Calandagan was named the 2025 Longines World’s Best Racehorse with a rating of 130. The announcement of the Longines World Racing Awards ceremony, was made today (Tues, Jan 20) at The Savoy Hotel in London, England.
Calandagan earned his rating in the Qipco Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot. A top-level winner in three countries in 2025, his other major victories came in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), and Japan Cup in association with Longines (G1).
The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top races.
Additionally, the Qipco Champion Stakes (G1) and Japan Cup in association with Longines (G1) were both honoured as the Longines World’s Best Horse Race with an equal rating of 126.25. This is the first time the Champion Stakes has been celebrated, while the Japan Cup first won the title in 2023.
| Rank | Horse | Rating | Trainer | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calandagan (IRE) | 130 | Francis-Henri Graffard | France |
| 2 | Ombudsman (IRE) | 128 | John & Thady Gosden | Great Britain |
| 3 | Daryz (FR) | 127 | Francis-Henri Graffard | France |
| 3 | Field of Gold (IRE) | 127 | John & Thady Gosden | Great Britain |
| 3 | Forever Young (JPN) | 127 | Yoshito Yahagi | Japan |
| 3 | Sovereignty (USA) | 127 | William Mott | USA |
| 7 | Delacroix (IRE) | 126 | Aidan O’Brien | Ireland |
| 7 | Ka Ying Rising (NZ) | 126 | Francis Lui | Hong Kong |
| 7 | Romantic Warrior (IRE) | 126 | Danny Shum | Hong Kong |
