A trio of Hong Kong-based horses hold the top three spots in the first edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2023. The rankings are led by GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) [125], who is two-for-two this year.
Golden Sixty, who has featured in the ratings since 2020, began 2023 with a one-length victory over ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) [123] in the Stewards’ Cup (G1). CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE) [122] was a neck back in third. Golden Sixty then defeated Romantic Warrior by a head in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1).
Fourth position is held jointly by ART COLLECTOR (USA) [121] and MOSTAHDAF (IRE) [121]. Art Collector won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by Baccarat (G1) by 4 1/2 lengths in the United States to begin his season, while Mostahdaf took the Neom Turf Cup presented by Altanfeethi (G3) by seven lengths in Saudi Arabia to begin his.
Other horses to impress in Saudi Arabia include ELITE POWER (USA) [120] and PANTHALASSA (JPN) [120], who are part of a quartet of horses sharing the sixth position. Elite Power won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Sports Boulevard (G3), and Panthalassa powered to victory in the Saudi Cup (G1). In the Saudi Cup, Panthalassa defeated COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA) [119] by three-quarters of a length. CAFE PHAROAH (USA) [118] was a half-length back in third, and GEOGLYPH (JPN) [118] was a head back in fourth.
In addition to Elite Power and Panthalassa, ANAMOE (AUS) [120] and DO DEUCE (JPN) [120] are also in the co-sixth position with a rating of 120. Anamoe began his season with victories in the TAB Apollo Stakes (G2) and TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) in Australia, while Do Deuce won the Kyoto Kinen (G2) in Japan.
Courtesy of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
