No Change in IFHA World Rankings

The latest update produced several puzzling takeaways, chief among them the modest 120 rating awarded to Sierra Leone for his victory in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga

Sierra Leone earned a 120 rating for his Whitney S. (G1) victory / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

It’s always a mystery how the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA) handicappers assess the performances of the world’s top racehorses before publishing the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. The latest example came Thursday, when the sport’s governing body unveiled the newest edition of the standings, as of Aug. 10.

There were no changes at the top, with Field of Gold (GB) (Kingman), Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel) and Ombudsman (Ire) (Night of Thunder) tied for first at 127, one pound clear of Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi), Ka Ying Rising(NZ) (Shamexpress) and Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation), all on 126.

One of the most surprising elements was the modest 120 rating awarded to Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) following his hard-fought success in Saratoga’s demanding GI Whitney S., where he defeated multiple Grade I winners Highland Falls(Curlin), White Abarrio (Race Day), and Fierceness (City of Light), among others.

Also moving up was Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett), a five-length winner of the G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood, having previously taken the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh.

Victory in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot earned Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles) a 125 mark, putting him in a tie for seventh alongside several others, including Sovereignty (Into Mischief), America’s top-rated 3-year-old colt. Among the new entries was Sajir (Fr) (Make Believe), who received a 120 rating after defeating Lazzat(Fr) (Territories) in the G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

The next edition of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings will be released Sept. 11, with several major contests still to come that could shake up the numbers—or, as history shows, leave them just as they are.