LONDON, UK – City Of Troy (Justify) and Laurel River (Into Mischief), owned by two racing superpowers, Coolmore and Juddmonte, have been jointly named the World's Best Racehorse of 2024 by Longines.
At a ceremony marking the Longines Racing Awards at the Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday, it was announced that they had each achieved a score of 128. This was the first time since 2019 that two horses shared the top spot in the world rankings.
The highest rated performance for City Of Troy came in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, last year's highest rated race, with runner-up Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) receiving a rating of 125. City Of Troy also won the Betfred Derby and the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes last year. However, Calandagan was only the second best-scoring horse in France, as his Francis Graffard stablemate Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) finished fourth with 126 points for his victory in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
When Aidan O'Brien, Christy Grassick and Ryan Moore accepted the World's Leading Turf Horse award in London, it was Moore who was first handed the microphone and although he admitted with a wry grin that he wished he could pass on To the trainer he said of City Of Troy: “When he won the Juddmonte it was probably the best performance I've ever seen on a racehorse.”
Moore added: “It had no end. Once he felt comfortable, then once he started building, he was relentless.”
O'Brien echoed his former stable star's praise. “He wouldn't have had a problem being a two-year-old at Royal Ascot… we were just very lucky to have him.
“He always had a great stride and was 16.1 [hh]he said, before pausing comically to add, “and get bigger.”
The highest-rated filly or mare in the world was Via Sistina (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a Group 1 winner on two continents who enjoyed a standout 2024 in the colors of Yulong Investments. Now trained by Chris Waller, she achieved her best ever score of 127 with an eight-length win in the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at the age of six.
It was Laurel Rivers' record victory by eight and a half lengths in the G1 Dubai World Cup that earned him co-horse of the year status and made him the world's best cross-country horse.
The now seven-year-old Juddmonte homebreeder is trained by Bhupat Seemar and has been nominated for the G1 Saudi Cup.
Douglas Erskine Crum, CEO of Juddmonte Farms, said: “He was one of the last home-bred horses that Prince Khalid chose to mate with, so he is particularly vital to us.”
Seemar added that Laurel River, who has not competed since the World Cup in Dubai, will compete in Meydan on Friday “as a springboard for the Saudi Cup.”
In Riyadh, the seven-year-old could face Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), partnered with G1 Japan Cup winner Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), GI Travers Stakes winner Fierceness (City Of Delicate) and the aforementioned Calandagan.
Completing the top ten was Charyn (Ire) (Murky Angel {Ire}), whose score of 124 was achieved when winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Qipco).
Just outside this level there was a five-way battle for 11th place between Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}, Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), all of which received a rating of 123.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was the highest rated filly in Europe with 122, the same rating was also given to Kyrpios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). the highest rated stayer in the world.
With a rating of 121, Cogburn (Not This Time), I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) were the co-champion sprinters of 2024, during Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) was the leading sprinter in Europe with 118.
Among last year's Classic generation, 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas winners Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) each received a score of 122 Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) received a score of 120. Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) and Oaks heroine Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) were both on 115.
In 2024, 273 horses trained in 15 different countries received a rating of 115 or higher.
The world's best races in 2024
In parallel with the Longines World Racing Awards, the ratings for the 100 best Group/Class 1 races in the world in 2024 were also published on Tuesday. As noted above, the Juddmonte International in York took first place for the second time, with a rating of 124.25 in 2024, derived from the average rating of the top four finishers City of Troy, Calandagan, Ghostwriter and Bluestocking.
Saratoga's Travers Stakes, won by Fierceness, was next at 123.75, followed by Randwick's Queen Elizabeth Stakes (123.00) and Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (122.75).
The Japan Cup in association with Longines, the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe were tied at 122.50, while Ireland's highest rated race, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, had a score of 122, reached 25.
In the five respective distance categories, the top-scoring races were: James Squire TJ Smith Stakes (121.25, sprint); Winx Stakes (121.50, mile); Juddmonte International Stakes (124.25, Intermediate); King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (122.75, Long); and the Gold Cup (118.50, Extended). With a time of 117.50, the Qatar Prix Vermeille (117.50) was the top-scoring race in the world for fillies and mares, while the Travers Stakes race was the top-scoring race for three-year-olds.
There were a total of 106 races on the list this year, as there were nine ties in the rankings for 98th place. Of the 11 countries represented, Australia was responsible for 30 of these races, followed by Great Britain (20), Japan (13), France (11), the United States (11), Hong Kong SAR, China (8) and Germany (4) , Ireland (4), United Arab Emirates (3), Saudi Arabia (1) and South Africa (1).
The Longines World's Best Jockey Award is determined based on the list of top races. Drivers receive 12 points for a win, six points for second and four points for third. Australia-based Fresh Zealander James McDonald won the 2024 title after already being top jockey in 2022. Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori have each won the title four times.
