Songline (Jpn)

Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), the Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2023, has been named the Japanese Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year, the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) Award Winner Selection Committee announced on Tuesday. The Silk Racing Company-owned 4-year-old received 293 votes out of a total 295 votes cast by reporters. A flawless four-for-four last term, Equinox equaled his sire's achievement of two Horse of the Year titles in 2016/2017. Beginning his campaign at Meydan in March, the Tetsuya Kimura trainee won the G1 Dubai Sheema...

Triple Group 1 winner Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}--Luminous Parade {Jpn}, by Symboli Kris S), and Group 1 winner Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}--Serienholde {Ger}, by Soldier Hollow {GB}) have both been retired, Sunday Racing announced on Wednesday. A Northern Farm-bred, the Toru Hayashi trainee won once in two starts at two, and added the Listed Kobai S. in January of her 3-year-old year. She was only a nose behind Schnell Meister in the G1 NHK Mile Cup in 2021, placed in the G3 Sekiya Kinen, and claimed the G2 Fuji...

Last year after earning a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile via her win in June's G1 Yasuda Kinen over this course--a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying event--Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna) was headed to America before a throat issue found after a fifth-place finish in September's G2 Centaur S. sent her to the sidelines for five months. Back in action on the G1 Saudi Cup undercard in February, she was a distant 10th in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, a race she won in 2022, and sent...

Defending G3 1351 Turf Sprint heroine Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) is primed for a big effort in the 2023 edition, according to regular rider Christophe Lemaire. "I rode her this morning and she looks in great condition," he said on Wednesday. "I am very happy with her and so is her trainer. She will be the one to beat again this year, I think." Fifth in the G1 Victoria Mile after her Riyadh heroics in 2022, the Sunday Racing colourbearer claimed the G1 Yasuda Kinen by a neck over Schnell...