Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Group 1)

REWIND 12 months, and Equinox had etched his name into the annals of Tenno Sho (Autumn) history, staging an exhilarating comeback against a 30-length runaway leader in the final 300 metres. Fast forward to the present, and once again, Equinox weaved another tale of brilliance in a different manner, but in no less sensational fashion.

The Tenno Sho, or Emperor’s Cup, is a bi-annual Group 1 race in the JRA. The race is run in two seasonal variations, the spring edition is contested over 3,200m while the autumn format is run over 2,000m.

Equinox was last seen on the track winning the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen in June. A lacklustre performance by his own lofty standards, saw the four-year-old narrowly prevail over subsequent Arc fourth, Through Seven Seas.

Unperturbed, on Sunday, the wagering public sent off Equinox as the 3/10 favourite to claim his fifth consecutive Group 1.

Drawn in stall seven, Equinox jumped promptly before settling to race tracking the generous pace being set by Jack d’Or. As the strung-out field entered Tokyo’s home straight, Equinox eased his way to the front under a motionless Christophe Lemaire. A quick shake of the reins at the 200m pole, the race was all but over as a contest. Equinox hit the finish line a two and half lengths winner to the gasps, shrieks, and applause from the 77,870 people in attendance.

Tenno Sho (Spring) winner, Justin Palace finished in second with Prognosis in third, a further length and a quarter in arrears.

As Equinox was paraded in front of the stands with Lemaire bowing his head to the Japanese Emperor in attendance, the official results board flashed in the background with a red sin announcing that the race was won in a record time. The clock was stopped at 1m55.2, 0.9secs seconds faster than the previous best.

World’s best horse

Christophe Lemaire waxed lyrical about his mount to the droves of media in the post-race interview: “I’m relieved! After all, Equinox is the world’s best horse, and today he showed his strength.

“When I ride the favourite in any Group 1 race I must concentrate but I had the utmost confidence in him as I know the power he possesses. He gradually accelerated but kept going, I was quite surprised when I saw the clock. The Emperor’s Cup is an important race for me personally and I’m delighted to have won it again.”

Lemaire signed off by saying: “Equinox has it all! He can race in a good position, relax while travelling well and quicken all the way to the finish line. He has stamina and quality, truly a perfect horse.”

A son of the quickly emerging heir to the throne of Japanese breeding, Kitasan Black, Equinox is out of Chateau Blanche, by King Halo.

Equinox was syndicated as a yearling into 500 ownership shares, under the banner and management of Silk Racing Co., Ltd. The total value of the syndication was €250,000, or €500 per ownership share at today’s exchange rate. To date, Equinox has earned more than €12.5m.

Equinox received a rating of 129 for his demolition of the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March. Since then, he has remained at the summit of the global rankings published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Ace Impact was handed a one-point lower mark for his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe win, placing him level on 128 with Mostahdaf.

Another superstar

The last horse to retain their Tenno Sho was another superstar of Japanese racing, Almond Eye, in 2019 and ’20. The only other back-to-back winner of the autumn showpiece in JRA history is Symboli Kris S.

Equinox is set to tread a similar path to that of Almond Eye. After successfully claiming her second Emperor’s Cup, Almond Eye went on to claim an epic renewal of the Japan Cup, beating Contrail and Daring Tact. Connections of Equinox have long stated that the Japan Cup is Equinox’s main autumnal target, the last remaining bit of major silverware absent from his trophy cabinet.

The 2023 edition of the Japan Cup is slowly building to be a race of preposterous quality. Equinox is likely to meet his toughest test to date.

Fresh from sauntering to Triple Tiara spoils, Liberty Island, with the benefit of a 4kg allowance, is expected to line-up for the Japan Cup. Stars On Earth, Do Deuce, Justin Palace, and Continuous are just a few of the Group 1 performers likely to run. The Group 1 Japan Cup is scheduled to go to post on November 26th at Tokyo Racecourse.