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

London (UK) / Saint-Imier (Switzerland),5 February 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.