Arrogate Named World's Best Racehorse

For the second year running an American-trained horse has been named Longines World's Best Racehorse, with Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) claiming the top honour for 2016 at a ceremony in London held in conjunction with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

The GI Breeders' Cup Classic, in which Arrogate beat California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) and Keen Ice (Curlin), was ranked Longines World's Best Horse Race of 2016 with a rating of 125.25. The first two home in that race duly led the equine rankings, with Arrogate, who also won the GI Travers S. in record time, topping the table on 134 and G1 Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome given a rating of 133.

In third place on 132 was the Australian superstar Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), making the Chris Waller trainee the top-rated mare in the world.

Rated the best horse in Europe and fourth-best in the world on a mark of 129 was the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassestt {GB}), who notched three Group 1 victories in the Prix du Jockey-Club, QIPCO Irish Champion S. and QIPCO Champion S.

Widely considered to have attracted the best line-up of any race in Europe last year, with Almanzor beating a field which included Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire), Harzand (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy), the Irish Champion S. was ranked the co-second-best race in the world of 2016, sharing a rating of 124.75 with the GI $1-million TVG Pacific Classic S. at Del Mar and the G1 William Hill Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

The rankings are decided upon by a panel of international handicappers and take into account the performance of each horse in the world's best races.

In 2015, Triple Crown and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) was named Longines World's Best Racehorse, also with a mark of 134.

A full round-up of all the news and reactions from the ceremony will appear in tomorrow's TDN.