Variety Club ends his career the joint 3rd best.

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Just A Way honoured as the 2014 Longines World’s Best Racehorse


London (UK) / Saint-Imier (Switzerland), 20 January 2015 - Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) rewarded the performance of the greatest racehorses of 2014 on 20 January 2015 in London, at the iconic hotel Claridge’s. Rated 130, the Japanese racehorse Just A Way secured first position and was crowned as the 2014 Longines World’s Best Racehorse. Fellow Japanese runner Epiphaneia, victor of The Japan Cup in association with Longines 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 trainee Australia and two-time South African Horse of the Year Variety Club. The owners of the winning horses were presented with elegant Longines watches from the Conquest Classic collection, a line of refined timepieces dedicated to the equestrian world.

As the Official Partner and Watch of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, Longines is proud to have presented the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Ceremony for the second year, following the inaugural event held in December 2013 during the gala dinner of the Longines Hong Kong International Races. Hosted at the iconic hotel Claridge’s in London (United Kingdom), the ceremony honoured the top highest rated horses in the 2014 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. The event was also co-organized with the British Horseracing Authority.

Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and Head of International Marketing of Longines:
“Longines is proud to have presented the second ceremony of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse together with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. This year’s Longines World’s Best Racehorse, Just A Way, is a fitting recipient, and his victories on the racecourse showcase performance at the highest level, a value equally shared by Longines and horseracing.”

Mr. Louis Romanet, IFHA Chairman:

“The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are the global standard that the international racing community turns to when assessing performance. 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.”

The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in elite races. This year, Japan’s Just A Way, who led the rankings for the majority of 2014 on the strength of his dominant triumph in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, was rated 130 and declared the winner of the 2014 title. Following his brilliant victory in the Japan Cup in association with Longines, fellow Japanese runner Epiphaneia was rated 129 and secured the second place, while Hong Kong’s Able Friend, Great Britain’s Kingman and The Grey Gatsby, Irish trainee Australia and two-time South African Horse of the Year Variety Club were all rated 127 and shared third position.

The owners of the winning horses were all presented with elegant Longines watches from the Conquest Classic collection as well as frames by Mr. Capelli and Mr. Romanet.

Mr. Akatsuki Yamatoya, owner of Just A Way, received the trophy, a chronograph in rose gold fitted with an exclusive column-wheel caliber, and a replica of the vase of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse.

The Conquest Classic collection is dedicated to Longines’ passion for equestrian sports. True to the brand’s values of elegance, tradition and performance, this collection of models, all fitted with self-winding calibres, is at the same time totally contemporary and perfectly timeless.

The vase of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse is a crystal vase named Equus, on which the name of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse is engraved each year.

Passionate about horse racing since 1878, Longines is proud to be the Official Partner and Official Watch of IFHA, and to lend its name to the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. The long-term partnership between Longines and the IFHA has seen the establishment of a prestigious set of awards aimed to honour the excellence of horseracing. The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Award, the Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit, and the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award respectively pay tribute to the racehorses, personalities, and jockeys who excel at the highest level of the sport.


Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 140 countries.




For further information please contact:
Longines International Public Relations
2610 Saint-Imier, Switzerland
publicrelations@longines.com
www.longines.com

what is California Chrome rated?

So VC beats able friend pointless and is still rated below him?

11th I think Sly

"Never out of the first 2 in 10 career starts" - Say what now? :blink:

22 runs, 16 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, 1 fifth

Chris van Buuren wrote: So VC beats able friend pointless and is still rated below him?

Able Friend's best run was in Kong Kong Mile and VC's best run was in Champions Mile...rated equal 127...

Watched re-runs of some of these races.
Variety Club was even more awesome in HK than I remembered. Truly great horse and moment.

Timeform the punters bible and probably the best judge of a horse has VC very high also

1= Kingman John Gosden, GB 134
2= Australia Aidan O'Brien, Ireland 132
2= Epiphaneia Katsuhiko Sumii, Japan 132
2= Lankan Rupee Mick Price, Australia 132
5= Just A Way Naosuke Sugai, Japan 131
5= Palace Malice Todd A Pletcher, USA 131
5= Variety Club Mike de Kock, South Africa 131
8= Able Friend John Moore, Hong Kong 130
8= Designs On Rome John Moore, Hong Kong 130
8= Olympic Glory Richard Hannon, GB 130
8= Shared Belief Jerry Hollendorfer, USA 130
12= Cirrus des Aigles Corine Barande-Barbe, France 129
12= Goldencents Doug F O'Neil, USA 129
12= It’s A Dundeel Murray Baker, New Zealand 129
12= Military Attack Caspar Fownes, Hong Kong 129
12= Treve Criquette Head-Maarek, France 129
17 Free Eagle
Dermot Weld, Ireland 128p
18= Adelaide Aidan O'Brien, Ireland 128
18= African Story Saeed bin Suroor, UAE 128
18= Al Kazeem Roger Charlton, GB 128
18= Flintshire Andre Fabre, France 128
18= Groupie Doll William Bradley, USA 128
18= Noble Mission Lady Cecil, GB 128
18= Protectionist Andreas Wohler, Germany 128
18= Sole Power Edward Lynam, Ireland 128
18= Terravista Joseph Pride, Australia 128
18= The Fugue John Gosden, GB 128
18= The Grey Gatsby Kevin Ryan, GB 128
18= To The World Yasutoshi Ikee, Japan 128
30= Admire Rakti
Tooyuki Umeda, Japan 127
30= Bayern Bob Baffert, USA 127
30= California Chrome Art Sherman, USA 127
30= Charm Spirit Freddie Head, France 127
30= Chautauqua Michael & Wayne & John Hawkes, Australia 127
30= Dissident Peter Moody, Australia 127
30= Gold-Fun Richard Gibson, Hong Kong 127
30= Gold Ship Naosuke Sugai, Japan 127
30= Night of Thunder Richard Hannon, GB 127
30= Sacred Falls Chris Waller, Australia 127
30= Sea The Moon Markus Klug, Germany 127
30= Slade Power Edward Lynam, Ireland 127
30= Taghrooda John Gosden, GB 127
30= Telescope Sir Michael Stoute, GB 127
30= Toast of New York Jamie Osborne, GB 127
30= Toronado Richard Hannon, GB 127
30= Will Take Charge D. Wayne Lukas, USA 127
47= Akeed Mofeed Richard Gibson, Hong Kong 126
47= Boban Chris Waller, Australia 126
47= Dan Excel John Moore, Hong Kong 126
47= Game On Dude Bob Baffert, USA 126
47= G Force David O'Meara 127
47= Grand Prix Boss Yoshito Yahagi, Japan 126
47= Mukhadram William Haggas, GB 126
47= Ruler of The World
Aidan O'Brien, Ireland 126
47= Sterling City John Moore, Hong Kong 126
47= Wise Dan
Charles Lopresti, USA 126
For a list of No 1s by nation please click here.