Longines Worlds Best Racehorse Rankings

Arrogate downs Californiia Chrome in a thriller in the 2016 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic

A month of impressive performances worldwide has led to significant changes at the top of the ninth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2016. Leading the way is ARROGATE (USA) [134], who ran down CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA) [133] in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic to claim the top spot.

California Chrome led for most of the Classic, but Arrogate kept coming, and he finally got in front of his foe just before the wire to win by a half-length. Although the first seven home were Grade 1 winners, the top two were 10 3/4 lengths in front of third place finisher Keen Ice. With that victory, Arrogate improved his rating from 129 to 134.

Arrogate, who is a 3-year-old, did not start racing until April and was making just his second start in stakes company. He came into the Classic off of his historic victory in the Gr1 Travers Stakes, where he broke a 37-year-old track record and won by 13 ½ lengths.

California Chrome had won his six previous starts, including the Gr1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, Gr1 Awesome Again Stakes, Gr1 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Gr2 San Diego Handicap, Gr2 San Pasqual Stakes and Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy.

In Australia, WINX (AUS) [130] improved her rating from 127 to 130 and is now the third-highest rated horse in the world after her repeat victory in the Gr1 William Hill Cox Plate. This year, the champion mare won the race by a record eight lengths over HARTNELL (GB) [123].

Winx, who is both the top rated turf horse and top rated filly/mare in the world, has won all eight of her races this year and 13 consecutive races overall. Her Group 1 victories this year include the Gr1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes, Gr1 Colgate Optic White Stakes, The Gr1 Star Doncaster Mile, Gr1 China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes, and Gr1 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes.

In England, ALMANZOR (FR) [129] continued to show his class as he added the Gr1 QIPCO Champion Stakes to his list of accomplishments and improved his rating from 127 to 129. FOUND (IRE) [123] was second, while JACK HOBBS (GB) [121] was third.

Almanzor, whose first major victory came in the Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club this June, won his final five starts of the season. The 3-year-old colt came into the Champion Stakes off his victory in the Gr1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes. Found was also second that day and in between the two races, she won the Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Found then went on to finish third in a formful edition of the LONGINES Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), which saw HIGHLAND REEL (IRE) [123] defeat FLINTSHIRE (GB) [123] by 1 ¾ lengths.

Also on Breeders’ Cup weekend, BEHOLDER (USA) [123] bested SONGBIRD (USA) [123] by a nose in a memorable running of the Gr1 LONGINES Breeders’ Cup Distaff. It was the 6-year-old mare’s third victory in a Breeders’ Cup race, and it came in her final start.

Meanwhile, MINDING (IRE) [121], who was just named Europe’s 2016 Horse of the Year, closed out her season with a win in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over RIBCHESTER (IRE) [122] and LIGHTNING SPEAR (GB) [120].

In Japan, MAURICE (JPN) [124] got back to his winning ways with a 1 ½ length score over Gr1 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World victor REAL STEEL (JPN) [120] in the Gr1 Tenno Sho (Autumn).

Newcomers to the rankings include FLYING ARTIE (AUS) [120], winner of the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes;  JOURNEY (GB) [120], who took the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes; TAMARKUZ (USA) [120], who pulled away in the Gr1 Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile; and TOURIST (USA) [120], who defeated TEPIN (USA) [121] by a half-length in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

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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 final year-end rankings for 2016 will be revealed during the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Ceremony this coming January.

(source:  IFHA)