Sovereignty Now Tied for Sixth in Latest World Rankings

With his 4 3/4-length victory in the Aug. 8 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Godolphin's reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty has ascended in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, tied with four other horses in sixth place with a 125 rating. Though well behind co-leaders Ka Ying Rising (NZ) and Ombudsman (IRE) at 131, Sovereignty is now the co-highest-rated dirt horse in the world, on equal measure with recently retired Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Nysos, according to the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. Hong Kong turf sprint star Ka Ying Rising, riding a 20-race win streak for trainer David Hayes and owner Ka Ying Syndicate, has resumed training after a scheduled break, while Godolphin's Ombudsman is pointed to the Aug. 19 Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York for joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden. Nysos is not the only prominent horse recently retired and headed to stud next year. So too is third-place Bow Echo (IRE), who improved his rating from 126 to 127 to sit alone in third place after capturing the Sussex Stakes (G1) only to exit the race with an injury. Daryz (FR) and Romantic Warrior (IRE) are tied for fourth with ratings of 126, while Gstaad (GB), Notable Speech (GB), and Scandinavia are in line with Nysos and Sovereignty in a joint sixth place with ratings of 125. The full ratings, published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and reflecting starts through Aug. 9, can be found online.