Leading British jockey Ryan Moore failed to win the 2014 Japan Cup on Gentildonna, but was still able to clinch the 2014 World’s Best Jockey Award.

Ryan Moore’s victory on Protectionist in the Melbourne Cup sent him to the lead in the 2014 World’s Best Jockey Award. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

The World’s Best Jockey Award is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 events right around the world and the consistent efforts of Moore across seven different countries saw him finish with 94 points.

Leading Belgian hoop Christophe Soumillon received the maximum 12 points for steering Epiphaneia to victory in the Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m) in Tokyo on Saturday, but still finished six points shy of Moore in second place, while Coolmore stable jockey Joseph O’Brien finished in third position with 72 points.

Moore got on the World’s Best Jockey Award scoreboard with third place finishes in the Arima Kinen in Japan on December 22 last year and the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan on March 29 before he received maximum points for winning the Dubai Sheema Classic on Gentildonna.

He finished second on Tullius in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 17 before he took out the Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly on June 1 and accumulated more points with second place finishes in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Moore recorded his second Group 1 victory over the year on The Great Gatsby in the Irish Champion Stakes art Leopardstown on September 13 and he secured the World’s Best Jockey Award with his memorable wins on Adelaide in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 and Protectionist the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4.

The leading Australian jockey on the World’s Best Jockey Award standings was Hong Kong-based Zac Purton, who finished on 58 points following his wins on Dominant in the Hong Kong Vase (2400m), Sacred Falls in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) and George Main Stakes (1600m) and Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Damien Oliver was the leading Australian-based jockey with 48 points, while Tommy Berry (equal eighth with 42 points) Michael Rodd (equal eighth with 42 points), James McDonald (14^th with 36 points), Craig Newitt (23^rd with 32 points), Nash Rawiller (24^th with 30 points), Glen Boss (equal 28^th with 28 points), Kerrin McEvoy (equal 28^th with 28 points) and Luke Nolen (equal 28^th with 28 points) all finished in the top thirty.