World no. 1 Equinox is retired to stud career in native Japan

Equinox, the world’s top-ranked active Thoroughbred who delivered an emphatic victory Sunday in the Grade 1 Japan Cup, was formally retired to begin a stud career in his native Japan, his owner said Thursday.

“From now on he will be breeding at Shadai Stallion Station,” Silk Horse Club said in a statement posted on its website and translated from Japanese. “It is hoped he will recover quickly from the rigors of his memorable and record-breaking race.”

Video: Experience thrill of Equinox’s Japan Cup stretch run.

Retirement was widely expected even before the Japan Cup, and it seemed to be tipped when trainer Tetsuya Kimura and jockey Christophe Lemaire were reduced to tears shortly after Sunday’s victory.

Kimura said in Thursday’s statement that Equinox, a son of champion Kitasan Black, had not been certain to race in the Japan Cup after setting a track-record time Oct. 29 in winning the autumn Tenno Sho. He said it took a trip to the pasture of Northern Farm to rejuvenate the 4-year-old colt.

“We ran a series of workouts with the main theme of getting back to basics, and I felt Equinox was back to normal with his work,” Kimura said. “I was happy we were able to complete the final workouts without any major problems.”

Equinox punctuated his career by rallying in the stretch to take the lead in the final 250 yards of Sunday’s 1 1/2-mile turf race. Wrapped up by Lemaire in the final 100 yards, Equinox won by four lengths for a record-tying sixth consecutive Japan Grade 1 victory.

“Everything from the shape of his hooves to his frame is perfectly balanced,” Kimura said after the race. “I think the added softness of his natural muscles is what allows him to have such great footwork. The stable has been focusing on improving that balance, and I am happy that we were able to achieve these results by successfully passing the baton to (Lemaire).

“I am really impressed. I felt that the horse has grown even more this fall, and I am especially happy that he was able to achieve his best result (Sunday) as the champion horse in a field of strong triple-crown mares with a weight advantage.”

There was no stallion fee announced for Equinox, who finished his career with earnings of more than 2 billion yen. Where that would be a world record if measured in Japan currency, changes in the exchange rate through the years actually put Equinox at $15 million in U.S. currency, ranking him 14th.

Since April, Equinox has been ranked by track handicappers from around the world as the top Thoroughbred in training, according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

In his tribute on the social-media platform X, Lemaire conveyed his interpretation of a conversation with Equinox with the colt telling him, “Keep safe, guys. I did my time.” To which Lemaire responded, “You reached the top, partner. Retirement well-deserved. Enjoy, and thank you.”