Equinox Chases Down Panthalassa for First G1 Win

The definition of "well-timed ride" got the ultimate refinement by Christophe Lemaire in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) Oct. 30 at Tokyo Racecourse. Turning into the long stretch run, Lemaire's mount, Equinox (JPN), and the rest of the 15-horse field were at least 15 lengths behind breakaway leader Panthalassa (JPN), and as that one carried on well, the cause seemed hopeless. But Lemaire, as familiar with the Tokyo layout as any native Japanese rider, had it all the way. The uphill climb early in the lane started to take its toll on Panthalassa, and Equinox started to gobble up ground outside rivals. Flashing by the judge, Equinox won by an official one length, with all of that margin earned in the final few strides. Panthalassa held second, a neck in front of Danon Beluga (JPN), with Jack d'Or (JPN) and 2021 Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby G1) winner Shahryar (JPN) fourth and fifth, respectively. Lemaire confessed after the race that he had his doubts as he sent Equinox out after Panthalassa in the stretch. "I'm happy that we were able to catch Panthalassa," he said. "When I saw him way in front of us after turning into the straight, the huge gap did worry me a bit. But my colt gave his best and displayed an incredible turn of foot." Equinox covered 2,000 meters of good-to-firm turf in 1:57.5, winning for the first time in a grade 1 while facing a field well accomplished at that level on the international scene. Panthalassa won the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1), while Shahryar took the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), both on the Dubai World Cup (G1) program in March. By contrast, Sunday's race was only the fifth of Equinox's career and his first since a second-place showing in the Tokyo Yushun in May. He opened his account going 2-for-2 as a juvenile, then finished second behind Geoglyph (JPN) in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas-G1) in preparation for the Derby. After those exertions, trainer Tetsuya Kimura realized a break was in order. "Since he still wasn't strong in the spring and not strong enough to take on the Kikuka Sho (G1) either, I proposed a 2,000-meter race and aimed him for here," Kimura said. "He returned from the farm 40 days before race day. Although he isn't dramatically bigger than he'd been in the spring, he has grown somewhat, is taller and his frame is bigger." Panthalassa's trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, predicted before the race that his colt's pacesetting tactics might be problematic in the Tenno Sho. "The Tokyo 2,000 meters isn't easy," Yahagi said, "and recently the races and the venue are favoring those stalking the pace, not the frontrunners... I think we'll have him run his usual race. That is what the fans are hoping to see and it suits him." Lemaire said the victory bodes well for the immediate future for Equinox, a son of Kitisan Black (JPN)out of the King Halo (JPN) mare Chateau Blanche. "If he comes out of this race safe and well," Lemaire said, "he has every chance to do well in the Japan Cup (G1) or the Arima Kinen (G1). This was his first grade 1 win but definitely not his last." Equinox was bred by Northern Farm and races for Silk Racing Co. Ltd.