Roger Varian expresses concerns for British racing as Japan dominates World’s Best Racehorse awards

He achieved it in winning the Japan Cup, which was named the world’s greatest race for the first time. His presence also helped elevate four Japanese Grade 1s into the top ten. The Takarazuka Kinen ranked fifth, the Tenno Sho and the Arima Kinen tied for sixth, and the Irish Champion Stakes also ranked eighth. In terms of the overall number of horses in the list, Japan overtook Britain to be second to the US with 57 horses, an increase from the previous year’s 48 horses.