equinox Came on June 25th in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) on the Hanshin RaceCourse as a first-class horse in the world and needed the entire class, which implies that the status is recovering its fourth victory on the top level against a long-shot rival.
Equinox, a 4-year colt of Kitasan Black Had his last three starts and was dominant in the youngest Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), where he sucked out some of the world's leading rivals with medium distance racing.
When he returned to the house grass, he and jockey Christophe Lemaire had a arduous task when they swang into the last comprehensive bend of the 2,200 meters (approx. 1 3/8 miles) around Hanshin's internal lawn loop.
Equinox, which was equipped early, had driven back well in the field and had progressed, whereby he left the back drire run. Lemaire confidently led the most arduous favorite of everyone, good outside in the middle of the course, and put him down for the journey.
Equinox reacted, as did his connections and supporters. But came to his inside and through the middle of the pack Seven seven seasA 5-year-old Dream trip Mare sent in contradiction north of 55-1. They ran together for a few steps before Equinox asserted through a neck.
Second -friendly Justin Palace was another length in third place when Equinox took 2: 11.2 over good-to-firm grass. They followed from Geraldine And Deep bond .
The victory was a “victory and you are in” space for Equinox in November in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) in November Santa Anita Park.
Before the race, coach Tetsuya Kimura said that he believed that Equinox was ready to resume his domestic campaign.
“It took some time to recover from his trip to Dubai,” said Kimura. “As he develops, he shows a lot more power, and that should aid him to prove himself here.”
Poems in motion 😍
Christophe Lemaire takes you through his victory trip with Equinox in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen 💪@Christo68914587 | @Silkhcofficial | @Jra_worlddracing | #Ikuinox | #Takarazuka memorial | #Pferder racing pic.twitter.com/oxjdkbw6rx
– World Horse Racing (@Whr) June 25, 2023
Lemaire said he counted this power when he went to Plan B at the beginning of the race.
“Although we couldn't get a good position forward due to the quick pace at the beginning, the horse in the rear was relaxed and I wasn't worried at all,” said Lemaire. “Since the inner lane state was not so good, we made a bid from the outside early and turn far to the street in which it stretched really well.
“Hanshin's inner course is arduous and (the) Takarazuka Kinen is a arduous race to win even for championship horses. I am very elated that I was able to win the race with the No. 1 horse in the best racehorse ranking of the world.
Equinox after winning the Takarazuka Kinen on the Hanshin racetrack
The Takarazuka Kinen was the last race of group 1 of Japanese spring and landed a break of the top level competition until autumn.
Seven seas came into the race with four wins from 11 starts, but none was at this level. In two previous attempts in Group 1, she had reported the ninth and 11th place. Nevertheless, the coach Tomohito Ozeki pointed to the barrier tuning that the mare could to provide good effort.
“In her brisk work on June 15, she moved well and completed the last Furlong in the 11-second area,” said Ozeki. “We didn't exaggerate things this last week, but it is on.”
In contrast, Equinox entered seven starts with a record of five wins. Before the sheema Classic Victory, he was responsible for the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) and the Arima Kinen (G1) in December in October. His only two defeats were second place in the 2022 Satsuki Sho (Japanese two thousand Guineas-G1) and in Tokyo Yushun (Japanese derby-G1).
Equinox was bred by the northern farm and carries powder blue with red silk racing points.
