In possible farewell, world no. 1 Equinox cruises in Japan Cup
In what may have been the last race of his brilliant career, world no. 1 Equinox chased a torrid pace, stormed to the front in mid-stretch and ran on to a four-length triumph Sunday in the 43rd running of the Grade 1, $6.4 million Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse.
The victory was the sixth in a row, all in Grade 1 races, for the 4-year-old colt sired by Kitasan Black. With a record of 11: 9-2-0 and Sunday’s $3.3 million first-place prize, Equinox ran his career earnings to $11.4 million based on the current rate of exchange.
Owned by Silk Racing and trained by Tetsuya Kimura, Equinox (1-4 in North America, 3-10 in Japan) raced mostly by himself in third place under jockey Christophe Lemaire. All the while he conceded as many as 15 lengths to early pacesetter Panthalassa (34-1, 45-1) and a third as much ground to Titleholder (31-1, 18-1) through the first mile of the turf race that covered 2,400 meters, 15 yards short of 1 1/2 miles.
There was no change in the top seven as the field of 18 turned for home. While Panthalassa’s stride shortened in his run along the rail, Equinox made his charge in the two path and surged to an easy lead with 250 yards to go. Even after Lemaire geared him down, Equinox continued to widen the margin between him and 3-year-old filly Liberty Island (7-2), who broke from the rail and moved forward from fourth to finish second.
Stars on Earth (18-1, 25-1), a 4-year-old filly who started from post 17, ran in stride with Liberty Island for most of the race before she finished third, five lengths behind Equinox. Do Deuce (24-1, 12-1), a 4-year-old colt, was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth. Titleholder, a 5-year-old horse, settled for fifth, two more lengths behind. Panthalassa, a 6-year-old horse, retreated to finish 12th.
The winning time was 2:21.8 without a run-up on a left-turning course rated good to firm. It was the fastest Japan Cup since Almond Eye’s record 2:20.6 in 2018. Early fractions for Sunday’s race were 24.0, 46.5, 1:09.1, 1:33.2 and 1:57.7. The splits came every 400 meters, 2 1/2 yards short of a quarter-mile.
Bred at Northern Farm in Japan, Equinox has fashioned a Grade 1 winning streak that includes last year’s autumn Tenno Sho and Arima Kinen and this year’s Dubai Sheema Classic, Takarazuka Kinen, autumn Tenno Sho and Japan Cup.
Equinox has been the world’s top-ranked horse since April, according to worldwide track handicappers polled by the International Federation of Racehorse Authorities.