Equinox (Jpn)

There had been hints that reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) was not your average champion, most especially with his geared-down tour-de-force in the desert in March, but the Silk Racing Company's colourbearer was in a zip code all his own with his course-record breaking performance in defence of his G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) title at Tokyo on Sunday. He covered the 2000-metre trip over a firm Tokyo course in 1:55.20, 0.9 seconds faster than the previous record. Carrying a rating of 129 on the...

Perched atop the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at 129 pounds for much of the year after his sensational 3 1/2-length victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in Dubai this March, the formidable Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) will attempt to become only the third horse to claim the ¥421,420,000 G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in back-to-back years at Tokyo on Sunday. The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year has never finished worse than second in eight starts, and landed the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin over 2200 metres--200 metres...

As the only trainer to bring a winner of the "new" Prix du Jockey Club to the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and succeed, Jean-Claude Rouget can be forgiven his aura of zen ahead of the all-important Paris rendezvous for Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) on Sunday. While the yard's Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) took more than a year to complete the difficult double, late September's freak heatwave means that the 2023 edition of this autumn jewel is not the dire test it habitually represents for the Classic...

The Coolmore partners' Auguste Rodin (Ire) has joined the top 10 of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings on the back of a victory in the G1 Irish Champion S. and raised his rating to 124. Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) is still on top of the rankings at 129, one pound better than G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. victor Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and G1 International S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Also a winner of the G1 Derby and G1 Irish...

Sunday's G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) is now in the top five on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at a joint 123, after the latest results were released on Thursday. Well ahead of his rivals is Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) on 129, and fellow Japanese runner Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) is fourth on 124. Hong Kong's crack sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) has improved one pound to 125 after a win in the G3 Sha Tin Vase and is tied with Golden Sixty...

Recent G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) has moved into a joint-third at 124 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR). The Hong Kong galloper is equal to Japan's Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), who won the G1 Sheema Classic in Dubai, sits atop the list at 129, with fellow Hong Kong-based horse Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) second at 125. Other horses making the list following the latest ranking period are G1 All Aged S. hero Giga Kick (Aus) (Scissor...

Japanese Horse of the Year Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) galloped over the Meydan dirt track on Tuesday in advance of a start in the 2400-metre $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on Saturday. "This is his first overseas trip and he's still getting used to his new surroundings, although I think he's getting better day by day and I am happy with how he moved this morning," said trainer Tetsuya Kimura. "I know that this horse has plenty of talent and I hope that he can live up to...

Defending G1 Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist) is one of over 1,600 entries, including 892 individual horses from 21 countries, entered in the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup night card. The featured event, sponsored by Emirates Airline, attracted 171 entries. Of the 24 Group or Grade 1 winners besides the Zedan Racing-owned and Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer, is the duo's three-time Grade I winner Taiba (Gun Runner). Joining them could be a pair of longshot headliners from last year; namely, GI Kentucky Derby champ Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and...

Dual Group 1 winner Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) followed in his sire's footsteps and claimed the 2022 Japanese Horse of the Year crown with 282/288 votes, according to published reports. The son of G3 Mermaid S. heroine Chateau Blanche (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}) raced for trainer Tetsuyama Kimura in the colours of Silk Racing Company, Ltd. Also named the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Male with 285/288 votes, the Northern Farm-bred was second in both the G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas and G1 Japanese Derby, but added his name to the roll...

Flightline (Tapit) (139), who closed out his undefeated career in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, maintains his commanding lead in the ninth edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2022. In the Breeders' Cup Classic, Flightline pulled away from the field to win by a record 8 1/4 lengths. Olympiad (Speightstown) (124) was second, while Taiba (Gun Runner) (123) was another half-length back in third. Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (122) also impressed during the Breeders' Cup World Championships and joins the rankings following his 2 1/2-length win the GI...