Tag Archive for: equinox

Lemaire salutes Equinox – officially the world’s best

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Equinox has been crowned the world’s best racehorse of 2023 – and with it the highest-rated Japanese horse of all time.

A year that started with a brilliant three-and-a-half-length beating of Westover in the Dubai Sheema Classic featured another three Group Ones, culminating in his farewell to the track in the Japan Cup.

Trained by Tetsuya Kimura, Equinox was only beaten twice in his 10-race career, winning six Group Ones in total.

He was given a rating of 135 in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which are compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

Team Equinox on stage in London
Team Equinox on stage in London (PA)

His figure is 5lb below the 140 awarded to Flightline 12 months ago, which equalled the benchmark under the current system set by Frankel in 2012, but he sits 7lb ahead of last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact and dual Group One victor Mostahdaf, who were both rated 128.

Christophe Lemaire rode Equinox in every start and he attended a glittering ceremony in London on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the son of Kitasan Black’s achievement.

Asked what it was like to ride Equinox, Lemaire joked: “To be honest it was quite enjoyable!

“Each time he ran there were big expectations, but I had so much confidence in the horse that I had no fear. To ride him, it was just a pleasure to be on a galloping horse.

“The way he ran was just amazing. Of course, I tried to do my job as well as possible and it was a great journey – I will miss him a lot.

“As have most top athletes, he had a combination of physical strength and mental strength. His physical allowed him to run fast and further using his beautiful stride, very well balanced and also he was very clever, so he understood very quickly what he had to do to win the race.

“My job was just to take a good start and put him in the right position to let him express his talent.

“He was nearly the perfect racehorse and we have to congratulate the breeder (Northern Farm) who could produce such a beautiful horse and the trainer for getting him mature to compete at the best level.

“Just after his debut, I could feel he was special, the way he moved, his acceleration, his attitude on the track – I could feel very quickly he would become a very good horse. Most other people discovered him in Dubai, but in Japan he was already a rising star.”

Equinox officially retired at the end of November, with thousands of people attending a ceremony for the horse in mid-December before he headed to his new role at Shadai Stallion Station, where he will stand for ¥20 million – just over £106,000.

Speaking through a translator, Kimura said: “I wasn’t prepared for it all (the praise he received after Dubai), I feel like I’ve still been in a dream since then.

“The expectations were very high (before the Japan Cup) and it was very difficult to stay calm, but Equinox showed an amazing start and he has the most beautiful stride in the world and he managed to beat all his rivals with his amazing stamina, so I have nothing else that I wanted from him at all.”

To add to the Japanese laurels, the Japan Cup was named the best race in the world for the first time, with a rating assigned on the first four finishers.

Japanese star Equinox retired to stud

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Equinox, the world’s highest-rated racehorse, has been retired to stud.

The four-year-old was a stunning winner of the Japan Cup in Tokyo last Sunday, showing an electric turn of foot to win by four lengths from a field full of previous Group and Grade One winners.

That victory saw Tetsuya Kimuda’s charge extend his winning streak to six, with the son of Kitasan Black last suffering defeat when edged out in the Japanese Derby in May of last year.

Equinox has since won two editions of the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Arima Kinen and Takarazuka Kinen at home, with his sole international success coming in the Dubai Sheema Classic back in March, when he easily accounted for Ralph Beckett’s dual Group One winner Westover by three and a half lengths.

The colt retires having won more than £14million in prize money and his regular rider Christophe Lemaire paid tribute in a social media post illustrated with a picture of the pair after their latest Tokyo victory.

He posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Equinox: ‘keep safe guys, I did my time!’ Christophe: ‘you reached the top partner, retirement well deserved. Enjoy! And thank you.'”

Monday Musings: Parabola

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Ed Byrne's classic study of chaser Pendil in full flight

Ed Byrne's classic study of chaser Pendil in full flight

I don’t know if you ever saw the famous Ed Byrne picture of Pendil jumping a fence, Fred Winter’s great chaser being revealed at the top of his flawless arc, writes Tony Stafford. It was a thing of rare beauty.

Pendil won two King George’s and was pipped on the line in the Gold Cup by The Dikler but avenged that defeat under top-weight in the Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup, also at Cheltenham. He had run a few times over fences before Ed’s classical study.

