November 22, 2024

Speaking of the Japan Cup, last year Equinox won with a spectacular run, attracting much attention as his retirement race. In the race, Panthalassa made a huge breakaway, covering the first 1000 meters in the 57-second range, while Equinox followed Title Holder in second place, more than 10 lengths behind. He calmly pursued in the straight and ultimately pulled away from Liberty Island for a comfortable victory. Looking back on the race, Christophe said, "The race unfolded as expected, and although I was far behind the leading Panthalassa, I was in an ideal position behind the stamina-rich Title Holder. When I gave the go-ahead to Equinox in the straight, I was confident that he would be fine unless a rocket-like horse came up from behind!!"

"The time I spent with Equinox was a very important moment in my career," Christophe said. As evidenced by his track record, the pressure steadily increased with each race. "Not only was I able to feel the gaze of so many fans, but the attention from both Japanese and international media was immense. Still, it was the greatest happiness for a jockey to be able to ride such a special horse," he recalled. He added, "There were several times when the going wasn't always in my favor, but Equinox's power made up for it. It was at those times that I realized the importance of remaining calm and leading the race with confidence." He spoke of the immeasurable learning that comes from riding a champion horse. After his retirement, Equinox began a new career as a stallion at Shadai Stallion Station, where he proved so popular that he mated with over 200 mares in his first year. This summer, Christophe visited the ranch to reunite with his "comrade-in-arms."

Last week on November 14th, "CL by C. Lemaire" released a special tribute T-shirt in collaboration with Silk Racing. The T-shirt features a famous scene from the Japan Cup by artist Ryuichi Obana, and is a masterpiece that shines with the artisanal silkscreen printing technique. Christophe also shared a message saying, "I can confidently recommend this piece as a tribute to Equinox. Please wear this T-shirt and enjoy the races at the racetrack." This year's Japan Cup is sure to produce another memorable battle. We hope you will witness this historic moment at the racetrack and fully experience the allure of horse racing!