In a season already marked by relentless consistency and record-breaking pace, Ka Ying Rising has further cemented his place at the summit of world horse racing following the latest update to the international ratings released in mid-May.
World’s Best Racehorse Rankings 2026.
Ka Ying Rising has maintained his position as the top-rated horse in training after returning an international rating of 130, up two points from the previous assessment, underlining the scale of his continued dominance at the highest level. The update places him four points clear of his nearest rivals in a tightly watched global hierarchy.
The latest World’s Best Racehorse Rankings 2026 underline how firmly the elite order is being shaped at the top end of the sport this year.
Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising has now strung together 20 consecutive victories, a streak that has carried him through another flawless campaign. His rise to 130 reflects not just winning margins, but the manner in which he has repeatedly lowered his own standards of excellence.
Fellow Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior also edged upward, climbing to a rating of 126 after his commanding fourth success in the FWD QEII Cup over 2000 metres on Champions Day. The eight-year-old, already a 14-time Group 1 winner, continues to underline his versatility and durability at the highest level.
Romantic Warrior shares second place in the rankings with Bow Echo and Daryz, while his career earnings of HK$271.46 million for owner Peter Lau reinforce his status as one of the sport’s most valuable performers. His previous high watermark came on dirt when he posted 127 behind Forever Young in the Saudi Cup earlier in the year.
Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo sits fifth on 124, level with White Abarrio from the United States, as the international spread of talent continues to be reflected in the updated standings. Forever Young follows closely on 123, with a group of contenders including Croix du Nord, Magnitude, Masquerade Ball, Royal Champion and Sovereignty all rated 122.
Ka Ying Rising’s latest performances have been particularly striking, with the five-year-old breaking his own Sha Tin 1200m track record twice in April alone. He posted 1:07.12 in the Sprint Cup before lowering it again to 1:07.10 in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, further sharpening his reputation as a specialist at sprint distances.
Those performances rounded off another unbeaten season, which also included victories in the Centenary Sprint Cup, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Chairman’s Sprint Prize, securing another Hong Kong Speed Series triumph.
Romantic Warrior, meanwhile, now turns attention to a potential historic bid in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup over 2400 metres at Sha Tin later this month, where he could join a select group of horses to complete the Triple Crown.
Voyage Bubble remains Hong Kong’s next highest-rated performer on 119, continuing a strong showing for the region in the global rankings.
The updated standings also underline how tightly packed the elite division remains behind the leader, with marginal shifts in ratings reflecting just how fine the margins are at the very top of the sport. While Ka Ying Rising has opened a clear gap, the continued presence of proven Group 1 performers across multiple jurisdictions ensures that the remainder of the season still carries significant weight for reshaping the hierarchy in the months ahead.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz