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 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to claim the top spot.

Leading Horses

Rank Horse Rating Trained
1 ARROGATE (USA) 134 USA
2 CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA) 133 USA
3 WINX (AUS) 130 AUS
4 ALMANZOR (FR) 129 FR
4 A SHIN HIKARI (JPN) 129 JPN
6 FROSTED (USA) 126 USA
7 MAURICE (JPN) 124 JPN
7 POSTPONED (IRE) 124 GB
7 WERTHER (NZ) 124 HK

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 Travers Stakes (G1), 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 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), Awesome Again Stakes (G1), $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), San Diego Handicap (G2), San Pasqual Stakes (G2) 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 William Hill Cox Plate (G1). 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 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (G1), Colgate Optic White Stakes (G1), The Star Doncaster Mile (G1), China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (G1), and Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (G1).

In England, ALMANZOR (FR) [129] continued to show his class as he added the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) 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 Prix du Jockey Club (G1) 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 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1). Found was also second that day and in between the two races, she won the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

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 LONGINES Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). 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 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) 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 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) victor REAL STEEL (JPN) [120] in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1).

Newcomers to the rankings include FLYING ARTIE (AUS) [120], winner of the Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1); JOURNEY (GB) [120], who took the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes; TAMARKUZ (USA) [120], who pulled away in the Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1); and TOURIST (USA) [120], who defeated TEPIN (USA) [121] by a half-length in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

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