Ka Ying Rising Leads World's Best Racehorse Rankings

The win streak of Hong Kong superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) has stretched into its third calendar year in 2026, with the son of Shamexpress (NZ) having his win photo taken for an 18th consecutive time Feb. 22. That dominance has been recognized as the 6-year-old gelding sits as a clear No. 1 in the year's first Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, released March 12 and covering horses who have raced from Jan. 1-March 8. Ka Ying Rising received a rating of 128 to start the 2026 rankings that are compiled by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. He sits four points ahead of fellow Hong Kong-based star Romantic Warrior (IRE). Forever Young (JPN) is the highest-rated dirt horse and third overall, receiving a 123 for his victory in the Feb. 14 Saudi Cup (G1). Royal Champion (IRE), winner of the Neom Turf Cup (G1T) on the same Saudi Arabian card, ranks fourth at 122. With the highest rating for American-based horses, Baoma Corp's Nysos is fifth after receiving a 121 rating for his runner-up finish to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup. Other Americans on the list of 22 ranked horses include Godolphin's Knightsbridge, who is in a four-way tie for seventh with a 119 rating, Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking, who is in a four-way tie for 11th with a 118 rating, and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Magnitude, who is in a eight-way tie for 15th with a 117 rating. See the full rankings