Able Friend has maintained his position as the equal top-rated horse in the world at the publication of the third edition of the LONGINES World��s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2015, which the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) released on Thursday, 14 May.
ong Kong��s brilliant chestnut continues to share the top spot with North American star Shared Belief �V who is currently sidelined due to injury �V on a rating of 125. Able Friend has won his last six starts and cruised to an easy success in the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin on 3 May. That was the five-year-old Shamardal gelding��s third G1 success this calendar year following wins in the Stewards�� Cup (1600m) and Queen��s Sliver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin.
hn Moore-trained stablemate Designs On Rome ranks equal fifth in the list �V alongside Lankan Rupee �V on a rating of 123. The Tony Cruz-trained Blazing Speed is rated 121 for his win in the G1 APQEII Cup (2000m) last month, which puts him on the joint 9th spot with G1 Prix Ganay winner Cirrus des Aigles.
ith the seasons in North America and Europe about to hit full swing, the latest edition of this year��s rankings featured some notable newcomers. The three-year-old, American Pharoah, achieved a rating of 124 for his G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m) success and that places him equal third in the rankings alongside France��s G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) winner Solow, who could lock horns with Able Friend in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
cky Derby runner-up Firing Line and English 2,000 Guineas (1600m) winner Gleneagles were two more three-year-olds to break into the top bracket. They both rank seventh with a rating of 122.
The current rankings pertain to races staged between 1 January and 10 May this year. The next edition will be published on Thursday, 11 June, 2015.