At Thurles racecourse on Thursday, a nine-year-old having his first race over fences, approached his first 13 fences taken in battle and was perfection over 12 of them. The exception, if you want to be pedantic, came at the one in front of the stands first time around when he gave himself a small extra step before again soaring easily across and to the other side

You occasionally see mention in these parts of the “clockwork horse!” and for some reason the latest before this to be lumbered with that appendage escapes me. Here instead goes, Klassical Dream, a seven-time Grade 1 hurdle winner as well as multiple placed at that level.

I owe it to Mark Smith, advisor to Joanne Coleman, for some of the insight to Klassical Dream’s story. Joanne is the widow of the man who struck the private deal for the then four-year-old after he had run seven times in France for just one win. Mark was a long-standing friend of John Coleman’s and was mortified, as was the family and friends, when John was struck down by illness before he could see Klassical Dream on the racecourse.

John would have been thrilled from day one. The tally since under Willie Mullins has been nine wins (seven at Grade 1) from 17, despite two long breaks – one of almost 18 months and another of nine. Mark tells me it was intended that Klassical Dream would be going chasing until Mullins made a late change of plan, pitching him into the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in May 2021 after the first of those breaks.

Despite Mullins’ suggesting he would be happy with a run in the first six, KD, with trainer’s son Patrick on board, was backed down from 25/1 to 5/1 on the day and sauntered to victory. This was replicated with rather less largesse from the bookmakers in each of the next two campaigns, this year avenging previous a defeat at Cheltenham by Flooring Porter.

Those hurdling exploits – to which you can add places in second and third in France’s big summer championship stayers’ hurdle race the past two years, not to mention the Supreme at Cheltenham in his first Mullins season – equated to a rating of 160.

Running to anything like that would mean he would make mincemeat of the opposition lined up against him at Thurles. He did, but with a mixture of elegance and unleashed power, the latter quality hinted at for a few strides as Paul Townend allowed him a tiny encouragement after the final fence, which he had measured immaculately this time around.

Mark says he’s had a small bet at 33/1 (it’s almost impossible to get any bet on at all nowadays, he says) for next year’s Brown Advisory three-mile novice chase at The Festival, but fears that Mullins has at least a couple that might at this stage take precedence, most obviously Saturday's easy debut chase winner Gaelic Warrior at Punchestown.

Led over the first three fences by a pliant stablemate, Paul Townend couldn’t restrain Gaelic Warrior any longer and the fast-improving winner of the big three-mile novice hurdle at the same course in the spring, sauntered into a 30-length advantage after halfway before coasting in 15 lengths clear of a fair tool in Inothewayurthinkin. It could easily have been doubled and 2m3f was hardly the limit of his stamina. He jumped well enough, but effective rather than startling would be my uneducated view. Not a parabola in sight!

Klassical Dream might have to defer to the National Hunt Chase over 3m6f. “It would be lovely and at the same time worrying to watch him bowling along at the front of a big field for that far and over 23 fences. Not that having Patrick on board will be a handicap, as we know from previous experience!” he said.

Two more notable winners on the same card were Mullins’ State Man, winning the Morgiana Hurdle by six lengths at 1/6 to confirm his status as the number one contender to Constitution Hill’s probable retention of his Champion Hurdle crown, but more interest with the future in mind came in the opening juvenile hurdle.

Here, debutant Mighty Bandit, unraced on the flat and a son of top Aidan O’Brien stayer Order Of St George, ran right away from a field including three Joseph O’Brien candidates. Leading shortly before the last, he won by just under ten lengths with Jack Kennedy having to do very little to prevent an even wider-margin success.

Mighty Bandit must be an early contender and challenger to whatever Mr Mullins and Howard Kirk can unearth (or presumably already have) from France. The sire, one of Coolmore’s National Hunt band, had only a single runner before Saturday, Gore Point, slightly unlucky when 2nd on debut for Anthony Honeyball in a bumper at Ludlow. Order Of St George’s services are sure to be sought from now on.

Saturday also featured a mulish display from Shishkin, 8/13 for his comeback run, but immobile at the start of his valuable race at Ascot, won almost by default by Paul Nicholls’ Pic D’Orhy.

The weekend continued yesterday with a couple of UK jumps cards and one more fixture in Ireland, but the crowning glory was yesterday’s crushing victory of Equinox, the 100/30 on favourite for the Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse. He did get beaten twice as a 3yo, but his seven wins from nine starts have amassed prizemoney of more than £14 million. The highest-rated horse in the world, nothing we saw here will have dented either his status or reputation.

