Buoyed by big performances on the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets card June 5 at Belmont Park, both Domestic Spending and Essential Quality improved their position in the new edition of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The new rankings released June 10 include races from Jan. 1, 2021 through June 6, 2021.

Domestic Spending (Eclipse Sportswire)

Domestic Spending with a 122 rating joins Mishriff, winner of the Saudi Cup and the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines, as well as Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline victor Mystic Guide in third position after winning the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths June 5 at Belmont Park.

A 4-year-old Kingman gelding, Domestic Spending won his first start of the year came in May when he finished in a dead-heat with Colonel Liam for first in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes.

Palace Pier currently rates atop the rankings. Following his performance in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, Palace Pier jumped to first in the fourth edition of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with a rating of 125.

With his 1 ½-length victory in the Lockinge, Palace Pier improved his rating four points from 121 and is now 2-for-2 in 2021. He came into the race off of his winning season debut in the bet365 Mile, which he won by eight lengths. Palace Pier is expected to race next in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Australia-based Nature Strip, winner of the Group 1 Heineken T J Smith Stakes April 10, is second in the rankings with a 123 rating.

Another racehorse who improved his position June 5 at Belmont Park was Essential Quality, who earned a 121 rating for his 1 ¼-length victory in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. Essential Quality is part of a six-way tie for the sixth position in the rankings.