Japanese racing is hailing its latest superstar after three-year-old colt Equinox made mincemeat of a star-studded field for an emphatic victory in Japan’s race of the season, the Arima Kinen at Nakayama on Christmas Day.
Sent off 13-10 favourite under five-time champion jockey Christophe Lemaire, the son of the 2017 winner Kitasan Black surged clear after entering the straight before recording a dominant 2½-length success from fellow three-year-old Boldog Hos, with star filly Geraldina claiming third place.
With a prize fund of ¥864 million (about $7.5m/£5.4m), the end-of-season ‘Grand Prix’ is the joint-richest race in Japan alongside the Japan Cup.
With the majority of the 16-runner field is decided by public vote, the Arima Kinen regularly attracts the world’s biggest single-race betting handle in the world – on this occasion, the not insignificant matter of just over ¥52bn (about $392m/£325m).
Runner-up in both the Japanese 2,000 Guineas and Derby earlier in the season, Tetsuya Kimura-trained Equinox had mastered a strong field in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on his previous outing.
With Arc disappointment Titleholder making the running in typical fashion, Equinox loped along comfortably (albeit three wide) before storming past the leader in the straight and powering away in a really impressive performance.
“What happens twice will happen thrice,” said Lemaire. “I won the Arima Kinen with Heart’s Cry and Satono Diamond both on Christmas Day, and I’m really happy to be able to win the race on Christmas Day again. He was immature in the spring but now he’s got really strong and I look forward to him next year.”
Both the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup cards were mentioned as possible 2023 targets for the winner.
Of the other fancied runners, reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia was fifth, with Titleholder overwhelmed in the straight before coming ninth, one place ahead of Japan Cup hero Vela Azul.
• Visit the Japan Racing Association website
‘The hardest part is to stay where we are’ – major interview with Charlie Appleby
Ol’ Border knew it was time’: farewell to the oldest known Secretariat, gone at 34
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires