THE LONGINES WORLD’S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS

The official listing of the world’s best racehorses

(For 3yos and upwards which raced between 1^st January and 11^th September 2022)

It was a memorable month as both FLIGHTLINE (USA) [139] and BAAEED (GB) [135] achieved historically notable ratings and put distance between themselves and all others in the seventh edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2022.

 

 

 

Flightline put in an exquisite performance in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), which he won by 19 ¼ lengths over Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA) [121]. With his victory, Flightline, who also won the Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in June and is undefeated in five career starts, raised his rating to 139 from 127. Historically, this mark is the highest earned by a dirt horse and only 1lb below Frankel’s benchmark rating of 140 under the current system. Previously, the highest rating given to a dirt horse was the 135 achieved by Cigar in 1996.

 

Meanwhile, Baaeed raised his rating to 135 from 128 following his victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1), where he defeated MISHRIFF (IRE) [122] by 6 ½ lengths. He is now a perfect 10-for-10 in his career, and his other wins this year include the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1), Queen Anne Stakes (G1), and Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1). Baaeed’s rating of 135 is the highest given on turf since Frankel received his 140 in 2012 and is one below the 136 his own sire, Sea the Stars, earned in 2009.

 

Additionally, there are several newcomers to this month’s rankings. EPICENTER (USA) [125] received his rating following his winning effort in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), which he took by 5 ¼ lengths. LUXEMBOURG (IRE) [122] impressed when he won the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) over ONESTO (IRE) [121], VADENI (FR) [123], and Mishriff. Lastly, MINZAAL (IRE) [121] is ranked off of his score by 3 ¾ lengths in the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (G1).

 

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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). 

 

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, Race Planning and International Racing, Hong Kong Jockey Club

Telephone +852 2966 8337

E-mail nigel.c.gray@hkjc.org.hk

 

Dominic Gardiner-Hill, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee
Head of Handicapping, British Horseracing Authority

E-mail dgardinerhill@britishhorseracing.com

 

Tom Robbins, chairman, North American Ratings Committee

Executive Vice President, Racing & Industry Relations, Racing Secretary, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Telephone +1 858 792 4230

E-mail tomr@dmtc.com

 

 

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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 13^th October 2022.  

 

E-mail: achesser@jockeyclub.com