Landslide! Equinox emulates sire Kitasan Black by being voted Horse of the Year

Japan Racing Association announces winners chosen by the sport's journalists

Equinox and Christophe Lemaire after winning the Arima KinenCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

The JRA has announced its 2022 JRA Award winners, with Horse of the Year being Equinox, who won two Group 1s for the older horses in the autumn, the Tenno Sho Autumn and Arima Kinen.

Equinox received 282 of the 288 votes - the other six were for Titleholder. The JRA Awards are determined by the votes of 288 horseracing journalists.

A colt by Kitasan Black out of King Halo's Graded stakes-winning mare Chateau Blanche, Equinox also showed his ability in the Japanese Classics last spring, when the runner-up in both the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) under Christophe Lemaire, who has ridden him in all his races.

His first race of, and campaign plan for, 2023 have not been announced yet, but trainer Tetsuya Kimura favours an overseas expedition as he would like foreign professionals and race fans to see Equinox.

Masashi Yonemoto of Silk Racing Co Ltd, owners of Equinox, said: "Thank you very much for choosing him for this prestigious award. Equinox has made me feel that he improved in every race last year, and I think he has shown great talent.

"He was especially impressive in the Tenno Sho Autumn, where he stretched out sharply in the home straight, and in the Arima Kinen he went straight out of the home turn with an outstanding response.

"I think he is still in the process of growing, so I am looking forward to his success this year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the stables and ranches, and all the fans, who have always supported us."

Trainer Kimura added: "I am honoured to receive the prestigious award of Horse of the Year. I believe that I was able to receive this award thanks to the support of the horse owners, stable staff and everyone involved, as well as the encouragement of the fans. Thank you very much everyone."

Lemaire said: "Equinox has gradually improved over the past year, and especially since the autumn he has become an adult, and has given great performances such as in the Tenno Sho Autumn and Arima Kinen. I'm really looking forward to this year too."

In winning the award, Equinox emulates his sire Kitasan Black, who was voted the 2016 and 2017 Horse of the Year.

JRA Award winners

Horse of the Year: Equinox (Trainer Tetsuya Kimura)

Best two-year-old colt: Dolce More (Naosuke Sugai)

Best two-year-old filly: Liberty Island (Mitsumasa Nakauchida)

Best three-year-old colt: Equinox (Tetsuya Kimura)

Best three-year-old filly: Stars On Earth (Mizuki Takayanagi)

Best older colt or horse: Titleholder (Toru Kurita)

Best older filly or mare: Geraldina (Takashi Saito)

Best sprinter or miler: Serifos (Mitsumasa Nakauchida)

Best dirt horse: Cafe Pharoah (Noriyuki Hori)

Best steeplechase horse: Oju Chosan (Shoichiro Wada)