Palace Pier Surges to Top of Longines World Rankings

Following his performance in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1), Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Palace Pier (GB) leads the fourth edition of the 2021 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings from racing through June 6. With his 1 1/2-length victory in the Lockinge, Palace Pier improved his rating to 125 from 121 and is now 2-for-2 this year. He previously took the Bet365 Sandown Mile (G2) by eight lengths. He is expected to race next in the June 15 Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. The Queen Anne is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifier for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Del Mar this fall. Nature Strip (AUS), owned by R. A. E. Lyons, P. D. Harrison, et al, holds second with a rating of 123, followed by a three-way tie in third with ratings of 122 shared by Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending (GB), Prince A. A. Faisal's Mishriff (IRE), and Godolphin's Mystic Guide. Domestic Spending and Mystic Guide are the top-ranked American-trained runners. Adayar (IRE) and Essential Quality, both owned by Godolphin, rank highest among 3-year-olds with ratings of 121. Adayar took the Cazoo Derby (G1) by 4 1/2 lengths, Essential Quality the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) by 1 1/4 lengths over front-running Hot Rod Charlie. The full list of ratings is online.