Knicks Go on Top in World's Best Racehorse Rankings

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Photo: Skip Dickstein/Tim Lanahan
Knicks Go wins the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go  , the likely North American Horse of the Year in 2021, has garnered worldwide respect. The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner vaulted to the top of the latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings released Nov. 11.

His rating of 128, for racing through Nov. 7, places him just ahead of Europe-based runners Adayar , Mishriff , and St Mark's Basilica —all tied for second with a 127 rating.

The Brad Cox-trained Knicks Go saw his rating increase from a 124 with his performance in the Classic, in which he pulled clear for a 2 3/4-length victory. Classic runner-up Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit  now has a 123 rating, exceeding that of third-place Essential Quality   (122), owned by Godolphin; and fourth-place Hot Rod Charlie  (121), owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and Bill Strauss.

Sharing a 123 rating with Medina Spirit is China Horse Club and Winstar Farm's Life Is Good , the 5 3/4-length victor of the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Yibir , owned by Godolphin, also saw his rating elevate after last week's races. He now stands at 120.

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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.

Complete rankings can be viewed online