Equinox Eyes Fourth Straight G1 Win In Takarazuka Kinen

Equinox , the world's top-rated horse, returns to action June 25 at Hanshin Racecourse facing some of the best competition Japan has to offer in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles).

The race, a "Win and You're In" for both the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) and Australia's Cox Plate (G1), is one of two annual events that offer fans a chance to vote for the horses they'd like to see in the field. Equinox, a 4-year-old colt by Kitasan Black , was the runaway number-one fan favorite.

Small wonder as he enters the fray with a three-race winning streak, all grade 1 or group 1 events. He won the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in October and the Arima Kinen (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse in December before shipping to Dubai to land the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in March in a tour de force.

That record put Equinox atop the Longines World's Best Racehorse standings with a mark of 129, easily topping the 125 rating assigned to Hong Kong gallopers Golden Sixty and Lucky Sweynesse.

Before the top-level triple, he won his first two starts, then finished second in both the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1).

Assistant trainer Tomohiro Kusunoki said there are no worries about Equinox making his first start at Hanshin or a resulting change in training sites.

"He handled being in a different environment very well last time when he went to Dubai," Kusunoki said.

While Equinox will be the solid favorite, he will have to shake a tailfeather against competitors who have some talent of their own.

Justin Palace was impressive in winning the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) over 3,200 meters in April at the newly reopened Kyoto track. The 4-year-old by Deep Impact also has shown an affinity for Hanshin, where he won the Hanshin Daishoten (G2) in March.

"There's a good feeling about him," trainer Haruki Sugiyama said of Justin Palace.

Deep Bond  is always a threat as shown by his four runner-up finishes in grade 1 events, including the last three editions of the Tenno Sho (Spring). He has yet to win at the top level, however, and was fourth in this race last year.

"Things looked good at the top of the home straight last time," said assistant trainer Taketoshi Yamaguchi. "But he got caught by a strong horse on the run for home and it was almost unthinkable. Hopefully a big title can eventually come his way." 

Geraldina, a 5-year-old mare by Maurice , got her first grade 1 win last Nov. 13 in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Hanshin but hasn't won since and was last seen finishing sixth in the QEII Cup (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong April 30.

Last year's Japan Cup (G1) winner Vela Azul makes his first start since disappointing in March in the Dubai World Cup (G1). Geoglyph finished fourth in the Saudi Cup (G1) in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh but then also finished up the track in Dubai a month later.

Dura Erede  is the only 3-year-old in the race. The Duramente  colt won last year's Hopeful Stakes (G1) and finished second behind Derma Sotogake  while making his 3-year-old debut in the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai. He unseated his rider just out of the gate in the Tokyo Yushun in his last start.

The Takarazuka Kinen is run right-handed around the inner loop of the Hanshin course.