World #1 Equinox makes his eagerly awaited reappearance on Sunday [June 25] as eight G1 winners clash in the prestigious Takarazuka Kinen – the latest Japanese leg of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge.
As well as bringing the curtain down on the Japan Racing Association’s spring season, the ¥475 million (£2.61m/$3.62m) offers a guaranteed fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
That $4m Longines-sponsored race has already been mentioned as a possible end-of-season target for Equinox, who posted such a dazzling display to complete a G1 hat-trick in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, when the Japanese superstar slammed a top-class international field to catapult himself to the top of Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings.
The Takarazuka Kinen is one of Japan’s two designated ‘All-Star’ events, where fans vote for the majority of the field. A whopping 2,502,815 votes were received for Sunday’s 64th edition, with Equinox toping the charts with 216,379.
As such, he is sure to start a strong favourite for the 2,200-metre contest, despite a plethora of high-class performers featuring among 16 rivals headed by Tenno Sho (spring) one-two Justin Palace and Deep Bond, Japan Cup winner Vela Azul plus leading racemare Geraldina, Classic winners Ask Victor More and Geoglyph, and Arc entry Through Seven Seas.
Drawn in the wide outside in gate 17 of 17, Dura Erede, who lost his rider at the start in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), is the sole three-year-old in the line-up.
• The Grande Premio Pamplona on Sunday at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Lima, Peru, is also a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf.
Key horses
Equinox (Tetsuya Kimura/Christophe Lemaire) – clear world #1 on rankings after completing G1 hat-trick with electrifying all-the-way effort in Dubai Sheema Classic; ended 2022 on top of Japanese pile after convincing victory in Arima Kinen (beat several of these rivals); reigning Horse of the Year in pole position here.
Justin Palace (Haruki Sugiyama/Katsuma Sameshima) – 4yo son of great Deep Impact has won five of ten career starts, taking form to new level this term with Tenno Sho (Spring) victory over 2m last time out with veteran Deep Bond second; cut back in trip is obvious concern and Lemaire stays with Equinox but has sneaked into world’s top ten and rated chief danger to favourite.
Geoglyph (Tetsuya Kimura/Mirai Iwata) – back on turf after running on dirt in Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup; beat stablemate Equinox in last year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas but hasn’t won since and was well behind that rival subsequently.
Geraldina (Takashi Saito/Yutaka Take) – stepped up to G1 level last term with Queen Elizabeth II Cup victory and fair third behind Equinox against males in Arima Kinen; below form two starts this term (including Hong Kong latest) and needs a revival.
Vela Azul (Kunihiko Watanabe/Kohei Matsuyama) – 6yo is hard to assess; clearly talented at best, as with obvious career highlight last autumn when running on strongly to win Japan Cup; was quite well fancied that day under Ryan Moore but unsighted in Arima Kinen with today’s jockey and down field on only start this term on dirt in Dubai; suspicion is this track might play against late-running style.
Shall we talk about it?
Tetsuya Kimura, trainer of Equinox: “It did take him some time to recover from his trip to Dubai but he was in good condition for last year’s Arima Kinen, and he’s about the same as that now. As he develops, he’s showing a lot more power, and that should help him prove himself here.”
Haruki Sugiyama, trainer of Justin Palace:“His responses and times have been good in training, and he looks better than I had imagined. It seems like he’s developed more even since his last race and he’s well-balanced now, so I hope he can show even more this time.”
Takashi Saito, trainer of Geraldina: “She didn’t get a good early position in the race last time in Hong Kong – with the slow pace it became difficult and things didn’t go her way. She’s recovered from that trip, and on returning to the stable she looks well and refreshed. I’d like her to show something similar to how she ran last autumn.”
Tetsuya Kimura, trainer of Geoglyph:“There’s a fresh feel to him, similar to how he was before he went to Saudi Arabia. He’s developed more, and since a week or so ago his condition has improved a lot. Even though it’s been a while since he’s raced on turf, he does have good results on the surface.”
Kunihiko Watanabe, trainer of Vela Azul:“He wasn’t suited to the dirt in Dubai, but he wasn’t tired after that trip. Since last summer, and through the autumn last year, he’s really come on a lot. He weighs 528kg and is still a bit loose, but he should be just right before the race. The inner course of the race is a slight worry, but his track record is good and the distance is fine. I’d like him to save his run for the end as he’s able to do on the wider tracks.”
Nicholas Godfrey’s verdict
Although this race features a star-studded array of top-class Japanese middle-distance horses, anything other than victory for world leader EQUINOX would have to be regarded as a disappointment. He took his form to another level in the second half of 2022 and looked a proper world-beater in Dubai.
• The annual Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge is an international series of 80 stakes races whose winners receive automatic qualifying positions, with fees paid, into a corresponding race at the 40th edition of America’s end-of-season championships, held this year on November 3-4 at Santa Anita.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America. A total of 39 international races are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge for 2023, among them races in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, and South Africa.
• Visit the Breeders’ Cup website and the Breeders’ Cup Challenge web page
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