GHAIYYATH has been crowned the world’s best racehorse.
The Godolphin superstar picked up top honours at the Longines World Racing Awards after a stunning 2020 season.
Ghaiyyath, with career earnings of £759,161, won three Group One races last year but retired at the end of the season with muscle soreness.
Owned by the billionaire ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed, six-year-old Ghaiyyath was almost unstoppable last year.
And it was his victory in the top-rated race of 2020 that won him the award.
The son of Dubawi took the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June with ease and beat superstar Enable in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Other top horses Magical, Lord North and 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko were all left trailing in his wake at the Juddmonte International at York.
That contest, held last August, was named the world’s best race.
Judges made that call based on the strengths of the first four horses to pass the post.
The Ebor showpiece held off competition from France’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, American race Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Japan Cup to be named top contest.
Ghaiyyath, trained by Charlie Appleby, suffered his only defeat of 2020 when Magical gained revenge in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The horse will now go to stud in Ireland, where he will charge around £26,500 a go to cover a mare.
Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic was named second best horse with a rating of 126 – four below Ghaiyyath’s 130.
Those two separated themselves from the rest of the top ten, which included Addeybb and Palace Pier.
The remaining eight horses were all awarded ratings of 125, meaning they finished tied-third in the rankings.
