VINO ROSSO (USA) [126] posted an impressive victory in the LONGINES Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to join the top five of the ninth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2019.

 
Vino Rosso improved his rating from 121 to 126 when he defeated MCKINZIE (USA) [123] by 4 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita. Earlier in the year, Vino Rosso won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1), and he came into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships having finished first in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) before being demoted to second in that contest behind CODE OF HONOR (USA) [121].
 
Breeders’ Cup weekend also saw MITOLE (USA) [121] improve his rating from 120 to 121 after defeating SHANCELOT (USA) [120] by 1 ¼ lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Additionally, SPUN TO RUN (USA) [120] joins the rankings after his 2 ¾ length victory over OMAHA BEACH (USA) [120] in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Elsewhere, Japan is represented by two newly ranked horses in ALMOND EYE (JPN) [124] and LYS GRACIEUX (JPN) [121]. Almond Eye dominated with a three-length victory in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1), while Lys Gracieux became the first Japanese-trained horse to ever win Australia’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) when she defeated CASTELVECCHIO (AUS) [120] by 1 ½ lengths. Additionally in Australia, NATURE STRIP (AUS) [122] is newly ranked after pulling away by 3 ¼ lengths to take the Darley Sprint Classic (G1).
 
Meanwhile, in England, KING OF CHANGE (GB) [120] made headlines during British Champions Day with his 1 ¼ length win in the Queen Elizabeth II 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
Email nigel.c.gray@hkjc.org.hk
 
Phillip Smith, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee
Email phil@phillipsmithconsulting.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 rankings is the year-end 2019 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which will be released in January 2020.