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The 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse Awards, celebrating its twelfth year of collaboration between Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), crowned City Of Troy and Laurel River as joint champions, each achieving a rating of 128 in a historic ceremony at London's Savoy Hotel.
"As a longstanding partner of the IFHA, Longines would like to take this opportunity to strengthen its support for the horseracing community," said Bernardo Tribolet, Longines Vice President Marketing. "We'll continue to share with our partners a deep passion for common values: Tradition, performance and elegance."
The Aidan O'Brien-trained City Of Troy secured his position through an exceptional performance in the Gr.1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York. The premier race earned a rating of 124.25, making it the world's top-rated contest of 2024 and marking its second such honour following the 2020 success. The son of Justify dominated the European season with additional victories in the Gr.1 Betfred Derby and Gr.1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes.
Ryan Moore, present at the London ceremony alongside O'Brien and Coolmore's Christy Grassick, reflected: "When he won the Juddmonte it was probably the best performance I've ever been involved with on a racehorse. There was no end to him. One he got comfortable and once he got building he was relentless."
O'Brien added his perspective: "He'd have had no problem being a Royal Ascot 2YO... we were just very lucky to have him. He always had a great stride and he was 16.1 [hh]," before adding with characteristic humour, "and getting bigger."
Laurel River's path to glory came through a record-breaking eight-and-a-half length victory in the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup. Trained by Bhupat Seemar for Juddmonte, the 7YO son of Into Mischief is preparing for a return at Meydan this Friday, viewed as "a springboard for the Saudi Cup."
Douglas Erskine Crum, CEO of Juddmonte Farms, emphasised the horse's significance: "He was one of the last homebred horses that Prince Khalid decided the mating for, so he is particularly important for us."
Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina emerged as the world's leading female performer with a rating of 127, achieved through her dominant eight-length success in the Gr.1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate. The 6YO daughter of Fastnet Rock excelled across two continents for Yulong Investments.
Five outstanding performers shared fifth place on 125: Breeders' Cup Classic victor Sierra Leone, Gr.1 Japan Cup winner Do Deuce, Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior, Gr.1 Travers Stakes winner Fierceness, and Francis Graffard-trained Calandagan.
Graffard's Goliath achieved 126 through victory in the Gr.1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while Charyn completed the top ten with 124 following success in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
A quintet shared eleventh position on 123: Anmaat, Economics, Shin Emperor, Durezza, and Rebel's Romance. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking topped European fillies with 122, matching leading stayer Kyrpios.
Sprint honours were shared by Cogburn, I Wish I Win, and Ka Ying Rising on 121, with Bradsell leading European sprinters on 118.
Classic generation stars included 2,000 Guineas victor Notable Speech and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Rosallion (both 122), Prix du Jockey Club hero Look De Vega (120), while Metropolitan (Poule d'Essai des Poulains) and Oaks winner Ezeliya achieved 115.
The Juddmonte International's position was determined through the average rating of City Of Troy, Calandagan, Ghostwriter and Bluestocking. Saratoga's Travers Stakes followed on 123.75, then Randwick's Queen Elizabeth Stakes (123.00) and Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (122.75).
The Japan Cup, Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe shared 122.50, while Ireland's Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes reached 122.25.
Distance category leaders included James Squire T. J. Smith Stakes (121.25, Sprint), Winx Stakes (121.50, Mile), Juddmonte International Stakes (124.25, Intermediate), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (122.75, Long), and Gold Cup (118.50, Extended). The Qatar Prix Vermeille (117.50) topped the fillies and mares' category.
The awards encompassed 106 races from 11 countries, with Australia leading with 30 top-rated races, followed by Great Britain (20), Japan (13), France (11), United States (11), Hong Kong (8), Germany (4), Ireland (4), United Arab Emirates (3), Saudi Arabia (1), and South Africa (1).
The ceremony marked the tenth anniversary of the Longines World's Best Horse Race award, with William Derby, York's Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, accepting the honours for the Juddmonte International. IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges reflected: "The IFHA is dedicated to advancing and improving our sport globally in a wide range of areas. We also believe it is important to take time to reward and celebrate the best of what racing has to offer."
James McDonald claimed the Longines World's Best Jockey Award, adding to his 2022 success in a category previously dominated by Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori, who each hold four titles. The comprehensive assessment featured 273 horses from 15 nations achieving ratings of 115 or higher, demonstrating racing's truly global reach in 2024.