Knicks Go has been crowned the World’s Best Racehorse of 2021 by Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
Knicks Go reached an international rating of 129, highest in the world last year, through his performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Brad Cox trains Knicks Go for the Korea Racing Authority. The 6-year-old horse by Paynter out of Kosmo’s Buddy, by Outflanker, is scheduled to make his final start before his stallion career in the Pegasus World Cup on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Three European horses share the mantle of second-highest rated in the world, making them jointly the highest rated turf horses for the year. Adayar [127], Mishriff [127], and St Mark’s Basilica [127] all finished 2021 on a rating of 127. Adayar earned his rating in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (G1); Mishriff achieved that mark with his victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1); and St Mark’s Basilica received his rating from having won the Coral-Eclipse (G1).
Sitting alone in fifth is Japan’s Contrail, who achieved his rating of 126 when he won the Japan Cup in Association with Longines (G1) by two lengths in his final career start.

Four horses sit in co-sixth on a joint rating of 125. Undefeated Baaeed [125] took the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by Qipco) (G1) by a neck over Palace Pier [125], who in turn had earned his rating in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1). Torquator Tasso [125] was the upset winner of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), which was named the 2021 Longines World’s Best Horse Race, while Golden Sixty [125] completed his perfect season in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1).