Japan: World no. 1 Equinox races in Breeders’ Cup qualifier

Equinox, the top-rated racehorse in the world, headlines the field of 17 runners for Sunday’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin, Japan. The race is scheduled to start Sunday at 2:40 a.m. EDT, which is Saturday at 11:40 p.m. PDT.

The winner will receive an automatic starting position into the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Trained by Tetsuya Kimura and owned by Silk Racing, Equinox ascended to the top of the world rankings with three consecutive Grade 1 victories. After winning the Tenno Sho at Tokyo and the Arima Kinen at Nakayama to close out 2022, the son of the Japan-bred Kitasan Black produced a front-running tour de force March 25 in the 1 1/2-mile Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, winning by 3 1/2 lengths in course-record time. The victory improved his record to five wins in seven starts and vaulted him to the top rating of 129 by the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities.

Among the challengers expected to face Equinox in the 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen is 4-year-old Justin Palace, a long-distance specialist who comes into the race off a 2 1/2-length win April 30 over Deep Bond in the two-mile Tenno Sho (G1) at Kyoto. That was his fifth win in 10 starts. Trained by Haruki Sugiyama, the son of Deep Impact also has a win over the course this year, taking the March 19 Hanshin Daishoten (G2) at 1 7/8 miles.

Also expected for the race is the 5-year-old mare Geraldina, a six-time winner who also has a Group 1 victory over the course. Trained by Takashi Saito, the daughter of Maurice captured last November’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Hanshin. She started next in the Arima Kinen where she mounted a late drive in the lane to finish third, four lengths behind Equinox. Geraldina will look to improve upon two sixth-place finishes at 1 1/4 miles this year in the Osaka Hai (G1) on April 2 at Hanshin and in the April 30 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

The 6-year-old Vela Azul reached his career zenith last year when he captured the Japan Cup (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse by three-quarters of a length for trainer Kunihiko Wantanabe. But the son of Eishin Flash could not maintain that form in the Arima Kinen, where he finished 10th. He looks to rebound off a 13th-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 25 at Meydan, his only race of 2023 thus far.

Another horse looking for his first win of the season is Ask Victor More. A 4-year-old son of Deep Impact, Ask Victor More won last October’s Kikuka Sho (G1) at Hanshin for trainer Yasuhito Tamura. In his two starts this year, Ask Victor More finished ninth in the Nikkei Sho (G1) at Nakayama and 11th last time out in Tenno Sho.