Second-favourite at 27/10, so almost to the exclusion of anything else in the 18-runner field, was the filly Liberty Island. Before yesterday the winner of this year’s Japan fillies’ triple Crown had suffered only one defeat in her career, as a juvenile, but here she was no match for the favourite, although comfortably best of the rest.

The race is simply described. Confirmed front-runner Panthalassa, repeating the tactics that had won him the Saudi Cup early in the year, defeating the smart Bob Baffert horse Country Grammer, set up a massive lead, almost in Saturday’s Gaelic Warrior dimension.

He was still several lengths ahead coming to the home turn but, approaching the final furlong, he was spent and Equinox and Christophe Lemaire went by him, stretching easily to the line four lengths clear with Liberty Island in his wake. To indicate the level of the race, third-home Stars On Earth had never been out of the first three in her career to date and won last year’s Japanese Oaks. Her rider, William Buick, collected his share of 800k for his trouble.

Last year’s winner, Vela Azul, a 7/2 shot then under Ryan Moore, was seventh this time under substitute Hollie Doyle and therefore out of the prizes. His win last year took almost two seconds longer to achieve than yesterday’s race in which he started 99/1!

Speculation is that if Equinox is to race again before his highly-lucrative future career as a stallion it is unlikely to involve another overseas trip, tempting though some of the massive winter prizes on offer nowadays might seem. I wonder what mares Coolmore might have lined up for him when he does go to the breeding shed?

- TS

Superstar Equinox sparkles with Japan Cup glory

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Equinox, the world’s highest-rated horse, delivered a dominant performance to win Sunday’s Japan Cup.

The four-year-old has not been beaten since finishing second in the Japanese Derby in May 2022, winning two Grade One contests at home at the end of last year before easily seeing off Westover when claiming the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.

Tetsuya Kimura’s charge won two more Grade Ones since that effort and was a long odds-on favourite for the Tokyo highlight, which featured a clutch of previous top-level victors, including leading three-year-old filly Liberty Island.

Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa took up his usual position at the head of affairs, setting a testing gallop that saw him build up a huge advantage at the top of the straight.

Christophe Lemaire had been happy to sit in the pack aboard Equinox, rounding the final bend in third before giving his mount the signal to set out in pursuit as Panthalassa’s stride began to shorten.

The response was immediate and Equinox sprinted to the lead over a furlong out and Lemaire just had to use hands and heels to steer him to a four-length verdict over Liberty Island.

The William Buick-ridden Stars On Earth was third, with last year’s race winner Vela Azul coming home seventh under Hollie Doyle, one place ahead of Tom Marquand’s mount Studley.

Equinox received a hero’s welcome from the massive crowd packed into the Tokyo stands and Lemaire admitted to a measure of relief after the son of Kitasan Black further cemented his stellar reputation.

He said: “I felt happy and relieved. Many emotions came to my mind because it was an unbelievable race. Horseracing fans and lovers were able to see something very special.

“He is a top horse and can adapt to any kind of race or surface. When we came back in front of the huge, happy crowd who witnessed the race, I became very emotional.

“As a professional jockey for many years, I work hard to ride to perfection, so today was very special. Equinox is easy to ride – he knows his job very well and he doesn’t use too much energy – so riding a horse like him is a pleasure and I felt very privileged to be in the saddle of such a fantastic horse.”

Kimura had felt the pressure of the colt’s superstar status ahead of his Japan Cup date.

He said: “Equinox was able to come into the race in good condition. He was aggressive from the start and was relaxed during the race despite the fast pace of the frontrunner.

“With Equinox extending his Grade One winning streak for over a year, the pressure was so great before the Japan Cup that I felt relieved when he won the race.

“He is a very well-balanced horse – shape of his hooves, bone structure and firm muscle – everything is perfectly balanced. It’s a miraculous combination. So, we try to maintain this balance when we train him.”

Equinox primed for Japan Cup clash with Liberty Island

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Equinox gets the chance to cement his status as the best horse in the world in Sunday’s Japan Cup.

On a five-race Group One winning streak, the four-year-old has established superstar status in his racing-mad homeland.

His easy victory over Westover, one of the best middle-distance horses in Europe, when they met in Dubai means racing fans worldwide are well aware of his greatness.

However, that comes at a cost to his trainer Tetsuya Kimura, who has admitted to feeling the pressure before every run.

