August was a month for upsets with both AMERICAN PHAROAH (USA) [131] and GOLDEN HORN (GB) [130] tasting defeat for the first time this season, leading to no changes at the top of the seventh edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2015. However, several new horses have joined the rankings.

Leading the charge is KEEN ICE (USA) [123], who defeated American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. He beat the Triple Crown champion by three-quarters of a length, finally getting the better of American Pharoah after finishing third behind him in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and then second behind him in the William Hill Haskell Invitational (G1).

Two-time champion BEHOLDER (USA) [121] took on males in the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar and won with devastating ease, finishing 8 ¼ lengths in front. The 5-year-old mare, who is the only runner to win both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), may contest the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) next month.

Meanwhile, speedsters MECCA’S ANGEL (IRE) [120] and PRIVATE ZONE (CAN) [120] also impressed this August. Mecca’s Angel won the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York by two lengths, in a memorable edition that saw 2-year-old Acapulco finish second. Meanwhile, Private Zone was never tested in the Priority One Jets Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, which he won by 3 ¾ lengths over The Big Beast.

Moving forward, the next month of racing looks to be notable. The upcoming Longines Irish Champions Weekend features the Irish Champion Stakes (G1), which has drawn the likes of Golden Horn, dual-Guineas winner GLENEAGLES (IRE) [122], defending champion THE GREY GATSBY (IRE) [123], FREE EAGLE (IRE) [123], and CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR) [121] as well as Group 1 winners Found, Highland Reel, and Pleascach. Then, to kick off October, TREVE (FR) [124] is on schedule to attempt a historic third Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) victory.

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 8 October 2015.