Winx becomes the world's best horse as Cracksman takes third in league table

For the first time in her illustrious career Australia's wondermare Winx is officially the best horse in the world.

The triple Cox Plate heroine has been upped to a figure of 130 in the latest revision of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, taking her a pound ahead of American retired dirt champion Gun Runner, who collected his 129 when taking the Pegasus World Cup earlier this year.

Sitting in third is the John Gosden-trained Cracksman, thanks to a storming reappearance success in the Prix Ganay that earned him a mark of 125.

Sharing fourth on 124 are Bob Baffert-trained stablemates West Coast and Justify, whose Kentucky Derby triumph has been deemed 3lb superior to Saxon Warrior's 2,000 Guineas triumph.

Winx has previously been the world's top turf horse but has never led the overall standings. This time she does, and although her 130 rating is less than her career-high 132, the figure she received for a wide-margin tour de force in April's Queen Elizabeth Stakes was sufficient to make her the sport's new global leader.

Trainer Chris Waller told Australia's Daily Telegraph: "There are so many great horses in the world and to think Winx is rated up there as the best is incredible. It is another amazing chapter in her career."

Winx has been enjoying a holiday since the Queen Elizabeth brought up her 25th consecutive win and her 18th in Group 1 company. After connections decided against a trip to Royal Ascot they have been aiming towards a bid to make her the first ever four-time Cox Plate champion.

Waller added: "She has been out in the spelling paddock for four weeks.

"It is so intense when she is in work – for her, for me, for all the stable staff – so I’m sure she is enjoying just being a horse again and having that break from the stable routine.

“But it is getting closer to the time where we will have to start thinking about her programme and when to bring her back into light work."

Four horses have ratings of 123, among them Saeed Bin Suroor's World Cup night winners Thunder Snow and Benbatl. Also on 123 are Australian pair Happy Clapper and Trapeze Artist.

THE LATEST LONGINES WORLD'S TOP RACEHORSES:

1st: Winx 130
2nd: Gun Runner 129
3rd: Cracksman 125
4th: Justify, West Coast 124
6th: Benbatl, Happy Clapper, Thunder Snow, Trapeze Artist 123
10th: Hawkbill, Mendelssohn 122

(based on performances between January 1 and May 6)

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