FOUR of the nine top-rated thoroughbreds in the world are Irish-bred but none of the nine horses at the top of the latest World Thoroughbred Rankings are trained in Ireland.

The latest rankings published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities has Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising clear at the top with a rating of 130.

Next on 126 comes fellow Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior, this year’s 2000 Guineas winner Bow Echo and last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Daryz.

Notable Speech, Nysos and Ombudsman are all currently ranked co-fifth on 125. Notable Speech joins the 2026 rankings off of his two-length victory over More Thunder (120) in the Lockinge Stakes, while Nysos and Ombudsman have both improved their ratings.

Nysos was elevated to 125 from 121 following his four-length score in the Metropolitan Handicap. He had previously finished second to Forever Young (123) in the Saudi Cup. Ombudsman improved his rating to 125 from 120 with his win in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Earlier this season, he won the Dubai Turf.

Meanwhile, in his first start of the season, Almaqam earned a rating of 122 when defeating Bay City Roller (122) by two lengths in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Bay City Roller went on to win the Coronation Cup by 10 lengths last Saturday.

Kalpana (120) also made her first start of the year a winning one by taking the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury.

Other newcomers to this year’s rankings include stable companions Englishman (120) and Golden Tempo (120). At Saratoga last Saturday, Englishman won the Woody Stephens Stakes, while Golden Tempo followed up his Kentucky Derby victory with a win in the Belmont Stakes.

The top-rated Irish-trained horse is Gstaad, whose official mark of 120 puts him joint 20th alongside that American pair.