The LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings (for 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January 2023 and 8th October 2023)

Undefeated ACE IMPACT (IRE) [128] improved his rating by winning the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) and is now the co-second highest rated horse, along with MOSTAHDAF (IRE) [128], in the eighth edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2023.


LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Rank Horse Rating Trained
1 EQUINOX (JPN) 129 JPN
2 ACE IMPACT (IRE) 128 FR
2 MOSTAHDAF (IRE) 128 GB
4 HUKUM (IRE) 127 GB
5 WESTOVER (GB) 126 GB
6 GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) 125 HK
6 LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ) 125 HK
6 PADDINGTON (GB) 125 IRE
9 AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE) 124 IRE
9 TITLEHOLDER (JPN) 124 JPN


In the Arc, Ace Impact defeated WESTOVER (GB) [126] by 1 ¾ lengths, while ONESTO (IRE) [123] was a short head back in third. With his victory, Ace Impact raised his rating to 128 from 123. It was his sixth consecutive win this season, with his other major victories coming in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) and Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (G2).

Several newcomers feature in this month’s rankings as well. CONTINUOUS (JPN) [120], who finished fifth in the Arc, is ranked following his 2 ¾-length victory in the Betfred St Leger Stakes (G1) one start prior. He also won the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) in August. The day before the Arc, HORIZON DORE (FR) [120] won the Qatar Prix Dollar (G2) by 1 ¼ lengths at ParisLongchamp to join the rankings. The gelding has now won four races in a row, including the Prix Eugene Adam (G2) and Prix du Prince d'Orange (G3).

Elsewhere, GOLD TRIP (FR) [120] finds himself ranked again this year after he impressed with his 1 ¾-length victory in the TAB Turnbull Stakes (G1) at Flemington. The French-bred runner finished fourth in the 2020 Arc before later relocating to Australia, where he won last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1).

Also joining the rankings is MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE) [120]. In the past month, he won the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) by 3 ¾ lengths and finished second by a nose to UP TO THE MARK (USA) [121] in the Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Master Of The Seas is well-traveled, and earlier this year he won the Zabeel Mile Presented by ARN (G2) at Meydan and the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile Stakes (G2) at Ascot.