“I’m relieved that he’s done all of his training as expected,” said Kimura through a translator to Racing.com.

“We have many Grade One winners in Japan Cup, so while I know he’s a good chance of winning the Japan Cup, I know that it won’t be easy to accomplish.

“I have the full respect for all the Japanese horses who have achieved great things in Japanese history.

“In recent times in Japan, there haven’t been many horses that have won Grade One races continuously like Equinox has, so I think that achievement is really tremendous.

“But honestly, I’m not very good at handling the pressure. When Equinox is at my stable and his next race is approaching, I get so nervous.

“At the same time, I understand that Equinox is supported by many fans in Japan and also around the world, so I feel lucky to be associated with him.

“I keep receiving letters and pictures from elementary school and middle-school students and I feel his greatness in that way.”

Equinox was imperious in Dubai
Equinox was imperious in Dubai (PA)

It will not be easy for Equinox, however, as Liberty Island lies in wait, the champion filly who herself is chasing a fifth Group One win on the bounce.

Her trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida told the Japan Racing Association: “Last week’s fast work was to let off steam, check her movement and breathing, but it wasn’t a very hard workout.

“This week, I asked the jockey (Yuga Kawada) to ride. She looked good and the jockey got a feel for her, pushed her hard in the final stage and she quickened nicely. The time was good, too.

“I think she’s one level better than she was for the Shuka Sho. Her muscle tone is better, her mood is good. The Shuka Sho draw was difficult, but the jockey did a great job of guiding her. After seeing that race, I decided to come here.

“She is familiar with the venue and the Tokyo 2,400 metres from her Japanese Oaks run, but she’ll be up against older horses for the first time. She is still maturing and she is still weak in areas and somewhat mentally immature.

“The way the race will unfold, the draw, the position she’ll race in, will all be factors in how well she’ll do. She’s three years old and this will be her first time up against older horses. The 4kg allowance is a big help, and I hope that she uses it to her advantage.”

Iresine, the Prix Ganay winner, is the sole European contender after Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger winner Continuous was ruled out through injury.

Hollie Doyle rides last year’s winner Vela Azul with Ryan Moore sidelined, while Doyle’s husband Tom Marquand is on Studley and William Buick partners Stars On Earth.

Continuous ruled out of Japan Cup

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Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger winner Continuous will miss the Japan Cup next weekend due to stiffness.

His scheduled run at Tokyo racecourse on November 26 had garnered plenty of interest amongst the locals.

Not only was he due to take on the brilliant Equinox, currently rated as the best horse in the world, but Continuous is a son of Heart’s Cry.

Heart’s Cry was a quality performer in Japan and beat Deep Impact, the sire of O’Brien’s dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin, in the Arima Kinen of 2005 as well as winning the 2006 Sheema Classic in Dubai.

Continuous was far from disgraced in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when a little over three lengths behind Ace Impact in fifth, however, his trip to the Far East has now been scuppered.

O’Brien said: “Unfortunately Continuous was stiff after his latest exercise which means he won’t be going to Japan.”

Monday Musings: The Rising Star of the Rising Sun

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Back in the spring, the racing world, both in Europe and the United States, was in a state of panic, writes Tony Stafford. The cause? The belief that horses raised and trained in Japan were becoming impossible to beat when they travel over to Dubai or indeed the United States for the Breeders’ Cup in the late autumn.

This fear was exemplified by the remarkable four-year-old colt Equinox, easy winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic over a mile and a half on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan last March. Soon in the lead he wasn’t remotely bothered to see off Ralph Beckett’s smart colt Westover, winner of last year’s Irish Derby and, more recently, runner-up to Ace Impact in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe three weeks ago.

Equinox was given an official rating as the world’s best racehorse after that performance. Yesterday at Tokyo racecourse, he made his record six wins and two second places in just eight runs, taking his earnings above £10 million. Then again, prizemoney over there is pretty good.

Before Dubai, Equinox’s last win had been in the Japan Cup and that remains his immediate target even though he had been eligible both for the Breeders’ Cup meeting and the Arc. In between Dubai and yesterday, he raced only once, picking up a handy £1.4 million when a narrow winner at Hanshin.

Yesterday’s prize was similarly remunerative and while he had only a narrow margin to spare back in June, there was never a doubt in regular jockey Christophe Lemaire’s mind that he wouldn’t win. He was slowly away, which needed the jockey to alter planned tactics. Coming wide, he took the lead inside the last furlong, then comfortably held off the five-year-old mare Through Seven Seas.

