Japan: Equinox sets course record in taking Tenno Sho

The winning streak stands at five. The legend is growing.

Equinox was the easy winner of Sunday’s Grade 1 autumn running of the $2.8 million Tenno Sho at 1 1/4 miles at Toyko Racecourse in Japan, the second consecutive year he has won one of Japan’s top late-season races for older horses.

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Equinox ($2.70) closed from third in a field of 11 to win by 2 1/2 lengths, finishing 1 1/4 miles in course-record time of 1:55.20 on good-to-firm turf.

Justin Palace (37-1) finished second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of 11-1 Prognosis.

Equinox’s rapid time broke the previous record of 1:56.10 set by Tosen Jordan in the 2011 autumn running of the Tenno Sho.

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To set the mark, Equinox stalked a quick pace of 57.70 for the first five furlongs set by Jack d’Or.

“He’s not exactly what you call a horse with incredible speed, but he was able to keep up with today’s rapid pace and get into another gear at the end,” Lemaire told Japan Racing Association publicity.

“I was actually surprised when I realized that we had won in a record. He is a versatile horse that can run from any position, stay calm during a race, and make use of his speed at the finish.”

Equinox, a 4-year-old colt by Kitasan Black, is owned by Silk Racing Co., Ltd., and trained by Tetsuya Kimura.

The 2022 Japanese Horse of the Year, Equinox’s winning streak began in the 2022 autumn running of the Tenno Sho and includes the Grade 1 Arima Kinen in Japan last December, the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai in March, and the Grade 1 Takarakazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan in June.

Equinox is a candidate for the Grade 1 Japan Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 26.

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