TWO Group 1 wins in 2022 ensured that it was not a surprise that Equinox was a horse of the highest class.

However, 2023 will go down in the history books as the year the stunning colt solidified himself as the best Japanese horse in history.

The Tetsuya Kimura-trained, Silk Racing-owned star began his ’23 campaign in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Equinox sauntered to a three and a half length win over a star-studded field.

As a result, Equinox was given a rating of 129 according to the IFHA. That rating was enough to secure top spot in the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, a position he would hold for the remainder of the year.

On his return to domestic action, Equinox completed 2023 unbeaten with a further three Group 1 wins. His exploits on the track culminated in a sensational performance in the Japan Cup, the only outstanding JRA “Major” on his already brimming record.

The usually conservative JRA Handicapper gave Equinox a rating of 133 for his Cup demolition, the highest rating ever given in Japan.

Racing fans had one last chance to see Equinox before he begins his next career in the breeding shed. A retirement ceremony for Equinox took place after racing on December 16th at Nakayama Racecourse.

Record high

Equinox has had his stud fee set ¥20 million/€130,000, a record high for a first season sire in Japan. Equinox will take residence at Shadai Stallion Station beside his sire Kitasan Black, also standing for €130k, the pair are the most expensive stallions currently standing at stud.

IN any other year, Liberty Island would be heralded as a generational talent, undoubtedly drawing comparisons to great JRA fillies and mares, such as Almond Eye and Gentildonna.

The daughter of Duramente completed the perfect hat-trick in the female classics, seemingly improving with each start.

With the benefit of a 4kg allowance, she was given the impossible task of facing Equinox in the Japan Cup. Although she finished second, four lengths in arrears, she resoundingly beat six individual Group 1 winners.

With many of the leading JRA horses retiring, Liberty Island will be the most exciting horse in training and a clear force to be reckoned with in 2024 and beyond.

JAPANESE-based horses competed in 35 races on international shores throughout 2023. Nine winners and a multitude of placed horses earned more than €40m in total earnings.

A large portion of that haul was on behalf of a highly successful month in the Middle East for adventurous Japanese owners and trainers. Panthalassa stormed clear to win the immensely valuable Saudi Cup in February before Ushba Tesoro and Equinox shared the spotlight on World Cup night in Meydan. In the latter part of the year, Obamburamai won the non-graded but no less lucrative Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

Japanese participation in the leading global races and festivals is set to continue and almost guaranteed to increase given the precedence being set so spectacularly throughout this year.

It has been suggested that Ushba Tesoro will remain in training as a seven-year-old, the sole aim being set at retaining his Dubai World Cup title. Connections of Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up, Derma Sotogake, have already announced their intent to travel the world once again in 2024.

Dirt scene

In the absence of the JRA’s perceived highest quality equine stars on dirt, Lemon Pop has exploded onto the domestic dirt scene.

The Godolphin-owned colt became just the fourth horse in JRA history to capture both Group 1 dirt races in the JRA in the same year. Lemon Pop remains in-training and will travel to Saudi Arabia and Dubai in tandem with his already accomplished globetrotting JRA peers.

Another name of significant note and probable international traveller is two-year-old Forever Young. The Yoshito Yahagi-trained colt was an ultra-impressive seven-length winner of the JPN1 Zen-Nippon Yushun.

Another Yahagi-representative, Shin Emperor, is unbeaten in two starts, and will be tested at the highest level in the Group 1 Hopeful Stakes on December 28th. The €2.1m Arqana August Sale purchase is a full-brother to Sottsass.

Owners’ ranks

Forever Young and Shin Emperor are both owned by Susumu Fujita, an emerging force in the JRA owners ranks. Fujita has become a regular name to appear on the purchaser’s sheet at leading yearling sales around the world.

Fujita founded and owns CyberAgent Co., Ltd., the company famously responsible for “Ume Musume Pretty Derby”, horseracing simulation video game that enjoys a cult-like following in Japan.

Yahagi is no stranger to successful international campaigns for horses under his care. Panthalassa, Lys Gracieux, Loves Only You, and Marche Lorraine were all international Group 1 winners for the flamboyant trainer.

Ambitious international plans are already in motion for Forever Young. The Zen-Nippon Yushun is the first leg of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby”, his win earned 20pts in his quest for a starting berth in the Run for the Roses.

Fujita has also hinted that if Shin Emperor lives up to expectations, the Epsom Derby is a possible classic target.

TWO-year-old racing in the JRA is run from June to December. The condensed six-month programme guarantees the accolade of Leading First Season Sire is hotly contested every year.

Suave Richard was the standout freshman of 2023. While two Group 1 races for juveniles are still up for grabs, the official title is not guaranteed, Suave Richard is the hottest commodity to emerge from the freshman ranks.

To date, he has produced 20 winners from 64 individual runners among the 82 registered foals in his first crop.

Suave Richard has had his stud fee raised to ¥15 million (€98,000) for the upcoming 2024 breeding season, from his 2023 fee of ¥2million (€13,000).