Following his powerful performance during Royal Ascot, MOSTAHDAF (IRE) [128] has taken over the second position in the fifth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2023.

LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Leading Horses

1 EQUINOX (JPN)

129

2 MOSTAHDAF (IRE)

128

3 GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS)

125

3 LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ)

125

3 PADDINGTON (GB)

125

6TITLEHOLDER (JPN)

124

7 ACE IMPACT (IRE)

123

7 LUXEMBOURG (IRE)

123

7 ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE)123

Mostahdaf won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) by four lengths to improve his rating to 128 from 121. LUXEMBOURG (IRE) [123] was second, while ADAYAR (IRE) [120] was a half-length back in third. In February, Mostahdaf won the Neom Turf Cup presented by Altanfeethi (G3), and in March, he was fourth behind EQUINOX (JPN) [129], the highest rated horse in the world, in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).

Others to impress during Royal Ascot include PADDINGTON (GB) [125] and TRIPLE TIME (IRE) [121]. Triple Time won the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) by a neck, while Paddington was victorious by 3 ¾ lengths in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1). Paddington then won again in his next start, taking the Coral-Eclipse (G1) by a half-length over EMILY UPJOHN (GB) [121], who is currently the highest rated filly/mare in the world. Paddington is a perfect five-for-five in 2023, with his other top-class victory coming in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) in May.

Elsewhere, CODY’S WISH (USA) [122] improved his rating to 122 from 119 following his 3 ¼-length victory in the Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1). In May, he won the Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford (G1) to join the rankings.

On the same day as Cody’s Wish took the Met Mile, Up To The Mark (USA) [121] raised his rating to 121 from 120 with a 2 ¾-length win in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1). He, too, had earned his previous rating in May following his victory in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (G1).