The Top Ranked Horses in the World

THE WORLD'S LEADING HORSES
(For the period 1st January 2006 to 10th July 2006)

The third publication this year of the World's Leading Horses covers the racing period from the start of the year to 10th July 2006.

Three horses are now at the top of the rankings. SHIROCCO (GER) (125) maintains his position at the top having won two Group races this year including the G1 Vodafone Coronation Cup from Ouija Board. HURRICANE RUN (IRE) reappears in the number one spot for the fifth time after his impressive win over Alexander Goldrun (IRE) in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. Joining this pair is the first Japanese trained horse to make top ranking, DEEP IMPACT (JPN). He has suffered only one defeat in his career and earns his ranking after his third win of the year in G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June.

Three-year-old Classic winners on a rating of 124 dominate the next positions. The retired Kentucky Derby winner BARBARO (USA) (124), has moved up to this rating after the success of horses behind him in the Kentucky Derby and likewise GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE) after the successes of the horses behind him in the Stan James 2000 Guineas. The third horse in this group is the impressive Budweiser Irish Derby winner DYLAN THOMAS (IRE).

ELECTROCUTIONIST (USA) (123) who won the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup in March moves down a place to join dual G1 winner DAVID JUNIOR (USA) the winner of the Dubai Duty Free over 1777m and the Coral Eclipse over 2000m and HEART'S CRY (JPN) who won the Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic.

Vodafone Derby winner SIR PERCY (GB) (121) is joined by Preakness winner BERNARDINI (USA) (121) and LAVA MAN (USA) (121) who has won three Grade 1 races, two on Dirt and one on Turf in joint tenth place on the rankings.

Newcomers to this year's rankings include St James's Palace victor ARAAFA (IRE) (120), United Nations winner ENGLISH CHANNEL (USA) (120) and Ascot Gold Cup winner YEATS (IRE) (120).

Following his win in the G1 Yasuda Kinen, BULLISH LUCK (USA) (120) is Hong Kong's top ranked horse while the winner of five G1 races, EREMEIN (AUS) (119) maintains his position as the leading Australian horse in the rankings. The position of leading sprinter is held by the Australian TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS) (118) who enhanced his reputation by winning the G2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The leading filly and mare is OUIJA BOARD (GB) (120) after winning the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes over 2000m at the Royal Ascot meeting closely followed by the French mare PRIDE (FR) (119) who reproduced her top rating in recently defeating Hurricane Run (IRE) in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.