Japan's Equinox Top's World's Best Racehorse Rankings

After a dominating victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan Racecourse March 25, Equinox  was propelled to the top position on the leader board, with a 129 rating, in the second edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2023. Previous leader Golden Sixty was relegated to second at 125.

Silk Racing's 4-year-old colt made his 2023 debut in the Sheema Classic, winning by 3 1/2 lengths over Juddmonte's group 1 winner Westover . The Kitasan Black  colt won the $6 million race and set a new course record after completing the 2,410-meter contest in 2:25.65, picking up a third consecutive grade/group 1 under the direction of trainer Tetsuya Kimura.

Multiple other horses impressed in Dubai, including Ushba Tesoro , who sits at 122 after taking the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) by 2 3/4 lengths for owner Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings. The 6-year-old defeated the Simon Crisford-trained Algiers  (118) as well as 2022 Saudi Cup (G1) winner Emblem Road  (118), a head behind in third. 

Lord North (120) won his third consecutive Dubai Turf (G1), defeating Japanese invader Danon Beluga  (119) by three-quarters of a length, with Godolphin homebred Nations Pride  (118) finishing third.

Fellow Japanese contender Derma Sotogake  (118) threw down an eye-opening 5 1/2-length victory in the UAE Derby (G2) to land the Mind Your Biscuits  colt on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for owner Hiroyuki Asanuma.

He is the lone 3-year-old on the current Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings leaderboard of 32 horses, with American grade 1-winning sophomores such as Forte , Tapit Trice , and Practical Move  absent. They, like Derma Sotogake, are pointed toward the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

The Derby winner typically joins the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings.

Third on the leaderboard at 124, Titleholder  made his 2023 debut with an eight-length victory in the Nikkei Sho (G2) March 25 at Nakayama Racecourse. The three-time group 1 winner boasts a bankroll of more than $7 million for owner Hiroshi Yamada.

Lucky Sweynesse (123) has moved into the co-fourth position, alongside Romantic Warrior, after defeating California Spangle (122) in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) March 19 at Sha Tin.

Bruce Lunsford's Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner, Art Collector , sits tied in ninth position with 121, to be the lone United States-based horse in the top 10. 

Newcomers to the top 10 include Dubai Honour  (122) and I Wish I Win (121).

The World's Best Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and are published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. The full rankings can be found online.