The Top Ranked Horses in the World

THE WORLD'S LEADING HORSES
(For the period 1st February 2006 to 27th August 2006)

The latest publication of this years the World's Leading Horses covers the racing period from 1st February to 27th August 27th. A total of sixty-one horses with a rating of 118 or more trained in eight countries appear in this edition of the rankings. This compares to forty-two horses who were rated 118 or more in the World's Leading Horses published August 2005.

Three horses were grouped at the top in the previous edition but following his second Group One win of the year in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in July, HURRICANE RUN (IRE) (rated 126) heads the rankings on his own. He has now been top of each edition of the World's Leading Horses for which he was eligible since October 2005.

Narrowly defeated in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, ELECTROCUTIONIST (USA) (125) moves up four placings in the rankings to share the number two position. Moving up from 10th place to join the four other horses in second place is BERNARDINI (USA) who has won four Group races this season including impressive victories in the G1 Preakness Stakes and more recently the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. DEEP IMPACT (JPN) and SHIROCCO (GER) who have not raced since the last publication maintain their ratings of 125 and have been joined by Kentucky Derby winner BARBARO (USA) whose rating has been increased from 124 to 125 to reflect the increase in the level of the US 3yo Dirt horses.

LAVA MAN (USA) (123) continues his great year with a fourth successive Group One win of the season in the Pacific Classic and confirms his position as the top ranked older horse in the US with an enhanced rating of 123. Following wins in the G1 Eddie Read H'cap and G2 Del Mar Breeders' Cup H'cap ARAGORN (IRE) (122) becomes the leading Turf performer in the US entering the World's Leading Horses for the first time at number twelve. Another newcomer to the rankings is LIBRETTIST (USA) (121) who entered at number fourteen following his first G1 win in the Haras Le Fresney-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

The following horses made considerable improvement on their previous ranking: NOTNOWCATO (GB) (122) moves up from 28th to 12th after his win in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, HENNY HUGHES (USA) (121), up from 28th to 14th and becomes the top ranked sprinter on Dirt in the US and INVASOR (ARG) (121) who scored his third Group One win moves up from 42nd place to 14th position in the rankings.

In the stayers category the leader is DEEP IMPACT (JPN) (123) achieved by winning the JPN G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3200m in April. Following up on his Ascot Gold Cup victory, YEATS (IRE) (121) gained success in the G2 ABN Amro Goodwood Cup to position himself as the number two stayer in the current World's Leading Horses list.

The top ranked Turf sprinters are GB trained LES ARCS (USA) (119) winner of the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes and July Cup along with the Australian trained TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS) (119) winner of the G2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot who has now joined EREMEIN (AUS) (119) as the leading Australian based horse in the listings.

The leading filly and mare is OUIJA BOARD (GB) (120) closely followed by the Irish mare ALEXANDER GOLDEN (IRE) (119) and the French trained PRIDE (FR) (119).