Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of JRA World Racing
Japan
Equinox crushes rivals in Japan Cup
The world’s top-rated racehorse, Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), produced arguably the greatest victory of his glittering career on Sunday, crushing his rivals in the G1 Japan Cup in Tokyo.
Equinox prevailed by 4l, with star filly Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) - a daughter of the dual Australian Group 1 heroine Yankee Rose (All American) - second, and Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) third.
It was a sixth Group 1 win on the bounce for the son of the 2016 Japan Cup hero and Equinox the first horse to break through the ¥2 billion (AU$20.3 million) mark in career earnings.
Equinox’s triumph was the third in six years for Silk Racing, following Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in 2018 and 2020, and fourth for jockey Christophe Lemaire - he piloted Vodka (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}) in 2009, as well as Almond Eye.
“As a professional jockey for many years, I work hard to ride for perfection, so today (Sunday) was special. Horse racing fans and lovers were able to see something very special,” Lemaire said.
“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.
“I felt very privileged to be in the saddle of such a fantastic horse.”
Christophe Lemaire and Equinox (Jpn) | Image courtesy of JRA World Racing
Japan’s reigning Horse of the Year, now a winner of eight of 10 starts, is trained by Tesuya Kemura.
“With Equinox extending his Group 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 said.
Bred by Northern Farm, Equinox is from the Group 3 victress Chateau Blanche (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}). She has thrown four foals (all are winners), including the Group 3 victor Weiss Meteor (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).
Equinox’s second dam, Blancherie (Jpn) (Tony Bin {Ire}), was a two-time winner in Japan and she is a half-sister to the 13-time winner and Listed placegetter Osumi Schnell (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}).
Sottsass’ brother simply superb
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) - a brother to the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass (Fr) - remains unbeaten (two from two), after he won the G3 Kyoto Nisai S. at Kyoto on Saturday.
Shin Emperor, a €2.1 million (AU$3.5 million) Arqana August purchase, is the 74th stakes winner and 40th Group winner for his sire, who stands under the Aga Khan Studs’ banner at Haras de Bonneval.
The colt is out of the grand producer Starlet’s Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) - the dam of the stakes winners Sottsass, the Eclipse champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and the Group and Grade 3 winner My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}).
Meanwhile, Big Arthur (Jpn) mare Toshin Macau (Jpn) showed her rivals a clean pair of heels in the G3 Keihan Hai at Kyoto. The Mizuki Takayanagi-trained galloper scored by 2l under Akira Sugawara.
Toshin Macau is a half-sister to the seven-time winner and Listed scorer Besten Dank (Jpn) (Taiki Shuttle {Jpn}).
Hong Kong
Deep Field continues to deliver
A James McDonald special helped The Golden Scenery (Deep Field) to an impressive win in Sunday’s C1 Chevalier Cup at Sha Tin.
It was the son of Deep Field’s second win this term and fifth overall in Hong Kong.
The Tony Cruz-trained The Golden Scenery was bred by Joe Rapisarda and won two of three starts in Queensland as Dominant King before being purchased.
He was offered by his breeder at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale (Book 2). He made $4000, with St Kevins Stud buying
The gelding is from the winning Real Saga mare Saga’s Gift.
Deep Field sits atop the 2023/24 Hong Kong Sires’ table with HK$21,871,850 (AU$4.27 million) in prizemoney.
