With three group I wins in Australia this season, female sprinter Black Caviar is the top-ranked Thoroughbred through the first half of the year on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings through July 14 as compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
Retired in April after 25 consecutive victories, two-time Australian Horse of the Year Black Caviar boasts wins this year in the Black Caviar Lightning, Hacer Group William Reid, and Darley T. J. Smith Stakes.
The next four spots in the top five of the rankings are held by U.S. horses in reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan, Game On Dude, Fort Larned , and Animal Kingdom , who is tied with Japan's Orfevre.
Last year's Horse of the Year Wise Dan is undefeated in three starts in 2013 with a pair of grade I victories; Game On Dude is 4-for-4 in 2013 and picked up the sixth grade I victory of his career when he won the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap July 6. Last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Fort Larned posted an easy win in the Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (gr. I) June 15 at Churchill Downs, and Animal Kingdom won this year's Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) Sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Black Caviar earned a ranking of 130, Wise Dan 129, Game On Dude and Fort Larned 126, and Animal Kingdom 125.
