The Top Ranked Horses in the World

THE WORLD'S LEADING HORSES
(For the period 1st July 2006 to 31st December 2006)

The latest publication of the World's Leading Horses covering the six-month racing period from 1st July to 31st December 2006 sees a new horse at the top of the Rankings. Following his win in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge INVASOR (ARG) (Rating 129) heads the list for the first time. Trained in the USA by Kiaran McLaughlin, Invasor (ARG) was the 3yo Champion in Uruguay before being sent to race in the USA where he emerged with a 100% record in his North America campaign in 2006. He is also the first Argentinean bred horse to top the World's Leading Horses since its inception in 2005.

Dropping down from joint top ranked in the previous listings is another US trained horse, BERNARDINI (USA) (128) who won five of his six starts in 2006 including the Jockey Club Gold Cup and was runner up to Invasor (ARG) on his only defeat in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge. Joining Bernardini (USA) in the number two spot is DISCREET CAT (USA) (128) who went through 2006 undefeated in the UAE and USA gaining his G1 victory on his final outing in the Hill n' Dale Cigar Mile.

Four horses are grouped at joint fourth in the Rankings and each one, DEEP IMPACT (JPN) (won Japan Cup and Arima Kinen), GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE) (won Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), RAIL LINK (GB) (won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Lucien Barriere) who are also the leading performers on Turf and LAVA MAN (USA) (Goodwood Breeders' Cup H), topped the World's Leading Horses at one stage during 2006.

PRIDE (FR) (123) maintains her position as the leading Filly/Mare with wins in the G1 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin. She just leads her great rival OUIJA BOARD (GB) (122) who won her second Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in November.

There is a new leader in the Sprint Category where the Hong Kong trained ABSOLUTE CHAMPION (AUS) (121) (who formerly raced as Genius And Evil in Australia) by virtue of his most impressive victory in the G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint overtakes TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS) (120) and HENNY HUGHES (USA) (120).

The Irish trained YEATS (IRE) (121) is the leading stayer on his victory in the ABN Amro Goodwood Cup just shading the Emirates Melbourne Cup winner, Japanese trained DELTA BLUES (JPN) (120).

Despite losing the top sprinting position, Takeover Target (AUS) (120) remains the leading Australian trained horse in the listings with RACING TO WIN (AUS) (118) the next highest ranked horse from Australia.

The next edition of the World's Leading Horses will be published in early April following the Dubai World Cup Meeting, which will be held on 31st March.