'Pharoah' Joins World's Best Racehorses List

Several newcomers were on the year's third edition of the Longines World Best Racehorse Rankings released May 14, including Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner American Pharoah and runner-up Firing Line.

 

U.S.-based Shared Belief and Hong Kong star Able Friend maintained their spots atop the rankings, each rated at 125, while American Pharoah's rating of 124 ranks him co-third on the list with 4 1/2-length Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (UAE-I) winner Solow.

 

Able Friend is unbeaten in his past six starts, and his domination in Hong Kong continued with an easy romp in the Champions Mile (HK-I)) on May 3. His other group victories during this winning streak include the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile and Stewards' Cup. It was confirmed May 12 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 San Antonio Invitational (gr. II) and the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I). In the San Antonio he defeated America's 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (rated 121). Shared Belief is on the sidelines after being pulled up during the Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 18. He was later diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture on the point of the right hip.

 

The same day American Pharoah defeated Firing Line (122) in the Kentucky Derby, Gleneagles (122) took the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng- I) in England to lay claim to the title of highest-rated 3-year-old on the turf.

 

Cirrus des Aigles (121) had a successful seasonal debut May 3 in the Prix Ganay (Fr-I). 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 (121), who put up an impressive victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-I) in Hong Kong on 26 April.

 

Criterion (120) rounds out the newcomers to the top of rankings, after winning the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Aus-I) April 11 over Red Cadeaux.

 

The World's Best Racehorse Rankings, for 3-year-olds and older that raced between January 1 and May 10, 2015, are compiled by the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).