Following the exciting Breeders’ Cup, top honors in the NTRA Thoroughbred Poll have shifted as Sovereignty asserts dominance on the eve of year-end awards. The international scene saw Japan’s Panja Tower deliver a solid performance in the Golden Eagle in Australia, while historic headlines were made in the Melbourne Cup with a long-awaited barrier broken. In the sales ring, graded stakes mare Sabatini brought a lucrative price at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, and emerging juveniles are turning heads on the track. North American race results continue to spotlight breakout stars and foundational shifts in the rankings as the calendar moves into its final months.
NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll: Sovereignty Climbs to No. 1
Sovereignty has claimed the top spot in the final NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll of 2025, reshaping the leaderboard after the Breeders’ Cup. The three-year-old colt boasts a standout record this season and leads a top ten loaded with fierce competition. Forever Young and Sierra Leone also enter the conversation heading into Horse of the Year debates. The updated top 10 are:
| Rank | Horse | Age/Sex | 2025 Stats | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereignty | 3-Colt | 6-5-1-0 | 272 |
| 2 | Forever Young | 4-Colt | 4-3-0-1 | 236 |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 4-Colt | 5-1-3-1 | 217 |
| 4 | Fierceness | 4-Colt | 5-2-1-1 | 154 |
| 5 | Nysos | 4-Colt | 4-3-1-0 | 136 |
| 6 | Journalism | 3-Colt | 8-4-3-0 | 101 |
| 7 | Ted Noffey | 2-Colt | 4-4-0-0 | 59 |
| 8 | Book’em Danno | 4-Gelding | 5-4-0-0 | 58 |
| 9 | Rebel’s Romance | 7-Gelding | 8-5-1-1 | 51 |
| 10 | Bentornato | 4-Ridgling | 2-2-0-0 | 50 |
International Highlights: Japan’s Panja Tower Fifth in Golden Eagle
Panja Tower, Japanese NHK Mile Cup champion, represented his native country in Australia’s Golden Eagle, finishing a respectable fifth after being hampered early and battling on soft ground. His journey underscored Japan’s growing global ambitions, although the result came up just short of the podium in the A$10-million feature.
Breeders’ Cup Fallout and New Stars
The racing world continues to digest the Breeders’ Cup results, with the ramifications hitting both poll rankings and sales activity. Several horses have propelled themselves into year-end awards contention with stellar fall campaigns, and industry attention now shifts to winter prep races and the next generation of stars emerging from signature meets.
Jamie Melham Makes History in Melbourne Cup
Jamie Melham has become only the second woman in history to win the prestigious Melbourne Cup as a jockey, a breakthrough moment for representation at the highest level of international races.
Sales Ring: Sabatini Commands $1.35 Million at Fasig-Tipton
The high-profile Fasig-Tipton November sale saw Sabatini, a Florida-bred graded stakes winner, fetch $1.35 million while in foal, highlighting continued strong demand for proven broodmare prospects.
Rising Juvenile: Remember Mamba is a ‘TDN Rising Star’
Two-year-old Remember Mamba turned heads at Keeneland, rocketing from a promising debut to ‘Rising Star’ status. Racing in the CRK Stable silks, the colt showcased professionalism well beyond his experience as he powered clear in the stretch.
North American and International Race Results
- Stakes races across the continent continue to produce standout efforts from top prospects and seasoned campaigners, with replay action and results offering fans and connections insights into upcoming championship season threats.
- UK racing today featured competitive cards at Southwell and Wolverhampton, emphasizing the global scope and depth of Thoroughbred racing action.
