The Best Racehorses in the UK, Ireland and beyond

Here's a look at 2025’s top racehorses UK, Ireland and beyond.

Kyprios (IRE)

• Ireland's legendary stayer, retired in early June 2025.
• Boasted 17 wins from 21 starts (2 Ascot Gold Cups, 2 Goodwood Cups, 2 Irish St Legers, Prix du Cadran, British Champions Long Distance Cup) and more than £2.7 million in earnings

Rebel’s Romance (IRE)

• Trained by Charlie Appleby, this Irish-bred gelding is a seven-time Group 1 winner, combining power, stamina, and consistency, with a record of 25 starts, 17 wins, £11 million+ in prize money, including UAE Derby, Grosser Preis von Berlin, Preis von Europa (twice), and Breeders’ Cup Turf (2022 & 2024), plus Dubai Sheema Classic, Champions & Chater Cup (HK), Yorkshire Cup.

Los Angeles (IRE)

• Triple Group 1 winner for Aidan O’Brien; notably the 2024 Irish Derby & 2025 Tattersalls Gold Cup

Goliath (GER)

• High-class four-year-old trained in France, winner of the King George at Royal Ascot last year.

Field Of Gold (IRE)

• Winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas recently for John & Thady Gosden and Juddmonte.

Calandagan (IRE)

• Finished runner-up by a neck to City of Troy in the 2024 Coronation Cup – one of the year’s top Group 1 races and filled the same position last weekend.

Lake Victoria (IRE)

• Ireland’s top-rated 2YO filly in 2024 (rating 119); won Moyglare Stakes, Cheveley Park Stakes, and Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Dubai Honour (IRE)

• Globetrotter and multiple Group 1 winner, stable star for trainer William Haggas.

Lead Artist (GB)

• Classic form at three with wins in the Gr.3 Thoroughbred Stakes (Goodwood) and Darley Stakes (Newmarket), and stepped up to Group 1 success by taking the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May 2025. Leading chance in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot next week.

Porta Fortuna (IRE)

• Recorded four Group 1 victories in 2024: G1 Coronation Stakes (Ascot), G1 Falmouth Stakes (Newmarket), plus earlier Group wins (formerly won G3 Albany). Honoured as Cartier Champion 3-Year-Old Filly of 2024.

Henri Matisse (IRE)

• He’s unbeaten in five of seven career starts, including victories in the Superlative Stakes (Newmarket, juvenile Group 2), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar (2024) and recently the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas).

Jan Brueghel (IRE)

• Record of 6 starts: 5 wins (1 second), including the recently G1 Coronation Cup (Epsom, 2025) at Epsom, defeating Calandagan.

Other notable names on a global stage

These horses appear in the top five of the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, correct as of 8 June 2025:

Ka Ying Rising (NZ)

• Scored 13 wins and 2 seconds from 15 starts, amassing HK$50 million+ (~US$6.4 million).
• Clinched the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1) in April and still boasts an ongoing winning streak this season, earning comparisons to Usain Bolt.

Romantic Warrior (IRE)

• Hong Kong Horse of the Year, with multiple G1 victories, including the Yasuda Kinen and Jebel Hatta.

Via Sistina (IRE)

• A highly-rated mare (rating ~124), boasting nine Group 1 wins, including seven in Australia, having previously been trained in Britain.
• Career stats: ~57% win and place rate across 24 starts, with earnings nearing US$13 million.

Forever Young (JPN)

• Undefeated in five Japanese starts (2023–24), totaling over ¥254 million (~US$1.7 million).
• Won the Saudi Derby and placed third in the Dubai World Cup; still highly ranked in the WBR international ratings.

Voyage Bubble (AUS)

• A six-year-old Hong Kong Triple Crown winner—just the second in history—after capturing the Champions & Chater Cup (G1) in May
• Now has 11 wins from 24 starts, earning nearly HK$100 million (~US$13 million) .