Japan: Equinox towers over rivals Takarazuka Kinen
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Currently, the older horse division in Japan consists of Equinox and the others.
Equinox, the 2022 Japanese Horse of the Year, won his only start this year in the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai in March and will be an odds-on favorite in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.
The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Equinox, a winner of 5 of 7 starts, is part of a field of 17 and is a standout to win his fourth consecutive Group 1 or Grade 1 race. Equinox ended his 2022 campaign with wins in the autumn running of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho at 1 1/4 miles at Tokyo in October and the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at 1 9/16 miles at Nakayama Racecourse on Christmas Day.
Trained by Tetsuya Kimura for Silk Racing Co. Ltd., the 4-year-old Equinox has shown versatility in his running styles. He won from off the pace in his two Grade 1 wins in Japan late last year and led throughout the Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles.
Christophe Lemaire has been the regular rider of Equinox and has the mount in the $2.94 million Takarazuka Kinen. Equinox starts from post 5.
The race has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
If there is a spoiler, it could be the 4-year-old colt Justin Palace or the 5-year-old mare Geraldina.
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Justin Palace has won his last two starts, proving his ability as a stayer. He won a Grade 2 at 1 7/8 miles at Hanshin in March before his first career Grade 1 win in the spring running of the Tenno Sho at two miles on April 30 at Kyoto.
The Takarazuka Kinen distance should work for Justin Palace, a Group 2 winner at 1 3/8 miles last September. Justin Palace was seventh in the Arima Kinen in his last meeting with Equinox.
Geraldina won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at 1 3/8 miles at Hanshin last November and was third in the Arima Kinen. Earlier this year, Geraldina was sixth in two stakes at 1 1/4 miles – the Grade 1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on April 30.
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