The long-awaited appearance of Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup did not disappoint and his four-length victory over the fillies' Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was deemed to be a career-best performance by the assessors at Timeform.
Already rated the best horse in the world, his previous mark of 135 has been raised to 136, which rates him 3lb ahead of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), who has recently been retired to Haras de Beaumont.
“Equinox confirmed his status as the leading horse in the world with an exceptional performance to win the Japan Cup in Tokyo on Sunday,” said Timeform's Flat editor David Johnson. “An updated rating of 136, up from 135 pre-race, puts him 3lb clear of his nearest pursuer, the recently retired Arc winner Ace Impact.”
Trained by Tetsuya Kimura for Silk Racing, Equinox first came to wider prominence outside his native country with his facile victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March. Behind him that day were Westover (GB), Zagrey (Fr) and Mostahdaf (Ire), all of whom went on to win Group 1 contests this during the European summer.
Johnson added, “A rating of 136 puts Equinox alongside El Condor Pasa as the best Japanese-trained horse in Timeform's history and though it is unconfirmed whether he will stay in training next year the feeling is that under the right circumstances, he has the potential to rate even higher still.”
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