Winx storming to victory in the 2018 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Image: ATC)
Winx and Cracksman have been jointly named the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorse at a ceremony in London overnight.
A statement read, “On Wednesday January 23, Longines and its long-time partner the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), were delighted to host the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorse and Longines World’s Best Horse Race ceremony in London. With an equal rating of 130, Winx and Cracksman were together declared the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorses.
“Winx has been in the Top 10 of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings since 2015 and has been the highest rated filly/mare in the world since 2016. In 2018, she claimed overall top honours during a season that culminated in her becoming the only horse in history to win the Ladbrokes Cox Plate four times.
WATCH: Winx claimed her fourth Cox Plate in October, 2018
“As co-winner, Cracksman impressed as well, with his trademark victory coming in the QIPCO Champion Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot, where Longines is a Main Partner and the Official Timekeeper. The British runner was campaigned by the same connections as Golden Horn, the 2015 highest rated turf horse in the world. Cracksman’s jockey in 2018 was Frankie Dettori, who was named Longines World’s Best Jockey in 2018 as well as in 2015.
“Accelerate, with a rating of 128, was honoured as the third-highest rated horse in the world during the ceremony, which for the first time was held at the iconic Landmark hotel in London. Accelerate was the dominant older horse in America in 2018, and Longines was proud to time his great victory in the Breeder’s Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
“This classification is established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top international races. Last year, Arrogate from the United States was named the 2017 Longines World’s Best Racehorse following his epic victories in the Pegasus World Cup in Florida and the Dubai World Cup.
“The representatives of the three winning horses were presented with elegant Longines watches. The connections of Winx and Cracksman also received a replica of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse vase from IFHA representatives.
Speaking in London for the awards, co-owner Debbie Kepitis said “When we bought Winx, we never imagined everything she has been able to accomplish. The magic carpet ride she has taken us on has been amazing, and it is wonderful to have her honoured as the Longines World’s Best Racehorse.”
Peter Tighe was also on hand for the ceremony stating, “It is gratifying to have Winx recognised as the Longines World’s Best Racehorse. She has been a part of the Longines Awards for three years now, and her consistency at the highest level is just one of the things that makes her beyond special in our eyes.”
Cracksman’s owner, Anthony Oppenheimer references another champion in Frankel when speaking at about the award, “Cracksman has proven to be Frankel’s best son, and it was wonderful for him to end his career with a repeat victory in the Champion Stakes. Having him honoured as the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorse is certainly a thrill, especially since he raced as a homebred.”
From an Australian perspective, Happy Clapper’s 2018 Doncaster Mile win rated 123 which ranked him equal fourteenth. Trapeze Artist’s TJ Smith win ranked a 123 while two-time Everest winner Redzel was ranked equal twentieth after his 2018 victory was rated 122.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the World’s Best Horse Race
The ceremony also saw France’s famous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe rated the World’s best horse race.
“Longines is proud to be the Official Partner and Official Timekeeper of this mythic race that takes in Paris, and attracts the best horses, breeders, trainers and owners from all over the world.
“France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild was in London this Wednesday to accept the award. He was presented with an elegant Longines timepiece, a commemorative plate and a replica trophy representing a proud horse head. The first four finishers of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2018 were Enable, Sea Of Class, Cloth Of Stars, and Waldgeist. The Arc also won the award in 2017 and was the inaugural winner of the Longines World’s Best Horse Race Award in 2015.
“The Longines World’s Best Horse Race award recognizes the best-rated race of the highest-rated Group 1 international races as established by a panel of international handicappers. The ratings of the top four finishers in each race serve as basis for the assessment.”