The 2023 Japan Cup winner Equinox was named the Longines world’s best racehorse at a ceremony in London on Tuesday. The equine superstar, who has since retired to stud, was given a rating of 135, which saw him a full 7lbs clear of Arc winner Ice Impact.
Equinox Named World’s Best Racehorse With a Rating Of 135
The Japanese-bred Equinox might have run his last race but the equine wonder horse is still winning prizes, as the son of Kitasan Black was named the 2023 Longines world’s best racehorse on Tuesday 23rd January at a ceremony in London.
Horse racing fans last saw Equinox winning the 2023 Japan Cup on 26th November – beating Liberty Island by 4-lengths at the Tokyo track – which later turned out to be his final outing on a racecourse.
Soon after that win Equinox was retired to the Shadai Stallion Station for a cool 20m JPY (approx $140,000), where his sire also stands.
Equinox scooped the world’s best racehorse award with a rating of 135, which saw him have 7lb in-hand of the next best who were the 2023 Prix de l’ Arc Triomphe winner Ace Impact and also last season’s York Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf.
WATCH: Equinox Winning The 2023 Japan Cup (26th November)
Other notable horses to make the top 10 were the 2023 Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin for Aidan O’Brien, plus King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes first and second Hukum and Westover.
Hukum is now also at stud in Japan – standing for 1.2m JPY at Darley.
QEII Stakes winner Big Rock was fourth on the list for France, with the Australian-bred and Hong Kong Mile winner Golden Sixty came in at sixth.
Hong Kong Sprint winner Lucky Sweynesse was nineth, while the much-written about Cody’s Wish was the top-rated US horse (124) in joint-tenth with a whole host of others, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio.
Longines World’s Best Racehorse rankings
- 135 Equinox
- 128 Ace Impact
- 128 Mostahdaf
- 127 Big Rock
- 127 Hukum
- 126 Golden Sixty
- 126 Westover
- 125 Auguste Rodin
- 125 Lucky Sweynesse
- 124 Cody’s Wish
- 124 Do Deuce
- 124 Paddington
- 124 Titleholder
- 124 White Abarrio
Equinox Still Rated 5lbs Lower Than The 2022 World’s Best Racehorse Flightline
Despite his lofty rating, Equinox’s 135 figure still has him 5lb inferior to the 2022 world’s best racehorse – Flightline, who was given a mark of 140 last year and the same as the mighty Frankel in 2012.
The Japan wonder horse is, however, still the next highest-rated winner since former Ascot King George hero Harbinger in 2010, who also still stands at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido.
Equinox Horse Profile
- Age: 4
- Trainer: Tetsuya Kimura
- Jockey: Christophe-Patrice Lemaire
- Owners: Silk Racing Co Ltd
- Sire: Kitasan Black
- Dam: Chateau Blanche
- Runs: 10
- Wins: 8
- Top Two Finishes: 10
- Grade/Group One Wins: 6
- Career Winnings: £14,038,786
- Final Career Rating: 135
- Stud Fee: 20m Yen
Equinox Horse Career Wins
- 2023 Japan Cup (G1)
- 2023 Tenno Sho Autumn (G1)
- 2023 Takarazuka Kinen (G1)
- 2023 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)
- 2022 Arima Kinen Grand Prix (G1)
- 2022 Tenno Sho Autumn (G1)
- 2021 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2)
- 2021 Maiden
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