THE LONGINES WORLD’S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS

The official listing of the world’s best racehorses

(For 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January and 5th July 2026)

 

KA YING RISING (NZ) [131] and OMBUDSMAN (IRE) [131] share the top rating in the fifth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2026.

 

 

 

 

Ka Ying Rising, who has won 20 consecutive races, claims the Centenary Sprint Cup (G1), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1), Sprint Cup (G2), and Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1) among his victories this year. His rating has increased to 131 from last month’s 130 after a review of his success in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, with the subsequent performances of Satono Reve, Raging Blizzard, and Comanche Brave leading to a 1lb rise in the level of the race.

 

At Royal Ascot, Ombudsman improved his rating to 131 from 125 when he defeated MINNIE HAUK (IRE) [121] by four lengths in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1). DARYZ (FR) [126] was third, while ALMAQAM (GB) [122] was fourth. Earlier this season, Ombudsman won the Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) and Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1).

 

Ombudsman was not the only horse to impress during Royal Ascot. SCANDINAVIA (USA) [123] defeated TRAWLERMAN (IRE) [122] by a head to take the Gold Cup (G1); GIAVELLOTTO (IRE) [121] won the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) by a short head over KALPANA (GB) [120]; and TEN BOB TONY (IRE) [121] proved victorious in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1).

 

Meanwhile, CONSTITUTION RIVER (FR) [124] and MAGNITUDE (USA) [124] have joined the Top 10 with their recent efforts. Constitution River won the Coral-Eclipse (G1) to join the rankings and also counts the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) among his victories this season.

 

Magnitude improved his rating to 124 from 122 with his victory in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), which he won by 1 ¼ lengths over BAEZA (USA) [121]. SOVEREIGNTY (USA) [122] was third, while WHITE ABARRIO (USA) [124] was fourth. Magnitude was making his first start since winning the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) over FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) [123] in March.

 

Additionally, MEISHO TABARU (JPN) [123] improved his rating to 123 from 120 with his victory in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1), which he won by a neck over CROIX DU NORD (JPN) [122]. He had finished second to that rival in the Osaka Hai (G1) in April.

 

CALANDAGAN (IRE) [122] also saw his rating rise after he won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - World Pool by PMU (G1). As a result, he is now rated at 122, up from 121. Earlier this year, he won the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (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:

Greg Carpenter, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee

Head of Racing Product, The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Telephone +852 2966 5901
Email greg.carpenter@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

Email 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 August 2026.

 

E-Mail: achesser@jockeyclub.com