Lemaire has a great relationship with many leading Japanese trainers, so it was no surprise, given his status as one of the top jockeys in France, that when she was aimed at this month’s Arc, he was booked for the ride. Through Seven Seas finished fourth, three lengths behind the winner and barely a length adrift of Westover.

Although that was an excellent run, it didn’t alter the fact that no Japanese-trained horse has ever won Europe’s autumn all-aged middle-distance championship.

The form lines suggest Equinox probably would have broken the duck for Japan had he not been reserved to clean up millions of Yen at home. The Japan Cup is expected to be at his mercy once more in a month’s time.

Equinox’s name on yesterday’s results jolted me into having a look at the Japanese representation in this week’s Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita and the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Saturday week. That left me with the strong conclusion that a fair degree of consultation goes on behind the scenes before overseas plans are confirmed, or should I say permitted?.

I made it that there are nine Japanese horses entered at this stage on Saturday’s card with only one on Friday. There is never more than two in one race. In the Melbourne Cup tomorrow week, there’s just a single Japanese entry,

I’ve noticed several mares are scheduled to take part while all the male horses are entires, with six-year-old Ushba Tesoro a prime contender for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Winner of his last five, that includes a comfortable success, coming from far back, over the Crisfords’ fellow six-year-old Algiers last March in the Dubai World Cup, a race normally a cinch for the American raiders.

He had a soft warm-up, collecting a puny 250 grand for a little exercising of his ageing limbs in a race in the summer, his one run since Dubai. With £7 million already in the bank, another £2.6 million wouldn’t come amiss before he goes off to stud. He’s Japanese-bred on both sides of his pedigree and as such will be in big demand when he does retire.

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting in Keeneland didn’t seem to interest Japanese stables, with just one token unplaced runner on the entire two days of action. The previous year in Del Mar, though, two females were successful, Loves Only You in the Filly and Mare Turf and Marche Lorraine in the Distaff on dirt.

Both were five-year-olds and, interestingly, 50/1 shot Marche Lorraine was ridden by Oisin Murphy, who might not have had such a long-term association with Japan as Lemaire, but he has spent plenty of time there in recent years. Marche Lorraine, incidentally, is by Ushba Tesoro’s sire, Orfevre.

The Japanese horse whose chance I like best is Songline in the Mile on Saturday. Normally this five-year-old mare – yet another one – would be facing a formidable European contingent, but after Paddington’s defection, there’s just two Godolphin UK runners, one each from Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor, and the French filly Kelina. Clearly the Americans are reacting to the criticism of and danger of injury too on the dirt tracks that have been the foundation of the US sport for more than a century, targeting the increased number of turf opportunities.

The 2021 2000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas has been in decent form this year but I have greater regard for this year’s 1000 heroine Mawj, trained by bin Suroor. She didn’t run between Newmarket in the spring and two weeks ago at Keeneland. Ridden there by Oisin, continuing the association cemented in the season’s first classic, he partnered the filly for a comfortable success in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Songline, though, another multi-million earner, has had an excellent season at home, winning two late spring Grade 1’s in Tokyo before returning from her break with an unlucky nose second also at Tokyo three weeks ago. This is one race where there are two Japanese entries; the other, Win Carnation, was fifth in that Tokyo race, starting 18/1 compared with Songline’s SP of even money.

Charlie Appleby does well at the Breeders’ Cup, especially with his juveniles, and he was delighted when front-running Ancient Wisdom stayed on well to win the Kameko Futurity at Doncaster on Saturday. The significance for Charlie was that it was a first Group 1 winner for the stable since May, and at least it will send him across the water with renewed optimism.

Ancient Wisdom’s previous run had resulted in a stylish, also front-running, win in a Group 3 at Newmarket on Dewhurst Stakes Day. The brave course for next spring would be to tackle City Of Troy, the unquestioned juvenile champion of 2023. As they say, someone needs to do it.

The runner-up on Saturday at Doncaster was the David Menuisier colt Devil’s Point, a wonderful result for always-enthusiastic owner Clive Washbourn. The French-born trainer could hardly have gone into the race in better form, having won two stakes races the day before at Chantilly and another double five days earlier at Saint-Cloud, including the Group 1 Criterium International with Sunday. Three of the four winners were two-year-olds.

