Knicks Go moves to top of World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Knicks Go is the highest-rated Thoroughbred in the latest edition of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

Previously rated 124, Knicks Go’s mark was raised to 128 following his dominant victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. That rating just tops three European horses – 2021 Derby winner Adayar, 4-year-old colt Mishriff, and retired 3-year-old St Mark’s Basilica – in update rankings released Thursday by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which convenes the global panel of racing officials who set these ratings.

Knicks Go now stands a good chance of leading the ratings at year’s end and being feted as 2021’s World’s Best Racehorse.

Mishriff won the $20 million Saudi Cup in February, beating Knicks Go, who was unable to hit peak form in one-turn races like the Saudi Cup and the Met Mile in June. At two turns, Knicks Go this year has won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the Grade 1 Whitney, the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker, and the Grade 3 Lukas Classic. Knicks Go is certain to be named North American Horse of the Year after his Classic victory.

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Life Is Good’s rating rose to 123 from 120 after his blowout win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Medina Spirit, who finished second in the Classic, also is rated 123. Domestic Spending, scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Turf, is the top-rated North American grass horse at 122.