Teaming up with Christophe Lemaire, Equinox navigated Hanshin Racecourse with efficiency and a sense of urgency in the final stretch to secure the win.
Ushba Tesoro became the first Japanese thoroughbred to win the prestigious international race since Sunday Silence descendant Victoire Pisa in 2011.
Equinox, a 3-year-old colt, galloped to victories in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Arima Kinen, securing the top individual honor for a Japanese thoroughbred.
French jockey Lemaire, who won his first Arima Kinen aboard Heart's Cry in 2005, steers race favorite Equinox to his second Grade 1 victory this year.
Trainer Tetsuya Kimura is hoping Equinox can replicate his winning form from October, when he produced a come-from-behind victory in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).
The 16 nominees boast six runners from the fans’ top choices, including Titleholder, Efforia and Equinox for the 67th running of the Arima Kinen.
After winning the Tenno Sho (Autumn) for the fourth time, Christophe Lemaire dishes out insights about racing, his rapport with horses and the current season.
Christophe Lemaire guided the Kitasan Black-sired Equinox from 10th place late in the race to the front of the pack, earning his 42nd JRA Grade One...
The winning duo finished in a race-record 2 minutes, 21.9 seconds, earning Take his sixth Japanese Derby title.
Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga aims for his third consecutive triumph in the marquee Grade 1 race at Tokyo Racecourse.
Yuichi Fukunaga pilots the 3-year-old colt to a dramatic victory at the wire in the first leg of this year’s Japanese Triple Crown.