The main Aidan O’Brien hope on the Santa Anita card has to be dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin who erased the memory of a sub-standard run at Ascot in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a smart win in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Fourth that day was King Of Steel, the Epsom runner-up who won for Frankie Dettori in the Champion Stakes at Ascot a couple of weeks ago.

Roger Varian also has the Amo Racing three-year-old entered for the Classic on dirt on Saturday, but I assume he takes on his two-time nemesis, although he did finish third when Auguste was tailed off in the King George behind Hukum. There’s a lot at stake for both these smart horses, their owners and trainers this weekend.

- TS

Equinox underlines superstar status in Tenno Sho

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Equinox cemented his place as the world’s number one racehorse with an imperious display in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo.

Trained by Tetsuya Kimura, the Japanese star has built up a ferocious reputation thanks to devastating displays both home and abroad, and the Dubai Sheema Classic champion was in scintillating form as he won his fifth successive Group One contest and also registered back-to-back victories in the 10-furlong event.

Sent off the odds-on favourite against 10 rivals, Equinox’s regular pilot Christophe Lemaire had the colt in a handy position throughout, tracking the blistering pace set by front-runner Jack D’Or and as the runners turned into the home straight, Equinox effortlessly cruised to the front before putting the race to bed in facile fashion.

The four-year-old’s brilliant triumph set a new 10-furlong track record as Equinox became the first horse since Almond Eye in 2019 and 2020 and the third horse overall to win consecutive editions of the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

“First of all, I am relieved to have been able to show the world, which I know was watching how the race favourite would run, that he is indeed a deserving colt to be named the highest-rated colt,” said Lemaire.

“He’s not exactly what you call a horse with incredible speed but he was able to keep up with today’s rapid pace and get into another gear at the end, but I was actually surprised when I realized that we had won in a record.

Christophe Lemaire rides Japanese superstar Equinox
Christophe Lemaire rides Japanese superstar Equinox (John Walton/PA)

“He is a versatile horse that can run from any position, stay calm during the race and make use of his speed at the finish.

“He can also run at longer distances such as when he won the Arima Kinen, so although there was much pressure coming into such a prestigious race as race favourite, I was confident knowing what he is capable of.”

Continuous improvement expected in Japan Cup

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St Leger hero Continuous is on course for a clash with Equinox in the Japan Cup.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old followed up his Classic success at Doncaster by staying on to finish fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Plans for a potential trip to Ascot for British Champions Day had to be shelved due to a minor setback, but the son of Heart’s Cry has now fully recovered.

O’Brien has never managed to win the Japan Cup, but stable jockey Ryan Moore knows what it takes to triumph in Tokyo, having partnered last year’s victor Vela Azul for Kunihiko Watanabe.

Equinox confirmed his superstar status when winning in Dubai earlier this year
Equinox confirmed his superstar status when winning in Dubai earlier this year (PA)

“We were going to go back for the Champion Stakes with him, but he got a bit of a temperature, so obviously when they get a temperature, you have to medicate them, and when you medicate them, it takes them out of the race,” O’Brien told Racing TV.

“But he’s back fine, he’s back cantering again, so the plan with him is to go to the Japan Cup (November 26).

“We were delighted with his run in the Arc. Ryan took his time, like he always does with him, and the pace just went a little bit slow in the middle of the race and that was the way it was, but he came home very well.

“Ryan was very happy with him after the run, he said his run was way better than everyone thinks it was, so hopefully we’ll go back to the Japan Cup with him.

“It’s a race we’ve never won and you need a good horse to win it, so it would be great if we could be competitive in it.

“It’ll suit him all right, because he’s a good traveller, he can handle fast and soft ground, it doesn’t matter.

“He’s got a great mind and he’s got a lot of ability that horse – he’s probably better than everyone thinks he is.”

Auguste Rodin winning the Derby
Auguste Rodin winning the Derby (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

Meanwhile, stablemate Auguste Rodin is being aimed at a fourth top-level triumph of the year in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

The Deep Impact colt is a dual Derby winner and was last seen coming home in front in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

“That’s been the plan for him all the time,” added O’Brien. “He’s done great, too. He’s had a nice break from Leopardstown and that’s probably a break like he’s never had and he’s got strong.

“All the team are delighted with him and we’re really looking forward to it.

“He’s really grown up and he’s another horse that didn’t get a chance to mature, as we trained him for the Guineas and then on to the Derby, the next Derby and the King George, so it’s tough for those baby three-year-olds.

