROCK (IRE) [123] put in a powerful performance to take the Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup by 3 ¾ lengths over Found. Fascinating Rock has faced that foe in his last three starts, including finishing third to the filly in the Gr3 Camelot European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes in May and beating her in the Gr1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot last October.
Joining Fascinating Rock in the joint eighth position is Gr1 Investec Derby hero HARZAND (IRE) [123]. In his first attempt at Group 1 company, Harzand defeated US ARMY RANGER (IRE) [120] by 1 ½ lengths, and he has now won all three of his starts this year. The 3-year-old colt is by Sea the Stars, who won the Derby en route to topping the world rankings in 2009.
Harzand is not the only 3-year-old who has impressed in the past month. After finishing second to NYQUIST (USA) [124] in the Gr1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, EXAGGERATOR (USA) [122] improved his rating whilst handing Nyquist his first career defeat in the Gr1 Preakness Stakes. Nyquist finished third in the Preakness, a nose behind Cherry Wine. Earlier this year, Exaggerator took the Gr1 Santa Anita Derby by 6 ¼ lengths, and he is the favourite for the Gr1 Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
The Group 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) went to MAKAHIKI (JPN) [121], who finished a nose in front of SATONO DIAMOND (JPN) [120] in a dramatic edition of the race.
AWTAAD (IRE) [120] took the Gr1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas by 2 ½ lengths over GALILEO GOLD (GB) [120], the winner of the Gr1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. The following day, JET SETTING (IRE) [120] defeated Gr1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas heroine MINDING (IRE) [120] by a head in the Gr1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas. Minding went on to impressively win the Gr1 Investec Oaks in her next start despite a troubled trip. In France, THE GURKHA (IRE) [120] romped in the Gr1 Poule d’Essai Poulains by 5 ½ lengths.
Meanwhile, 4-year-old TIME TEST (GB) [121] finds himself ranked again this year after taking the Gr3 BetVictor Brigadier Gerard Stakes in his 2016 debut.
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LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Leading Horses |
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| Rank | Horse | Rating | Trained |
| 1 | A SHIN HAKIRI (JPN) | 129 | JPN |
| 2 | CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA) | 126 | USA |
| 2 | WINX (AUS) | 126 | AUS |
| 4 | MAURICE (JPN) | 124 | JPN |
| 4 | NYQUIST (USA) | 124 | USA |
| 4 | POSTPONED (IRE) | 124 | GB |
| 4 | WERTHER (NZ) | 124 | HK |
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The LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
The full list and further information on the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are available on the IFHA website http://www.ifhaonline.org.
The next edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings will be published on Thursday 14th July 2016.
(source: IFHA)
