January 2021

Longines World Racing Awards: York Racecourse honoured for Juddmonte International

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The Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York Racecourse has today been awarded the title of Longines World’s Best Horse Race 2020.

The race last held the accolade of the world’s highest rated contest from 2012 to 2014, before Longines’ sponsorship of the awards began.

The 2020 renewal of the Juddmonte International received a rating of 125.25 from the IFHA after Group 1 winners Ghaiyyath, Magical, Lord North and Kameko were the first four home.

York Racecourse Chief Executive, William Derby, commented: “It’s what we’re all about at York Racecourse in terms of trying to attract the very best horses and jockeys to race on The Knavesmire.

“To have those Group 1 performing horses turn up for our flagship race, the Juddmonte International, was just a thrill and an honour. To then see the race unfold with all the stories and sub-plots was a thrill for all sports fans or racing fans to witness.

“We’re delighted and really grateful to [Longines and the IFHA] for their support, and that of all the connections in the race, and Juddmonte Farms, without whom we wouldn’t be able to stage such a magnificent race for everyone to enjoy.”

Also featuring in the Top 10 Group 1 races of 2020 were the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park Racecourse (123.50) and the Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse on QIPCO British Champions Day (123.00).

A total of 18 British races featured in the 2020 race rankings. Elsewhere in Europe, France secured a placing for 9 of its races, while 4 contests in Ireland and 3 in Germany also made the list.

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Image Above: GHIAYYATH (Credit: Caroline Norris)

The title of Longines World’s Best Racehorse for 2020 belongs to the winner of the 2020 Juddmonte International, Ghaiyyath (130).

Trained by Charlie Appleby at his Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, Ghaiyyath won his first four starts in 2020, beginning with a dominant 8½ length victory in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan.

He then triumphed by 2½ lengths in the Group 1 Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup Stakes, held in 2020 at Newmarket Racecourse owing to Covid-19 related programme changes, before going on to best 2019 co-Longines World’s Best Racehorse Enable in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse.

Ghaiyyath’s 3 length victory in the International over Magical, Lord North and Kameko at York cemented his place at the top of the rankings.

Since Longines’ inaugural 2015 World Racing Awards, the World’s Best Racehorse rankings have shown that an average of 46 British-trained turf horses each year have been awarded a rating over 115. This is the joint-highest total from across the world, matched only by Australia. An average of 21 horses rated over 115 have been trained in Ireland each year, and 19 in France.

What is more, the large number of individual British trainers featuring in the list each year shows real strength in depth across the British training ranks. An average of 24 British trainers have been recognised in each of the 2015 to 2020 rankings, with a total of 21 featuring this year.

Our congratulations go to the British trainers who featured in the rankings this year: Charlie Appleby, William Haggas, John Gosden, Marcus Tregoning, Charlie Hills, Andrew Balding, Sir Michael Stoute, Roger Teal, William Muir, Kevin Ryan, Roger Varian, Alan King, James Fanshawe, Archie Watson, David Menuisier, Roger Charlton, Simon & Ed Crisford, Clive Cox, John Quinn, Mark Johnston and Henry Candy.

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