'Hikari' Tops Longines Best Racehorse List
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A Shin Hikari
The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings has a new horse, A Shin Hikari, in the top spot.
The 5-year-old son of Deep Impact impressively won his first start of the year in the Prix d’Ispahan (Fr-I), which moved him onto the Longines list with a ranking of 129. The Prix d'Ispahan was A Shin Hikari's European debut, and he will move forward from that 10-length romp May 24 to the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot June 15.
A Shin Hikari's appearance on the Longines list gives him the spot previously held by California Chrome , who is still ranked at 126 after his Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) victory in March. California Chrome remains the highest-ranked U.S. horse on the list.
The five horses now ranked beneath A Shin Hikari remain the same as the ones on the list released in early May. Additions beneath those five include Fascinating Rock, who won the May 22 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I) over Found in his last start by 3 3/4 lengths, and Harzand, who won the June 4 Investec Derby (Eng-I) in his first attempt at a group I race in a field that included US Army Ranger.
Harzand is a 3-year-old son of Sea the Stars and is three-for-three this year.
Exaggerator was previously ranked at 121 and has now moved up slightly to a ranking of 122 after his Preakness Stakes (gr. I) victory. He placed just beneath Harzand, who is at 123.
There are quite a few other additions to the list, including Awtaad, who won the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (Ire-I) over Galileo Gold; and The Gurkha, who won the May 15 Poule d’Essai Poulains (Fr-I) by 5 1 /2 lengths. Time Test also made the list again after winning the BetVictor Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Eng-III) in his seasonal debut.