The Japan Racing Association will present its 2022 Horse of the Year title to 3-year-old colt Equinox, who secured 282 out of 288 votes for an outstanding year during which he dominated two prestigious Group 1 events—the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Arima Kinen—and achieved runner-up performances in both spring classics. The star colt was also selected Best 3-Year-Old Colt with 285 votes.
The annual JRA Awards, which recognize horses, trainers, jockeys and other individuals and organizations for their outstanding performances or achievements during the Thoroughbred racing season, will be presented on Jan. 30 (attendees limited to winning connections due to Covid).
Equinox was voted Horse of the Year and also was selected as Best 3-Year-Old Colt for his two outstanding Group 1 victories—the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Arima Kinen—as well as runner-up efforts in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). The colt is currently registered to run in either the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m) or the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) on March 25.
The son of Kitasan Black debuted in August of his 2-year-old season with an overwhelming six-length win and then claimed the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,800m) by a comfortable 2-1/2 lengths. In the Satsuki Sho, his third career start and also the first of his 3-year-old season, Equinox sat three-wide around seventh from the widest stall, gradually made headway to enter the stretch in third and fought his way to the lead around the 200-meter pole, but then was pinned by the eventual winner before the wire to finish second. In the Tokyo Yushun, the brown colt also broke from the outermost draw and, after unhurriedly traveling third from the rear, launched his bid at the 400-meter pole just behind the winner, but despite being the fastest over the last three furlongs, was a neck short of the winner at the wire.
A well-rested Equinox began his fall campaign with the Tenno Sho (Autumn), where he was sent off race favorite. The colt ran patiently in 10th, so when the pacesetter expanded his huge lead to 15 lengths by the third corner, Equinox was still near the rear of the field coming out of the last turn. It was from there that the favorite unleashed a spectacular drive down the straight, picking off rivals one by one and finally swooping past the tiring pacesetter in the final strides to notch a one-length victory.
As the race favorite in the year-end Arima Kinen, Equinox eased back to around ninth and traveled wide in good striking position to make headway turning the final corners. Once taking the lead entering the lane, he responded willingly to the jockey's urging with a strong burst of speed that timed the second fastest closing speed, easily holding off the rest of the field to win by a 2-1/2-length margin and become the Arima Kinen titleholder with the fewest career starts ever.
Liberty Island was the unanimous choice for Best 2-Year-Old Filly and more than 95 percent of the votes were earned each by Best 2-Year-Old Colt Dolce More, Best 3-Year-Old Filly Stars on Earth and Best Older Colt or Horse Titleholder.
Best Older Filly or Mare Geraldina, Best Dirt Horse Cafe Pharoah and Best Sprinter or Miler Serifos received 83 percent, 64 percent and 54 percent of the maximum votes, respectively.
Oju Chosan earned his fifth Best Steeplechase Horse title in outdueling Nakayama Daishogai winner Nishino Daisy by just one vote.
In Best Trainer Awards based on accomplishments in JRA races and designated NAR and overseas races, Yoshito Yahagi again dominated the same two categories he has won many times before, earning his fifth Best Trainer title for Races Won and fourth straight for Money Earned. Mitsumasa Nakauchida defended his Winning Average title, his fourth total, and Tetsuya Kimura earned his second title for Training Technique.
In Best Jockey Awards based on accomplishments in JRA races alone, Yuga Kawada swept the flat-racing titles for Races Won, Winning Average and Money Earned to become the fourth Grand Prize winner, following Christophe Lemaire in 2018.
Shinichi Ishigami captured his third Best Steeplechase Jockey title and Seina Imamura was named Best Jockey (Newcomer) with 51 JRA wins in her debut year, becoming the first female jockey to claim this JRA Award. Keita Tosaki won his fourth Most Valuable Jockey title, which is based on combined points for wins, earnings, winning average and rides in JRA races and designated races held by NAR or overseas.
The Equine Culture Award was presented to Asahi Broadcasting Nagano Co., Ltd. for its television series about Kiso horse culture in Japan's Kaida Kogen region, “Kiso Uma to Ikiru; Kaze Wataru Sato, Kaida Kogen.” The Equine Culture Award Special Award was presented jointly to NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), Express Sports Co. Ltd. and NHK Global Media Services, Inc. for their television program, “Happy People Make Happy Horses; Kazuo Fujisawa's Last 400 Days as Trainer.”
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