With only a handful of top-level contests remaining, the flat racing pecking order for 2025 is beginning to take its final shape. Following the publication of the latest Longines World Best Racehorse Rankings, we have a new name at the summit, with the top of the charts dominated by stars familiar to European racing fans.
1. Calandagan
- Rating – 130
- Trainer – Francis-Henri Graffard
- Group/Grade 1 Race Wins in 2025 – Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Qipco Champion Stakes
The first of two Francis-Henri Graffard-trained, Aga Khan Studs-owned runners in the top six, Calandagan headed into the 2025 campaign without a Group 1 success to his name. With Mickael Barzalona taking over in the saddle, he put that right in spectacular style.
Runners-up efforts in the Dubai Sheema Classic and Coronation Cup represented a frustrating start. The four-year-old then exploded into life in June with back-to-back wins in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud and King George. However, Calandagan saved the best until last with a scintillating display to master Ombudsman and Delacroix in the Qipco Champion Stakes. That was the standout performance of 2025 and propelled Calandagan to the top of the world rankings. The world leader may yet produce one last hurrah for 2025 when he takes his place in the Japan Cup field on 30 November.
2. Ombudsman
- Rating – 128
- Trainer – John and Thady Gosden
- Group/Grade 1 Race Wins in 2025 – Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Juddmonte International Stakes
Like Francis-Henri Graffard, John and Thady Gosden are responsible for two of the top six performers. Leading the charge for the Newmarket operation is this four-year-old son of Night Of Thunder.
Following a perfect four from four three-year-old season, Ombudsman suffered a first defeat on his return in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Then came the performance that shot the Godolphin star to the head of the rankings. Sent off at 7/1 in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, Ombudsman produced a dazzling turn of foot to slam a talented international field by a widening two lengths. He was beaten by Delacroix in the Coral-Eclipse but gained revenge in the Juddmonte International, before finishing best of the rest behind Calandagan in the Champion Stakes.
T3. Daryz
- Rating – 127
- Trainer – Francis-Henri Graffard
- Group/Grade 1 Race Wins in 2025 – Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Three of the four remaining runners hail from the Classic generation. Only making his debut in April, Daryz swerved the French Classics in favour of a campaign built towards a major Autumn target.
Having moved smoothly through Listed and Group 2 company, his first Group 1 assignment ended in disappointment as he finished last of six behind Ombudsman at York. Putting that behind him with an eye-catching second in the Prix du Prince d’Orange, he chose the perfect moment to post a huge career best. Sent off at 166/10, Daryz surged home to run down Minnie Hauk and hand his trainer a first win in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Set to return to the track as a four-year-old, there may be more to come from Daryz in 2026.
T3. Field Of Gold
- Rating – 127
- Trainer – John and Thady Gosden
- Group/Grade 1 Race Wins in 2025 – Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes
The second John and Thady Gosden runner in the top six was rarely far from the headlines in 2025. Opening up with an impressive win in the Craven Stakes, he was deemed the moral winner of the 2,000 Guineas, with the unfortunate Kieran Shoemark shouldering the blame for his defeat.
Putting that narrow loss behind him with an easy win in the Irish 2,000, he headed to Ascot for the St. James’s Palace Stakes. With his Newmarket conqueror Ruling Court and French 2,000 champ Henri Matisse among the opposition, Field Of Gold produced a display that oozed superstar quality. Labelled the best miler in training on the back of that effort, he subsequently finished behind his 150/1 pacemaker Qirat in the Sussex Stakes and managed only fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Nevertheless, those spectacular efforts in June had already cemented his status towards the top of the rankings.
T3. Forever Young
- Rating – 127
- Trainer – Yoshito Yahagi
- Group/Grade 1 Race Wins in 2025 – Saudi Cup, Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
If the global rankings were determined by prize money, this Japanese ace would finish first, and it wouldn’t be particularly close. Following a productive three-year-old season, which included third-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, Forever Young scaled new heights in 2025. Picking up the small matter of £8million for his last-gasp win in the Saudi Cup, he returned to Del Mar in November to become the first Japanese-trained winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
T3. Sovereignty
- Rating – 127
- Trainer – William Mott
- Group/Grade 1 Race Wins in 2025 – Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes
Another top-class dirt performer rounds out the list. Sporting the same Godolphin blue as Ombudsman, Sovereignty claimed two legs of the US triple crown before producing a breathtaking 10-length victory in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
He was the hot favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic after that performance, but missed the race through illness. The expectation is that Sovereignty will now move into his second career as a stallion. However, with an official announcement awaited, he may yet return to the track in 2026.
