Derby winner City Of Troy was recognised for a stellar 2024, sharing the Longines World’s Best Racehorse award with Laurel River; Aidan O’Brien’s star, who disappointed on his final start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, ended his career with four Group One triumphs 

City Of Troy shared top spot in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2024 alongside Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River. 

Aidan O’Brien hailed the son of Justify as the best he had ever trained following victories in the Betfred Derby, the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International. 

For the first time since 2019, when Crystal Ocean, Enable and Waldgeist were co-winners, there was a tie at the top of the table. 

Laurel River made his mark on an artificial surface at Meydan in the opening three months of the year. 

Trained by Bhupat Seemar and owned by Juddmonte, he followed up a couple of Group Three wins with a spectacular triumph in the Dubai World Cup, accounting for Ushba Tesoro of Japan and American ace Senor Buscador by more than eight lengths. 

The top-rated filly or mare in the world was Via Sistina (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a Group 1 winner on two continents who enjoyed a stellar 2024 in the colours of Yulong Investments. Now trained by Chris Waller, she posted her career-high rating of 127 at the age of six with an eight-length win in the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate.