THE LONGINES WORLD’S BEST RACEHORSE RANKINGS

The official listing of the world’s best racehorses

(For 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January and 6th September 2026)

 

KA YING RISING (NZ) [135] leads the seventh edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2026 following his record-breaking performance in the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup (G3).

 

 

 

With his win, Ka Ying Rising recorded his 21^st consecutive victory and took nearly a second off of his own track record at Sha Tin. He also improved his rating to 135 from 131, which is the highest rating a sprinter has received under the current system. The previous record was held by Black Caviar, who achieved a rating of 132 in 2011.

 

Joining the Top 5 is ITEM (GB) [126], who won the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) by a head over ALMAQAM (GB) [125]. Off of that effort, Item raised his rating to 126 from 122, while Almaqam’s rating increased to 125 from 122. Finishing behind that pair in third and fourth place, respectively, were CONSTITUTION RIVER (FR) [124] and OMBUDSMAN (IRE) [131].

 

Newcomers to the rankings this month include ERDENALI (FR) [124], MALTESE CROSS (FR) [124], and ALMERAQ (GB) [123]. Erdenali joins the rankings after winning the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) over TEN BOB TONY (IRE) [121], GSTAAD (GB) [125], and OPERA BALLO (IRE) [123]. Maltese Cross earned his rating by winning the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2), which came one start after his victory in the Cygames Grand Prix de Paris (G1). Almeraq impressed in the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (G1), which he won by 4 ¼ lengths.

 

Meanwhile, in the United States, ENGLISHMAN (USA) [122] improved his rating to 122 from 120 with his 3 ¾-length victory in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1), while KNIGHTSBRIDGE (USA) [122] raised his rating to 122 from 119 by taking the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) by 6 ¼ lengths.

 

 

*  *  *  *  *  *

 

 

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:

Greg Carpenter, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee

Head of Racing Product, The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Telephone +852 2966 5901
Email greg.carpenter@hkjc.org.hk

Dominic Gardiner-Hill, co-chairman, LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee

Head of Handicapping, British Horseracing Authority

E-mail dgardinerhill@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

 

 

* * * * * *

 

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 October 2026.

 

E-Mail: achesser@jockeyclub.com