The official listing of the world’s best racehorses

(For 3-y-os and upwards which raced between 1st January and 7th June 2015)

With his historic victory in the Belmont Stakes presented by Draftkings (G1), AMERICAN PHAROAH (USA) [128] has garnered the top spot in the fourth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2015.

In winning the Belmont by 5 ½ lengths, American Pharoah became the first American Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. American Pharoah led from start to finish and completed the race in 2:26.65, the sixth-fastest in the race’s history and second-fastest for a Triple Crown.

American Pharoah was rated at 124 after his victory in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and only continued to improve as he took the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont over the five-week span of the race series.

The same day as the American Pharoah’s run into the history books, GOLDEN HORN (GB) [125] put in an impressive showing to win the Investec Epsom Derby (G1) by 3 ½ lengths. With that victory, he joins ABLE FRIEND (AUS) [125] and SHARED BELIEF (USA) [125] as the joint second-highest rated horses in the world.

Meanwhile, in France TREVE (FR) [124] made her seasonal debut a winning one, taking the Prix Corrida (G2) by an easy four lengths. The popular runner, who was the joint highest rated horse in the world in 2013, is being pointed toward an unprecedented third victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) this October.

At the end of May, Duramente (JPN) [121] won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) in stakes-record time. He finished the 2400-metre classic in 2:23.20, shaving a tenth of a second off the previous record. Duramente, who also won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) (G1) in April, could take Japan’s Triple Crown should he be victorious in October’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1).

Also new to the rankings is HONOR CODE (USA) [120], who won the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) with ease.

All eyes now turn to Royal Ascot next week. Hong Kong star Able Friend and America’s reigning Horse of the Year, California Chrome (USA) [121], are among the international contingent set to compete at the famed race meet.

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).

For further details on the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, please contact:

Nigel Gray, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee
Head of Handicapping and Race Planning, Hong Kong Jockey Club
Telephone +852 2966 8337
Email [email protected]

Phillip Smith, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee
Head of Handicapping, British Horseracing Authority
Telephone +44 1386 834004
Email [email protected]

Tom Robbins, chairman, North American Ratings Committee
Executive Vice President, Racing & Industry Relations, Racing Secretary, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Telephone +1 858 792 4230
Email [email protected]

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 9 July 2015.