News

Able Friend and Shared Belief top the latest world rankings

18th May 2015

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities - Friday 15 May 2015

The past month of exciting racing has resulted in a number of newcomers being included in the third edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2015. However, ABLE FRIEND (AUS) [125] and SHARED BELIEF (USA) [125] remain atop the rankings.

Able Friend is now unbeaten in his last six starts, and his domination in Hong Kong continued with an easy romp in the Champions Mile (G1) on 3 May. His other Group 1 victories during this winning streak include the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile and Stewards' Cup. It was confirmed 12 May that if all stays well, Able Friend will travel to England and take part in Royal Ascot this June.

Earlier in the year, Shared Belief easily won both the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and the San Antonio Invitational (G2). In the San Antonio, he defeated America's 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (USA) [121]. Unfortunately, the gelding is on the sidelines after being pulled up during the Charles Town Classic (G2) on 18 April. He was later diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture on the point of the right hip.

Another star from the United States joins the top three this month, though. AMERICAN PHAROAH (USA) [124] is now joint third with SOLOW (GB) [124] after he won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on 2 May by a length over FIRING LINE (USA) [122]. With his victory, American Pharoah became the first U.S. 2-year-old champion to return the next year to win the Derby since Street Sense in 2006/2007.

The same day, GLENEAGLES (IRE) [122] took the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) in England to lay claim to the title of highest-rated 3-year-old on the turf.

Meanwhile in France, CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR) [121] had a successful seasonal debut in the Prix Ganay (G1) on 3 May. It was the venerable 9-year-old gelding's third victory in the race and launched him into the top 10 of the rankings.

Among others joining Cirrus des Aigles in the joint ninth spot is BLAZING SPEED (GB) [121], who put up an impressive victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) in Hong Kong on 26 April.

CRITERION (NZ) [120] rounds out the newcomers to the top of rankings, after winning the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) by a dominant 2 ½ lengths over Red Cadeaux on 11 April in Australia.

Rank | Rating | Horse | Trained In ---- | ----- | ----- | ------ : 1 | 125 | ABLE FRIEND (AUS) | HK 1 | 125 | SHARED BELIEF (USA) | USA 3 | 124 | AMERICAN PHAROAH (USA) | USA 3 | 124 | SOLOW (GB) | FR 5 | 123 | DESIGNS ON ROME (IRE) | HK 5 | 123 | LANKAN RUPEE (AUS) | AUS 7 | 122 | FIRING LINE (USA) | USA 7 | 122 | GLENEAGLES (IRE) | IRE

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).