Asia 4 Europe 3

If any more proof was required that Asia represents the bold and brazen new world of horse racing, Tuesday’s Longines World’s Best Racehorse ceremony in London provided some hard facts to back it up.

Asian racing has already become the envy of the world in many areas – massive interest, big prize money and huge turnover have been hallmarks, bucking trends in the sport’s traditional heartlands – but now the region is getting the horse flesh and the quality of races to match the glitz and glamour.

Of the seven horses to make it into the world’s top three – five  were tied for third – four were trained in Asia and three in Europe.

Just A Way and Epiphaneia represented Japan, Able Friend flew the Hong Kong flag, while Variety Club – technically a South African – was trained out of Mike De Kock’s Dubai base throughout his 2014 campaign.

Not only were they trained in Asia, but  the quartet also produced their best in Asia – Just A Way in the Dubai Duty Free, Epiphaneia in the Japan Cup, and Able Friend and Variety Club in Hong Kong’s top two mile races.

Finally, Asian-trained horses are getting the recognition they deserve on the world stage after being consistently underrated by those with the antiquated view that nothing can topple European horses from the summit.

Horses of the ilk of Deep Impact (127 in 2006) and Silent Witness (123 in 2004) were arguably underrated by the handicappers of the world, but slowly the tide is changing.

The title “world’s best racehorse” may be an aberration for Just A Way, but it’s hard to argue that he produced the performance of the year when he won the Dubai Duty Free by six lengths, knocking more than two seconds off the track record and leaving Group One performers like Vercingetorix, Dank, Mshawish, Logotype, Tokei Halo, Blazing Speed, The Fugue and Trade Storm in his wake.

And, in effect, that is what the Longines World’s Best Racehorse ceremony was about – celebrating individual performances, as opposed to consistency over the course of a year.

If it was about consistency, then the main contenders would be Coolmore’s dual Derby winner Australia, who ran to 127 twice in winning the Juddmonte International and finishing second to The Grey Gatsby in the Irish Champion Stakes, and America’s star three-year-olds Bayern and California Chrome.

Bayern ran to 125 three times, with his wins in the Haskell International, Pennsylvania Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, while California Chrome ran to 124 four times – in the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and when third to Bayern in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

However, for the most part – California Chrome did race on turf once – they stuck to their comfort zone. A horse like Just A Way arguably raced in just the one suitable contest for him this year, which he won convincingly.

What is most exciting, though, is there looks to be plenty more to come from the Asian powerhouse nations in 2015.

Just A Way may have been shipped off to stand at Shadai Stud, while Variety Club has returned to his native South Africa to stand at Klawervlei Stud.

It is a realistic hope, though, that we will see Asia’s other two stars proving their mettle on the world stage in the coming months.

Epiphaneia will attempt to break Japan’s long-standing Arc hoodoo in October, while Able Friend will be seen somewhere on the world stage – whether it is in Dubai in March, Sydney in April or, ideally, at Royal Ascot in June.

Here in Hong Kong, horses like Designs On Rome, Military Attack, Aerovelocity, Amber Sky, Sterling City, Dominant and Rich Tapestry are among those likely to represent the new world on the global stage in the coming months, while Japan’s list – as always – is extensive.

One thing is for sure – there is no underestimating Asia’s horses anymore.