Ascot-bound Baaeed toppled by US phenomenon Flightline in world rankings

Baaeed is no longer considered the world’s best racehorse after being usurped in the world rankings by Flightline, whose outstanding performance on the dirt in the Pacific Classic last time moved him tantalisingly close to the best figure posted by the peerless Frankel.

Flightline has been rated 139, just 1lb below Frankel’s top figure, by the Longines world ranking committee after extending his unbeaten sequence to five when slamming Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer by 19 and a quarter lengths at Del Mar. The four-year-old is being aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Classic and connections are mooting keeping him in training next year.

Baaeed slipped from first place despite recording a personal-best rating of 135 when trouncing his opponents in the Juddmonte International at York, with his performance rated 9lb superior to the next best turf performer, King’s Stand Stakes winner Nature Strip.