Outside post shouldn't impact Equinox in Japanese Derby

An outside post position does not seem to bother Equinox, the promising colt who starts in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.

In the Grade 1 Japan 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Nakayama Racecourse last month, Equinox started from the outside in a field of 18 and rallied from seventh to finish second by a length to stablemate Geoglyph, his first loss in his third start.

In the $3.28 million Japanese Derby at 1 1/2 miles, Equinox has the same wide draw in a field of 18, and again is expected to pose a threat from the middle of the large field.

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Geoglyph is part of the Japanese Derby field along with other contenders that include Do Deuce, the champion 2-year-old male of 2021 in Japan; and the undefeated Piece of Eight, who has not started since a win in the Grade 3 Mainichi Hai at 1 1/8 miles at Hanshin.

Do Deuce won the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile last December, but is winless in two starts this year. He was second in the Grade 2 Deep Impact Kinen at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama, and a fast-closing third from the back of the field in the 2000 Guineas.

Geoglyph was fifth in the Hanshin Juvenile and won his first Grade 1 at odds of 8-1 in the 2000 Guineas, closing from fifth on the turn.

While the Japanese Derby distance will be new for many runners, the trip will not be an issue for Pradaria, who has won twice at 1 1/2 miles in his two last starts – a maiden race at Hanshin on March 19 and his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Aoba Sho at Tokyo on April 30.

The Japanese Derby has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

The winner will have a tough act to follow in coming starts. Shahryar, who won the 2021 Japanese Derby, was later third against older horses in the Japan Cup last November and won the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai in March.