Enable tops latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings

Enable, the best horse in the world, finally has taken her rightful place atop the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

In the latest update of the rankings, released Sept. 8, Enable was rated 128, surpassing Crystal Ocean at 127. Crystal Ocean, who was retired this week after sustaining an injury, had stood atop the rankings before this latest revision. Enable defeated Crystal Ocean by a neck in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on July 27 but the committee of racing secretaries and officials that establish the ratings, taking into account the margin of victory and the weight allowance Enable received because she’s a mare, still gave Crystal Ocean a higher rating.

But while Crystal Ocean was narrowly defeated by Japan in the Juddmonte International, Enable beat highly rated Magical (122) by 2 2/4 lengths to boost her rating from 126 to 128. Five-year-old Enable is unbeaten this year and races next in the Prix de l’Arc de Triumph, which is expected to be her career finale.

Ghaiyyath jumped into the third in the rankings at 126 by virtue of his tour de force in the Group 1 Grosser Preis van Baden, which he won by 14 lengths. Ghaiyyath could face enable next month in the Arc at Longchamp.

Battaash (125) rose to a joint fourth in the rankings after setting a York course record winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.

The highest rated American horse, at 125, is the retired City of Light, who won the Pegasus this last winter. McKinzie at 123 is the highest-rated American horse in training while Bricks and Mortar (120) is the highest-ranked North American grass horse.

Crystal Ocean injured, retired

Crystal Ocean, one of the best horses in the world this year, injured his leg during routine training this week in England and has been retired to stud after undergoing successful surgery.

Crystal Ocean had screws inserted into a fractured cannon bone, according to The Racing Post, and was reported by his connections to be in good condition following the operation.

Trained by Michael Stoute for owner-breeder Evelyn de Rothschild, Crystal Ocean came to hand strongly last year at age 4 and had his best season this year. He scored an overdue first Group 1 victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot before engaging the great Enable in a memorable duel in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, coming up a neck short. Crystal Ocean was narrowly beaten by Japan in his final start, the Juddmonte International.

Crystal Ocean is by Sea the Stars out of Crystal Star, by Mark of Esteem.