Arrogate, who did not make his career debut until April, won five of six starts in 2016. He came into the Classic off of his historic victory in the
Travers Stakes (G1), where he broke a 37-year-old track record and won by 13 ½ lengths in his first attempt at stakes company.
This is the second year in a row that an American runner has been named the Longines World's Best Race Horse. In 2015, American Pharoah, a Bob Baffert trainee like Arrogate, was also rated at 134 and topped the rankings. The only United States-based horse to be rated higher in the last two decades is Cigar, who finished 1996 at 135.
The Classic was California Chrome's only defeat on the year, as he won his seven other starts. His graded stakes victories included the
Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1),
$1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1),
Awesome Again Stakes (G1),
San Diego Handicap (G2), and
San Pasqual Stakes (G2).
Sitting in the third spot is
WINX (AUS) [132], who received her highest rating after winning her second
William Hill Cox Plate (G1), this time by a record eight lengths. Winx, who is both the highest rated turf horse and highest rated filly/mare in the world, won all eight of her starts in 2016 and has won 13 consecutive races dating back to May 2015.
Winx's other stakes wins on the year included the
Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (G1),
Colgate Optic White Stakes (G1),
The Star Doncaster Mile (G1),
China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (G1),
Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (G1),
Warwick Stakes (G2), and
Optus Business Apollo Stakes (G2).
In fourth position is
ALMANZOR (FR) [129], who won his final five starts of the season. His first major victory came in the
Prix du Jockey Club (G1) in June before he went on to capture both the
QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1) and the
QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1).
Sharing the fifth spot are Japanese runners
A SHIN HIKARI (JPN) [127] and
MAURICE (JPN) [127], who both achieved important wins outside of their home country. A Shin Hikari took the
Prix d'Ispahan (G1) at Chantilly by open lengths, while Maurice started and ended the year in Hong Kong, winning both the
Champions Mile (G1) and
LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (G1). In between, Maurice returned to Japan to take the
Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1).
FROSTED (USA) [126] is in seventh place after his impressive scores in the
Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap (G1), which he won by 14 lengths, and the
Whitney Stakes (G1).
Rounding out the Top 10 are four horses who sit co-eighth in the rankings.
In Europe,
FOUND (IRE) [124] earned her rating with her victory in the
Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), which came in between finishing second to Almanzor in both the Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes.
One of the horses Found defeated in the Arc was
POSTPONED (IRE) [124], who won his four other starts in 2016, including the
Juddmonte International Stakes (G1),
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup (Sponsored by Investec) (G1),
Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by LONGINES (G1), and
Dubai City of Gold Sponsored by Skycargo (G2).
Meanwhile, in Australia
HARTNELL (GB) [124] won three group contests including the
Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (G1) before finishing second to Winx in the Cox Plate, and in Hong Kong,
WERTHER (NZ) [124] claimed the
AP QEII Cup (G1).
Overall, 319 horses, trained in 17 different countries, were rated 115 or higher. The full list and further information on the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings are available on the IFHA website
ifhaonline.org.
