Shadai Stallion Station has set the introductory fee for Equinox (Jpn) at ¥20 million (€124,000), which is a record high for a first-season stallion in Japan. It also makes his equal in price to his own sire Kitasan Black (Jpn), whose fee has been doubled for 2024. Father and son are the two most expensive stallions on Shadai's 33-strong roster.
The Shadai website already has a 'Book full' note posted alongside the name of Equinox, who retires to stud as the top-rated horse in the world in 2023. The 4-year-old has won eight of his 10 starts and signed off with a facile victory in the Japan Cup over the Fillies' Triple Crown winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). A formal retirement ceremony will take place at Nakayama on Dec. 16, giving Equinox's many fans a chance to say goodbye to him at the racecourse before he moves to Hokkaido.
This season's leading first-season sire in Japan, Suave Richard (Jpn), has also had his fee increased for next year to ¥15 million (€93,000). The same fee will be commanded in 2024 by his stud-mates Epiphaneia (Jpn) and the Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn). The latter is another who is already fully booked for next season.
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