Calandagan Named World's Best Racehorse for 2025

Calandagan, a group 1 winner in three countries last year, was named the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse with a rating of 130 during a ceremony Jan. 20 at The Savoy in London. Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities also co-honored the Champion Stakes (G1) and Japan Cup (G1T) as the Longines World's Best Horse Race with an equal rating of 126.25.

"Equestrian sports have been part of the Longines story for more than a century," said Yannick Jenni, the Longines vice president sales international. "It is a sport that reflects what our brand stands for: respect for tradition, high performance, and timeless elegance. Our partnership with the IFHA is built on these same principles. Together, we work to support horse racing around the world and to highlight the achievements of its greatest champions.

"Today is about recognition. We are here to celebrate exceptional races and exceptional horses, and the many people behind them: owners, trainers, jockeys, and teams, all those whose dedication makes this sport so special."

Calandagan earned his rating in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. The now 5-year-old son of Gleneagles and homebred for Aga Khan Studs, also scored major victories in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), and Japan Cup.

The winning connections were presented with Longines watches as well as a replica of the Longines World's Best Racehorse vase, named Equus, by representatives of Longines and IFHA.

The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings are established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top races. The Longines World's Best Horse Race Award recognizes the best-rated race of the highest-rated group/grade 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. The 2025 best horse race award produced a tie for the first time. This also is the first time the Champion Stakes has been celebrated, while the Japan Cup first won the title in 2023.

"Calandagan's international travels this year added greatly to the spirit of sportsmanship," said IFHA chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. "The IFHA and Longines are passionate about honoring the best racing has to offer, and the Longines World Racing Awards are a way to celebrate all of the hard work that goes into delivering high-quality racing and champion racehorses."

This year's top Thoroughbred racehorse award is the 13th presented by the IFHA and Longines, while the world's best horse race of 2025 is the 11th award for this category.

Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings

See the Complete World's Best Racehorse Rankings

In the Champion Stakes, Calandagan defeated Ombudsman by 2 1/4 lengths. Following that effort, Calandagan went on to beat Masquerade Ball by a head in the Japan Cup. Earlier in the year, Calandagan won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

On a rating of 128, Ombudsman and Masquerade Ball share the title of second-highest rated horse in the world for 2025 with three other horses. Ombudsman received his rating for winning both the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) and Juddmonte International Stakes (G1), while Masquerade Ball, who won the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1T) one start before the Japan Cup, earned his with his runner-up effort to Calandagan. 

They are joined by Forever Young, who earned his rating in winning both the Saudi Cup (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); sprinter Ka Ying Rising, who achieved that mark in four separate races; and Sovereignty, who received that rating after his wins in both the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1).

Three horses share the co-seventh position in the rankings. Daryz earned his rating by winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). Meanwhile, Romantic Warrior and Sierra Leone  both achieved their highest rating with runner up efforts behind Forever Young, which came in the Saudi Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic, respectively.

Rounding out the Top 10 are five equally rated horses at 125: Danon Decile, Delacroix, Field of Gold, Fierceness , and Jan Brueghel. Overall, 279 horses, trained in 15 different countries, were rated 115 or higher.