Masakazu Takahashi -
Longines Dubai Sheema Classic winning Japanese superhorse Equinox has been retired and will stand his first season at stud in 2024 at Shadai Stallion Station for a record ¥20 million ($140,000/AED514,150) fee at Hokkaido. Thousands braved freezing temperatures on Sunday to witness the fouryear- old Kitasan Black colt being retired by owners Silk Racing Co. Ltd. during a ceremony at Nakayama Racecourse. That was the venue where he won the 2022 running of the Grade 1 Arima Kinen, one of his six-straight top-tier wins for trainer Tetsuya Kimura and jockey Christophe Lemaire, a run that concluded with his fine four length victory over Liberty Island, Japan’s fillies’ Triple Crown heroine. Equinox ended his 10-race career with a stunning figures of 8-2-0. No freshman sire has commanded the price and his fee makes him the second most expensive stallion in the country behind his own sire Kitasan Black, who he will stand alongside as part of Shadai’s 33-strong stallion roster.
At the time of retirement, Equinox stood unchallenged for 37 weeks at the top of Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s exclusive Global Rankings. Equinox’s Japan Cup win helped him surpass teammate Almond Eye as the top earner in the country with AED63 million in earnings. “He was physically and mentally amazing. He got better with each race. Thanks to everyone, he has become a wonderful horse and became number one in the world,” Lemaire said. “I’ll never forget the way Equinox's running and his performance. Of course I want to ride his children. Almond Eye and Equinox’s children will probably become the best in the world again.” Trainer Kimura added: “It was a very condensed two years, in a way that I could say that I was living in a dream, or that I was absorbed in it. I’m really relieved to have reached the day of his retirement. This may be a personal matter, but I would like to wait for a child of Equinox and to return to the Tokyo 2400m Grade 1 race.”
