Two familiar names find themselves tied atop the first edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2018. GUN RUNNER (USA) [129] and WINX (AUS) [129] got the year off to a compelling start with dominating victories, and the duo is rated well ahead of the rest of the pack as a result.

 

Gun Runner returned to the races in January to take the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) by 2 ½ lengths over WEST COAST (USA) [124]. It was the final start of his career, and he is currently standing at Three Chimneys Farm.
 
Meanwhile, Winx won the TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) by seven lengths over Prized Icon to start her year. It was her 16th Group 1 score and her 23^rd consecutive victory overall. She is scheduled to race next in the China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (G1).
 
Sitting in co-fourth are HAPPY CLAPPER (AUS) [121] and REDKIRK WARRIOR (GB) [121]. Happy Clapper won the Bisley Workwear Canterbury Stakes (G1) in his 2018 debut, while Redkirk Warrior kicked off the year with victories in the Black Caviar Lightning (G1) and Lexus Newmarket Handicap (G1).
 
In Hong Kong, TIME WARP (GB) [120] is ranked sixth after taking The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) by a half-length over WERTHER (NZ) [119].
 
Other horses with the same rating as Werther include BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ) [119], who won The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1); D B PIN (NZ) [119], who was victorious in The Centenary Sprint Cup (G1); KEMENTARI (AUS) [119], whose three consecutive scores in 2018 include the Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (G1); and LAST WINTER (SAF) [119], who was second in the Sun Met Celebrated With G.H. Mumm (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 and Race Planning, Hong Kong Jockey Club
Telephone +852 2966 8337
Email nigel.c.gray@hkjc.org.hk
 
Phillip Smith, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee
Head of Handicapping, British Horseracing Authority 
Telephone +44 1386 834004
mail psmith@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 12^th April 2018.