International galloper GHAIYYATH (IRE) [127], who has been a perfect three-for-three in his races this year, leads the first edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2020.

LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Rank

1 GHAIYYATH (IRE)127

2 STRADIVARIUS (IRE)125

3 ALMOND EYE (JPN)124

3 NATURE STRIP (AUS)124

5 LORD NORTH (IRE)123

5 TOM’S D’ETAT (USA)123

7 ADDEYBB (IRE)122

7 BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ) 122

7 CONTRAIL (JPN) 122

7 JAPAN (GB) 122

7 LOVE (IRE) 122

Ghaiyyath started his season with an eye-catching performance in the Dubai Millennium Stakes Sponsored by Jaguar (G3), which he won by 8 ½ lengths at Meydan. The 5-year-old completed the 2000 metre contest in 2:00.33, setting a new track record in the process.

He returned to Europe for his next start and continued his winning ways, taking the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup (G1) over ANTHONY VAN DYCK (IRE) [121] and STRADIVARIUS (IRE) [125]. Ghaiyyath then earned his rating of 127 in his most recent race, a 2 ¼-length win over Enable and JAPAN (GB) [122] in the Coral-Eclipse (G1).

Stradivarius was making his 2020 debut in the Coronation Cup. His next start came at Royal Ascot, and he turned the Gold Cup (G1) into a runaway, as he posted a 10-length victory to get his rating of 125. It was the third time Stradivarius, who ended 2019 as the highest rated stayer in the world, claimed the famed race.

Ranked co-third are Japanese champion ALMOND EYE (JPN) [124] and Australia’s NATURE STRIP (AUS) [124]. Almond Eye made her first start of the year in the Victoria Mile (G1) and won by four lengths to earn her rating. Nature Strip received his 124 after sprinting to a two-length score in the TJ Smith Stakes (G1), which he won after taking the Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (G2) earlier in the year.

LORD NORTH (IRE) [123] and TOM’S D’ETAT (USA) [123] are in the co-fifth position. Lord North started his year with a victory in the Betway Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) before impressing 10 days later with a 3 ¾ length win over ADDEYBB (IRE) [122] in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. Addeybb came into that contest off of victories in the Ranvet Stakes (G1) and LONGINES Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in Australia. Tom’s d’Etat, meanwhile, is the highest rated dirt horse in the world after his 4 ¼ length victory in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

In addition to Addeybb and Japan, three other horses are ranked as co-seventh with an equal rating of 122. Hong Kong’s champion BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ) [122] added the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) and Chairman’s Trophy (G2) to his list of accomplishments this year; CONTRAIL (JPN) [122] is the highest rated 3-year-old colt in the world after winning the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1) and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) to remain undefeated; and LOVE (IRE) [122] is the highest rated 3-year-old filly in the world after conquering all to win the Investec Oaks (G1) by nine lengths following her 4 ¼-length victory in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas Stakes (G1).

The highest rated 3-year-old on dirt is TIZ THE LAW (USA) [121], who won the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) by 3 3/4 lengths after wins in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull Stakes (G3).