Spring

As in the previous season Ghaiyyath spent the winter of 2019/20 in Dubai and began his campaign on 20 February when he started 4/9 favourite for the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes (a race named after his grandsire) over 2000 metres at Meydan Racecourse, with the best of his six opponents looking to be Spotify (winner of the race in 2019) and Desert Encounter (Canadian International Stakes). Ghaiyyath led from the start and won "easily" by eight and a half lengths in a track record time of 2:00.33.^[18] Appleby commented I'm delighted. We've all seen what this horse can do, especially coming up his first start, there... The plan was to just let him float into the race from his outside post and once he was on the lead, we would let him roll along. We've seen on numerous occasions what he can do when he's left to his own devices like that."^[19] Ghaiyyath was scheduled to contest the Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup Night in March but the meeting was abandoned owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Summer

The flat racing season in Europe was rearranged in response to the COVID outbreak and the Group 1 Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup was run over one and a half miles at Newmarket (rather than Epsom) on 5 June. With Buick in the saddle Ghaiyyath started the 11/10 favourite in a seven runner field which also included Stradivarius, Anthony Van Dyck, Defoe and Desert Encounter. Ghaiyyath went to the front from the start, opened up a clear advantage by half way and was never seriously challenged, coming home two and a half lengths clear of Anthony Van Dyck.^[20] The winning time of 2:25.89 was a new course record. Appleby commented "He was on it from flagfall but I could see he was in a rhythm we'd seen before. His mid-race move just kills them and it's great for him to get his first British Group 1 win. We had a lot of confidence that we had him in a condition that we haven't seen before. His strength is there and the way he was finishing off his gallops suggested he was the finished article."^[21]

On 5 July at Sandown Park Ghaiyyath was dropped back in distance and started 9/4 second favourite behind Enable for the ten furlong Eclipse Stakes. The other five contenders were Japan, Deirdre, Magic Wand (Mackinnon Stakes), Regal Reality (Brigadier Gerard Stakes) and Bangkok. Ghaiyyath led from the start as usual, accelerated three furlongs out and won "comfortably" by two and a quarter lengths and a head from Enable and Japan.^[22] After the race William Buick said "He's got a huge cruising speed and he knows how to use it. He's a joy to ride and a very, very good horse. As a five-year-old he's mature physically and mentally... I think a mile and a quarter will be his optimum trip... Sometimes when you ride him over a mile and a half you're always worried the last furlong is going to be a long one, but he keeps going."^[23] Shortly after the race Ghaiyyath was rated the best horse in the world in the interim edition of the World Rankings.^[24]

Ghaiyyath returned for the International Stakes over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse on 15 August and went off the 11/8 favourite against four opponents namely Magical, Lord North, Kameko and Rose of Kildare (Musidora Stakes). He established a clear lead soon after the start and was never seriously challenged, winning by three lengths from Magical despite being eased down in the closing stages.^[25] Buick commented "He has this amazing high cruising speed, but I thought what was evident today was the kick he had a furlong and a half out. He completely put the race to bed, finished it off, and stamped his authority. He can do things that other horses don't do. He gives you confidence. His comfort zone is different to other horses... He's the best I've ridden, without a doubt".^[26]

Autumn

On 12 September at Leopardstown Racecourse Ghaiyyath went off the 8/13 favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes over ten furlongs. He led from the start as usual but was overtaken by Magical a furlong from the finish and beaten three quarters of a length into second place.^[27] Buick offered no excuses and said that the horse "was in the same rhythm as usual."^[28]

Ghaiyyath was aiming for the 2020 Breeders' Cup, but in preparation for the race, after a piece of routine work, he showed signs of soreness behind. After veterinary investigation, the decision to retire him was announced on 19 October. Appleby commented "Ghaiyyath has had a fantastic career... His high-class cruising speed and relentless style of galloping was a joy to watch and as I have said before, this year he came together both physically and mentally and looked the finished article. It is obviously disappointing not to be taking him to the Breeders' Cup but the exertions of a long season, which started in Dubai in January, were starting to show."^[29]

On 19 November Ghaiyyath was named Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse at the Cartier Racing Awards.^[30] In the 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Ghaiyyath was rated the best racehorse in the world, four pounds clear of the American colt Authentic.^[31] Timeform rated him at a 133, making Ghiayyath the highest rated horse in Europe and the world.^[32]