Equinox Seeks Fifth Straight G1 Win at Tokyo Racecourse

While many of the world's best horses ready for the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park, the absolute top-rated player is home in Japan, geared up to resume his career in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) Oct. 29 at Tokyo Racecourse.

Equinox , No. 1 on the Longines World's Best Racehorses rankings through most of the year, looks for his fourth straight top-level victory in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 miles) heat. The 4-year-old Kitasan Black  colt passed up both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), the perennial top target of Japanese connections, and the Breeders' Cup in favor of a local campaign.

Equinox hit the big time with a victory in the 2022 Tenno Sho (Autumn) while making his first start against older horses after finishing second in the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown. He showed that result was no fluke by landing the 2022 Arima Kinen (G1) at 2,500 meters (about 12 1/2 furlongs) on Christmas Day.

He then was the hottest commodity in a strong Japanese contingent on World Cup night in Dubai March 25 and more than lived up to his reputation while dominating a world-class field in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).

Three months later, he completed the four-peat in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse, barely edging Through Seven Seas by a neck while racing very wide from the back of the field. Through Seven Seas went on from that to finish a solid fourth in the Arc as Japan's sole representative.

Trainer Tetsuya Kimura said Equinox's training since then has been "quite orthodox."

"In some ways, the main concern was making sure everything went as usual amid all the attention," Kimura said of his final piece of fast work after Equinox drew gate 7 in an unusually small field of 11.

"The training was to model itself after the actual race, to have him remain patient under way and be responsive to the rider's signals. When given the go sign, he was to run solidly to the finish, which is a very basic, but important, thing. That was the same kind of workout he had last week as well. I don't think there's any problem with him."

While Equinox will be a solid favorite, the Tenno Sho won't be anything like a walkover.

Do Deuce, who beat Equinox into second in the 2022 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1), has struggled since then, including a fourth-place finish in the 2022 Prix Niel (G2) and a 19th-place showing in the 2022 Arc. He was a late scratch from the Dubai Turf (G1) in March at Meydan Racecourse.

"We were first in the Derby last year with Equinox in second, but after that (the two starts in France), I think Do Deuce wasn't able to access everything he had," said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. "I really want to see him do well this time. I did see Equinox win at Dubai and he is indeed strong." 

Others with potential claims include Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) winner Justin Palace, 2,000-meter specialist Prognosis, and Dubai Turf runner-up Danon Beluga ,

The race starts from a short stub to the right of the massive Tokyo Racecourse grandstand with a short run to the first left-handed turn into the backstretch. The impact of that unusual configuration should be mitigated by the short field.