Equinox was a class above in this year's $8,282,443 Japan Cup (G1), easily beating a stellar field that included eight Grade 1 winners from Japan and abroad on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse.
Billed as a showdown between the 4-year-old Kitasan Black colt, who is currently the World Best Racehorse with a 129 rating, and this year's Triple Tiara victor Liberty Island, Equinox prevailed while extending his Grade 1-winning streak to six while becoming the third horse in Japan Racing Association history to do so following T. M. Opera O (2000- 2001) and Lord Kanaola (2012-2013).
Following the footsteps of sire Kitasan Black, who won the 2016 Japan Cup, Equinox has marked a milestone with his Japan Cup triumph in becoming the first horse ever to exceed 2-billion yen in earnings (JPY 2,215,446,100).
The full field of 18 started in front of the packed stands and, as expected, Panthalassa rushed to the front, setting a rapid pace that timed :57.6 in the first 1,000 meters (about five furlongs), widening an unmeasurable lead in the backstretch while three-time Group 1 winner Titleholder followed in second and Equinox, under Christophe Lemaire, a length back in third.
By the last corner, Panthalassa had gradually squandered his huge lead but was still about 100 meters ahead of the others in early stretch when hot favorite Equinox unleashed his signature stretch drive. Equinox easily caught Titleholder a half mile out and then siezed the lead from the used-up pacesetter just before the 200-meter marker and cruised to a scintillating four-length victory.
Time for the 12-furlong (about 1 1/2-mile) race was 2:21.8 on turf rated as good to firm.
Liberty Island was second, a length in front of third-place finisher Stars on Earth in the 18-horse field.
Liberty Island took a ground-saving trip behind the eventual winner in fourth early. Although unable to match the speed of the winner, the second pick did not disappoint, displaying her good turn of foot and pinned Titleholder 250 meters out then Panthalassa 150 meters to the wire for the runner-up spot.
Fifth choice and 2022 Best Three-Year-Old Filly Stars on Earth was settled behind Equinox and right next to Liberty Island most of the way. After entering the stretch side by side, the two fillies rallied briefly in early stretch, but while unable to keep up with the eventual runner-up, Stars on Earth closed tenaciously for third while holding off a late charge by Do Deuce.
French raider Iresine was a touch late out of the gate, traveled on the rails in midpack and showed effort in the stretch but lacked the needed kick, unable to reach contention, to finish ninth
“Equinox was able to come into the race in good condition,” trainer Tetsuya Kimura said of the winner, who is campaigned by Silk Racing Co. Ltd. “He was aggressive from the start and was relaxed during the race despite the fast pace of the front-runner. With Equinox extending his Grade 1-winning streak for over a year, the pressure was so great before the Japan Cup that I felt relieved when he won the race.
“He is a very well-balanced horse—shape of his hooves, bone structure, and firm muscle—everything is perfectly balanced. It's a miraculous combination. So, we try to maintain this balance when we train him.”
Lemaire said he, too, was relieved as well as happy with the victory.
“Many emotions came to my mind because it was an unbelievable race,” Lemaire said. “Horseracing fans and lovers were able to see something very special. He is a top horse and can adapt to any kind of race or surface. When we came back in front of the huge happy crowd who witnessed the race, I became very emotional. As a professional jockey for many years, I work hard to ride to perfection, so today was very special. Equinox is easy to ride—he knows his job very well and he doesn't use too much energy—so riding a horse like him is a pleasure and I felt very privileged to be in the saddle of such a fantastic horse.”
Lemaire is now tied with Yutaka Take in landing four Japan Cup victories, including with Vodka in 2009 and Almond Eye in 2018 and 2020),more than any other jockey so far.
Bred by Northern Farm, Equinox is out of the King Halo mare Chateau Blanche.
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