THE LONGINES WORLD'S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS

 

 

The official listing of the world's best racehorses

(For 3yos and upwards which raced between 1^st January and 7^th April 2014)

 

 

JUST A WAY (JPN) [130], who recently won the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (G1) at Meydan by over 6 lengths heads the second edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2014.

 

 

 

 

As a result, Just A Way staked an early claim to become LONGINES best horse of 2014. It is very unusual for a horse to post a 130+ performance so early in the year and the last horse to do so was Curlin when he won the Dubai World Cup (G1) in 2008. Now the winner of three consecutive Group races, including two Group 1's, Just A Way is assessed as having improved by 7lbs. in Dubai from his end of 2013 figure of 123.

 

GAME ON DUDE (USA) [125], the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in early March is thus relegated to second place with WILL TAKE CHARGE (USA) [123] who was third in the monthly LONGINES table last month, dropping down to fourth equal.

 

Joining Will Take Charge on a rating of 123 is the 2014 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner, AFRICAN STORY (GB) [123] who scored a comfortable victory at Meydan in the feature race over the front running MUKHADRAM (GB) [118].

 

Perhaps the most fascinating newcomer to the list this month is the three year old CALIFORNIA CHROME (USA) [122] who staked an early claim for favouritism for the Kentucky Derby (G1) by scooting over 5 lengths clear of his field in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) last Saturday.

 

Still the top sprinter in the world so far this year is clearly LANKAN RUPEE (AUS) [121]. Now the winner of his last five starts, Lankan Rupee has improved with each of those races, on his last two starts winning the Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (G1) and the Lexus Newmarket Handicap (G1) convincingly.

 

Joining Lankan Rupee on 121 for the first time is the progressive Japanese trained 4 year old KIZUNA (JPN) [121]. Fourth in the Prix De L'Arc de Triomphe (G1) in 2013 behind the French super filly TREVE (FR), (who hopefully runs in the Prix Ganay (G1) later this month), Kizuna showed his well-being when cruising home on his seasonal reappearance at Hanshin in the Sankei Osaka Hai (G2).

 

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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
Email 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 8^th May 2014.