breednet.com.au

Equinox in a Class of His Own in Japan Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday November 26

Equinox (JPN) showed why he is rated the world’s best racehorse with an unforgettable performance in the 43rd running of the A$11,000,000 Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo on Sunday.

Advertisement

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire for Tetsuya Kimura, Equinox (JPN) travelled in an unhurried third place as Panthalassa (JPN) led by up to 12-lengths in the middle stages. When Panthalassa was running on empty at the 200m, Equinox (JPN) swept to the lead and it was a matter of how far.

Equinox (image SI)

Yuga Kawada on the 3-year-old Duramente x Yankee Rose filly Liberty Island (JPN) tracked the favourite the whole way but could make no impression over the final two furlongs to be beaten four lengths into second.

The ill-fated Duramente is also the sire of Willian Buick’s mount Stars On Earth, the 2022 Oaks heroine, who was a length astern of Liberty Island.

A sleek black 4-year-old son of the 2016 Japan Cup winner Kitasan Black, Equinox made it six consecutive Group 1’s, in a career of eight wins and two seconds in ten starts.

A son of Deep Impact’s brother Black Tide, Kitasan Black will be the highest-priced stallion on the Shadai Stallion Station roster in 2024 at ¥20 million (approximately $200,000).

He covered 242 mares in the spring, having served 178 in 2022.

A half-brother to the Group III winner Weiss Meteor (King Kamehameha), Equinox is the best of four winners from as many to race for the Group III winning King Halo mare Chateau Blanche, who has a 2yo Kizuna filly called Garza Blanca and a yearling sister to Equinox. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Tempted Eyes G1 Surround Stakes After Eskimo Prince Victory
Having clearly come back in outstanding form, Ciaron Maher’s G2-winning, G1 placed Street Boss filly Tempted justified her short odds with an emphatic victory in the G3 ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), setting herself up nicely for the G1 ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28.
Stakes Goals for Expensive Exceed and Excel Colt
Hot favourite Equinox dominated his age-group rivals despite testing track conditions in the Lowe Schollum Jones 3YO (1215m) at Rotorua on Saturday.
$300,000 for Zousain Half-Brother to Private Harry
Southern Highlands based farm Rheinwood Pastoral have produced and sold two Group I winners in the past 12 months in Libertad and Private Harry, whose half-brother by Zousain sold at Inglis Classic on Sunday for $300,000.
Sires With Winners - Saturday February 7
Here is the full list of 95 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$260,000 Sword of State Colt an Early Classic Highlight
Fresh from topping the Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale with a colt from Las Brisas (GB) that sold for $1.1million, Cambridge Stud based Sword of State was also in demand at Inglis Classic where his only colt to be offered at this sale sold for $260,000 on Sunday.
Lucky Vega 3YO Wins $350,000 Karapiro Classic
Progressive three-year-old That’s Gold never left the inside rail as he stormed home to collect his richest career win in the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Christophe Lemaire In Awe Of Record Setting Equinox
After beginning his year in May with a romp in the Group 1 Sheema Classic, Equinox (JPN) added the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin three months later. The world’s highest-rated racehorse kept his record perfect for the year when defending his crown in Sunday’s G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo.
Pedigree Watch – 2YO Up and Comer Stars
There were four stakes races run for juveniles on Saturday as we move towards the G1 Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond Stakes and all of them were won by first time stakes-winners so let’s take a look at the pedigrees.
Return To Form For Tom Kitten – Takes Out Kevin Heffernan Stakes
Having not won since defeating Mr Brightside in the G1 All-Star Mile in March last year, a drop in class has seen a return to form for Harry Angel (IRE) gelding Tom Kitten, winning the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Inglis Millennium - Fireball, Profitabelle, Where's the Circus - All Rewarded!
Unbeaten Easter colt Fireball (Snitzel) surged into equal third favourite for the G1 Golden Slipper with a powerful victory in the $2m Inglis Millennium at Randwick, while Profitabelle picked up the lucrative Pink Bonus and fairytale $1250 purchase Where's the Circus was given Best Turned Out.