Just a Way Named World's Best Racehorse
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With a top rating of 130, Japan-based Just a Way was crowned the 2014 Longines World's Best Racehorse during ceremonies in London Jan. 20.
Akatsuki Yamatoya's Just a Way, a son of Heart's Cry, led the rankings for the majority of 2014 on the strength of his dominant 6 1/4-length triumph over Vercingetorix and Dank in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) March 29 at Meydan. He also won the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-I) in June at Tokyo in his subsequent start.
Fellow Japanese runner Epiphaneia, winner of the Japan Cup (Jpn-I), was rated second at 129.
A unique group of horses were rated 127 and placed equal third; Hong Kong's Able Friend, Great Britain's Kingman and The Grey Gatsby, Irish-trained Australia, and two-time South African Horse of the Year Variety Club.
France-based Treve, repeat winner of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), was rated 126 for the year while Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Bayern, the only U.S.-based runner in the top 10, and 11-length Idee Deutsches Derby (German Derby, Ger-I) winner Sea The Moon were both rated at 125.
"The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings are the global standard that the international racing community turns to when assessing performance," said Louis Romanet, chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. "The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings committee skillfully debate and decide on ratings. It's fitting that their hard work and the accomplishments of the top racehorses are on display at the Longines World's Best Racehorse ceremony."