The official listing of the world's best racehorses

The highest rated horse in North America in 2012, Wise Dan recorded his tenth success in his last eleven races when capturing the Firecracker Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs in June, repeating his success in the same race in 2011. The six-year-old is unbeaten in over a year, and has extended his winning streak to seven races.

 

Wise Dan’s last defeat came in the 2012 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) also at Churchill Downs, and the 2013 renewal of that race was won in devastating fashion by FORT LARNED (USA) [126]. The winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Fort Larned showed he may still be improving, making all the running and coming home unchallenged by six and a quarter lengths.

 

Fort Larned shares third place in the Rankings with GAME ON DUDE (USA) [126], who defied top weight in fine style to take the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (G1) by a length. The winner of the same race in 2012, and beaten only a nose in 2011, Game On Dude has triumphed in all his four races in 2013, in the process showing himself to be better than ever.

 

There is a tie for fifth place as well, with Dubai World Cup (sponsored by Emirates Airline) winner ANIMAL KINGDOM (USA) [125] rated level with ORFEVRE (JPN) [125], the winner of the Sankei Osaka Hai (G2).

 

Competition is also fierce in Europe, where four horses are currently tied for top spot, and seventh place overall. AL KAZEEM (GB) [124] won his only start in 2012, and has been making up for lost time this year, having already recorded four straight wins. Following his victories in the Gordon Richards Stakes (G3) at Sandown Park and the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the Curragh, Al Kazeem went on to take the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, in which he denied MUKHADRAM (GB) [123] by a neck, before returning to Sandown to capture the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) by two lengths from fellow Royal Ascot winner DECLARATION OF WAR (USA) [120], with Mukhadram third after suffering interference.

 

The other two leading older horses in Europe also boast 100% records in 2013, namely FARHH (GB) [124], who won the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May, and ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE) [124], the winner of both the Dubai Sheema Classic (presented by LONGINES) (G1) at Meydan and the Investec Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom. Alongside them is the top-rated three-year-old in the Rankings, DAWN APPROACH (IRE) [124], who bounced back from his Investec Derby (G1) disappointment with a brave display to capture the St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) by a short head from TORONADO (IRE) [123].

 

Also sharing seventh spot with the top Europeans are Hong Kong-trained duo AMBITIOUS DRAGON (NZ) [124], winner of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (HK G1) at Sha Tin, and MILITARY ATTACK (IRE) [124], who followed up his win in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (G1) at Sha Tin with victory in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (G1) at Kranji, along with Japanese-trained GOLD SHIP (JPN) [124], who returned to winning ways with a decisive three and a half length success in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin.

 

With both Black Caviar and PIERRO (AUS) [121] no longer on the scene, the highest rated sprinter in training is LETHAL FORCE (IRE) [121].  The British-trained four-year-old proved his victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot had been no flash in the pan by following up in the Darley July Cup (G1) at Newmarket, where he once again defeated SOCIETY ROCK (IRE) [117], who had chased him home at Ascot.