Equinox (Jpn)

Urban Chic Claims Last of the 3YO Classics With Stylish Kikuka Sho Result

Keeping in line with his family's long-standing history with the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), Urban Chic (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) posted an emphatic result in the final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown on Sunday in Kyoto. Entering this race off claiming his first group title in the G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen on September 16, a trial race for the Kikuka Sho, Urban Chic was one of three to come from that contest, the others being Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn) (Al Ain {Jpn}) and Ecoro Walz (Jpn)...

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Equinox Announced as One of the Busiest Stallions at Shadai in 2024

Equinox (Jpn), who was crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse in 2023, covered 203 mares in his first season at Shadai Stallion Station in 2024, the stud has announced. Beaten just twice in 10 career starts, Equinox broke new ground when he retired to Shadai as his introductory fee of ¥20 million (around €124,000) was a record high for a first-season stallion in Japan. He shared top billing on the Hokkaido roster with his own sire, Kitasan Black (Jpn), who also stood at a fee of ¥20 million when covering 191...

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HH Sheikh Mohammed Racing Excellency Award Winners Revealed

 The winners of the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Racing Excellence Awards, with Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) named the Best Horse Award winner, were announced during the Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. The award winners are selected on criteria designated by the Dubai Racing Club (DRC), overseen by the Trustee's Committee. The public selects the People's Choice Award. The full list of winners are as follows: Best Horse: Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) Best Jockey: Ryan Moore Best Trainer: Aidan O'Brien...

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Equinox Repeats As Japanese Horse Of The Year

Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), the Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2023, has been named the Japanese Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year, the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) Award Winner Selection Committee announced on Tuesday. The Silk Racing Company-owned 4-year-old received 293 votes out of a total 295 votes cast by reporters. A flawless four-for-four last term, Equinox equaled his sire's achievement of two Horse of the Year titles in 2016/2017. Beginning his campaign at Meydan in March, the Tetsuya Kimura trainee won the G1 Dubai Sheema...

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Dubai Sheema Classic Win Of Equinox Voted World Pool Moment Of The Year

The dramatic victory of the world's highest rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March has been voted the World Pool Moment of the Year. It is the second year of the award, which was given to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and her groom Annabel Willis in 2022. The groom of near black superstar, Tomohiro Kusunoki, is the recipient of a VIP trip to the 2024 Hong Kong Derby or the 2024 Champions Day along with...

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Equinox Already Full at Opening Fee of ¥20 Million (€124,000)

Shadai Stallion Station has set the introductory fee for Equinox (Jpn) at ¥20 million (€124,000), which is a record high for a first-season stallion in Japan. It also makes his equal in price to his own sire Kitasan Black (Jpn), whose fee has been doubled for 2024. Father and son are the two most expensive stallions on Shadai's 33-strong roster. The Shadai website already has a 'Book full' note posted alongside the name of Equinox, who retires to stud as the top-rated horse in the world in 2023. The 4-year-old...

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Inaugural Timeform Awards Announced

The first edition of the Timeform Awards, honouring the leading Flat horses and performances of the year, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 20. There are a total of eight awards, with the top three revealed in each category next month. The awards are: Race of the Year Leading First-Season Sire Leading 2YO Leading Male 3YO+ Leading Female 3YO+ Champion of the Rest of the World Champion of Europe Horse of the Year Three of the leading contenders for the awards include Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), undefeated...

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Racing TV To Showcase Japan Cup To UK And Irish Audiences

The G1 Japan Cup will be broadcast on Racing TV to the UK and Ireland for the first time on Sunday, 6:40 a.m. GMT. A prize-money haul of £2.7 million will be awarded to the winner of the 2400-metre Tokyo cornerstone. Seven Group 1 winners have been entered, including the current Longines World's Best Racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), who has won his past five races. Dr. Kanichi Kusano, general manager of the Japan Racing Association (JRA) London office, said, "We are pleased to announce that the Japan Cup,...

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World Pool Moment of the Year Finalists Announced

There have been 27 individual World Pool Moment of the Day winners in the 2023 season--each winning groom receiving a £4,000 award--and an independent panel from the Hong Kong Jockey Club narrowed that list down to four finalists who will compete for a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong next year via a public vote. The finalists are Tomohiro Kusunoki, the groom of Japanese globetrotting superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn); Paige Harrison, the groom of MG1SW Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}); Raj Rasiah, groom of G1SW Quickthorn (GB)...

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Equinox Tops Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings

Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) has topped the rankings at 129 in the ninth edition of the 2023 World's Best Racehorse rankings followed closely by Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) and Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who are tied for second with a rating of 128 each. Noteworthy movement in the rankings include dominant G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. victor Big Rock (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), now the co-fourth highest along with Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The Breeders' Cup had its impact on the...

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Equinox Obliterates Tokyo Course Record In Tenno Sho

There had been hints that reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) was not your average champion, most especially with his geared-down tour-de-force in the desert in March, but the Silk Racing Company's colourbearer was in a zip code all his own with his course-record breaking performance in defence of his G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) title at Tokyo on Sunday. He covered the 2000-metre trip over a firm Tokyo course in 1:55.20, 0.9 seconds faster than the previous record. Carrying a rating of 129 on the...

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Equinox Primed For Tenno Sho Autumn Defence

Perched atop the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at 129 pounds for much of the year after his sensational 3 1/2-length victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in Dubai this March, the formidable Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) will attempt to become only the third horse to claim the ¥421,420,000 G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in back-to-back years at Tokyo on Sunday. The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year has never finished worse than second in eight starts, and landed the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin over 2200 metres--200 metres...

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