Winx, Cracksman Jointly Named World's Best Racehorse

They were never less than 10,000 miles apart, but when the final official judgment on 2018's top racehorses was made, Australian icon Winx and British heavyweight Cracksman were inseparable.

In a split decision that made an unconscious effort to satisfy two hemispheres, winning machine Winx and runaway QIPCO British Champions Stakes (G1) victor Cracksman were hailed the Longines World's Best Racehorses at a Jan. 23 ceremony in London.

Winx, recently the recipient of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award to determine the world's most popular racehorse among global fans, had finished third in the 2016 Longines rankings and then second in 2017 at 132, while Cracksman was on that occasion a joint-third at 130. 

The latest judgment of their abilities was as much a confirmation as a revelation, as the two superstars, who not only never crossed swords but also experienced vastly different campaigns, had been tied at the top when the last interim standings for 2018 were published in November.

They remained tied on the same figure of 130, putting them two pounds clear of Southern California-based Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate , who returns to the track in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Accelerate's rating was also unchanged when the world's senior handicappers met in December, but there was slight tinkering further down the list, with Kentucky-bred multiple group 1 winner Roaring Lion, Hong Kong's outstanding miler Beauty Generation, and the long-since-retired Gun Runner  crossing the line collectively in fourth at 127.

Poet's Word, who defeated the John Gosden-trained Cracksman by 2 1/4 lengths at Royal Ascot, was dropped a pound from his November position to end up seventh at 126.

Then, laying equal claim to eighth, were Poet's Word's Sir Michael Stoute-trained stable companion Crystal Ocean, dual Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) heroine Enable, and Triple Crown winner Justify .

There will inevitably be debate about the decision to share the principal spoils between Winx, two of whose owners, Debbie Kepitis and Peter Tighe, were in London with trainer Chris Waller to collect the prize, and Cracksman. They are the first joint-winners of the Longines World's Best Racehorse award since Black Caviar and Treve forced a dead heat in 2013.

The Waller-trained Winx, who created racing history under Hugh Bowman in October when becoming the first horse ever to win four Cox Plates (G1), is in the midst of a 29-race win streak and is expected to resume competition next month before likely retiring in April.

While Winx won all seven of her starts in 2018, Anthony Oppenheimer's Cracksman appeared on just four occasions, claiming the Prix Ganay-Prix de l'Inauguration de ParisLongchamp (G1) and Investec Coronation Cup (G1) before finding Poet's Word too strong at the royal meeting.

He was pulled out of three races, all reportedly due to ground conditions that were either good to firm or good, before overwhelming Crystal Ocean in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) on his favored soft ground. That tour de force was the reason for his 130 official figure.

Wide-margin TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Roy H was the world's best sprinter at 124.

A total of 332 horses trained in 17 countries were rated 115 or higher. In comparison, 334 horses trained in 16 countries attained at least 115 in 2017.

Also honored on this occasion, the 2018 Longines World's Best Horse Race award was given to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the third time, with a rating of 125.

Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities were proud to honor the 2018 top Thoroughbreds and horse race during a ceremony at the iconic Landmark hotel in London Wednesday. 

The World's Best Racehorse honor is established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top international races. 

The representatives of the three winning horses were presented with Longines watches by Walter von Känel, president of the brand. The connections of Winx and Cracksman also received a replica of the Longines World's Best Racehorse vase from IFHA representatives.