“But we’re very happy with him, he’s had a nice little run into this and we’re looking forward to it.”

Equinox stars again with striking Takarazuka Kinen verdict

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Equinox made a blistering return to action, coming with a scything run to land the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin racecourse on Sunday.

The Japanese star was sent off a hot favourite on his first start since romping to a wide-margin success in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.

That three-and-a-half-length victory over Westover at Meydan established the Tetsuya Kimura-trained Equinox as the top horse on the planet according to the Longines World Best Racehorse standings.

On his return, Christophe Lemaire was patient towards the rear of the 17-strong field in the 11-furlong Grade One contest and was still at the back of the pack turning for home, having suffered a wide trip.

Yet the son of Kitasan Black always travelled sweetly and cruised into the lead approaching the final furlong.

Though he had just a neck to spare from outsider Through Seven Seas, the official margin was no reflection of the dominant performance, with his French rider having to pose few questions of the colt.

“Though we were unable get a good position toward the front due to the fast pace at the beginning, the horse was relaxed in the rear and I wasn’t worried at all,” said Lemaire.

“As the inner track condition was not so good, we made bid from the outside early and turned wide to the straight, where he stretched really well.

“Hanshin’s inner course is tricky and (the) Takarazuka Kinen is a difficult race to win, even for champion horses, so I’m very happy that I was able to win the race with the number one horse in the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. I realised again how strong he is. I hope to win more big races with him in the autumn.”

Equinox was completing his fourth successive top-class success, having previously taken the Tenno Sho and Arima Kinen last year before his Sheema Classic success.

Victory gives the four-year-old automatic entry to both the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley later this year, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. It is unlikely that Equinox will be seen by British racegoers, however.

Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, poured cold water any thoughts of the possibility he could turn up the Berkshire track.

He said: “Sadly, the Japanese do not appear that interested in coming over. It is a shame, but we will still continue to strive to attract the best international runners to Ascot.”

Meydan magic from Equinox in Sheema Classic

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Equinox justified his status as the best turf horse in the world, smashing the Meydan mile-and-a-half track record in landing the $6million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.

Christophe Lemaire’s mount did it the hard way, his white face leading all the way and stretching to a scintillating three-and-a-half-length victory.

The Tetsuya Kimura-trained colt, a son of Japanese sire Kitasan Black, had won the Tenno Sho in Tokyo in October and was having his first run since landing the Arima Kinen on Christmas Day.

But that pair of Group One successes paled into insignificance as Lemaire’s charge cruised on the front end, tracked by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Mostahdaf under Jim Crowley.

Lemaire always had any move covered, though, and he kicked clear with two furlongs to run and, eased down, lowered the track record by over a second.

Ralph Beckett’s Irish Derby winner Westover, who had got warm beforehand, made up some ground and finished with a flourish, but the bird had long since flown. Zagrey stayed on to pip Mostahdaf for third, but this was all about the brilliance of the winner.

Kimura said: “I have never seen such a strong horse and I am surprised as well.

“I really appreciated it that the Dubai Racing Club have invited us and I really appreciate it.

“I didn’t think about the tactics. My concern was just to get my horse in the best condition.

“He was just brilliant when he came into my yard as a two-year-old. I am not sure where he will run next.”

Lemaire first won the Sheema Classic in 2006 aboard Heart’s Cry at Nad Al Sheeba and his latest success proved poignant.

He said: “He is a fantastic horse. He is getting better race after race. Today he was a little bit fresh and keen, but OK, I rode the best horse and I had no fear to make the pace.

“I am so happy for connections. It has been a long time since I won the Sheema Classic. The last time was with Heart’s Cry and he passed away two weeks ago, so I am very grateful to this horse. Today, it is a nice tribute to him.

“Race after race he is going up on my ranking and today was a great performance against these kind of horses at the top level. I’m really glad.”

He added: “There was no strategy, I rode him by myself.

“He was fresh and quite keen, so I decided to let him go, then I slowed it down.

“He was running good and so relaxed, then when I let him go he just stretched away. He’s a fantastic horse.”

Beckett was thrilled with Westover, and can look forward to a big season ahead.

He said: “We just got beaten by a very, very good horse. He appears to be the best around, so to finish second to him is everything we could have hoped for.

“The Coronation Cup is a possible target, but I wouldn’t rule out dropping him back to 10 furlongs for an Eclipse or a Tattersalls Gold Cup.”