The equestrian races see one new racehorse after another enter the sport year after year. While many such equine partners achieve great heights in their careers, a select few raise the bar each time they enter the racetrack. Although these bars are too high for anyone to reach, a defier or two does manage to beat them once in a blue moon.

Japanese equestrian racehorse Equinox was one such barsetter who easily made every other equine bite the dust. Fans across the globe recently saluted Equinox as he retired from racing in November. Interestingly, the last conqueror of the four-year-old racehorse is entering a prestigious race. Will the Equinox defeater be able to trounce his foes in the upcoming Grade 1 event?

The defier of a legendary equestrian racehorse walks into the Grand Prix race

The Grade 1 Arima Kinen Grand Prix race has returned for its 68th iteration. The elite equestrian event will take place on 24 December, making a Christmas Eve appearance after six long years. Interestingly, despite Equinox having already retired, fan polls elected him, and another retired horse Liberty Island as the top favorites of the race.

The equestrian community heavily loves Equinox, who is also labeled as a superhorse by many. Equinox raced down the tracks like a flash of lightning, taking the first position in every race by default. His on-track heroics paid off heavily for his owners, Equinox earned a whopping $15,930,077 in his career. 

Moreover, $9,893,857 of that amount was earned in 2023, when it won all four races it started in. The Japan Cup winner also bagged the 2022 Japanese Horse of the Year Award. Interestingly, 2022 was also the only year in his career when he was forced to take the second position.

While Equinox is one of the world’s best equestrian racehorses, he couldn’t maintain a perfect career record just like Secretariat. The four-year-old suffered his last defeat on 29th May 2022 in the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun Japanese Derby. The racehorse who added the second loss to Equinox’s 8-2 career record was another four-year-old named Do Deuce. While Equinox would have defended his Arima Kinen title this year, his defier will now enter the race in his stead.

Will Do Deuce take another hit at Equinox in the Arima Kiren?

The Grade 1 Arima Kiren Grand Prix was the final race of Equinox in 2022. The victory significantly added to the declaration of the equestrian racehorse as the Horse of the Year. Do Deuce and his team will enter the Grand Prix as the horse’s 12th career appearance. While Do Deuce may have defeated Equinox last year, its stats aren’t as impressive as one would assume.

Do Deuce has won just five races in its career, with just one win after he triumphed over Equinox last year. Moreover, Equinox has already taken his revenge over Do Deuce in the Grade 1 Japan Cup held on 26 November this year. The mighty equestrian racehorse crossed the finish line first while his former defier failed to manage the third position and came fourth.

But, this shouldn’t be a reason to underestimate the surprising equestrian racehorse. Do Deuce ended 2022 with a devastating defeat, finishing at the 19th position in the Grade 1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. However, it began its 2023 season with a blast and claimed victory in the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen.

After all, Do Deuce is a Grade 1 racer, and can’t be ruled out of the list of potential winners. The current favorites who will actually be racing in the equestrian race include Justin Palace, Titleholder, Tastiera, Sol Oriens, Deep Bond, and Do Deuce. 

The Equinox defier will also meet the 2023 winner of the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun Japanese Derby, the same race where it bested Equinox. But, this will not be a problem for Do Deuce as long as he repeats his own Japanese Derby Performance.

The equestrian race when Equinox fell for the last time in his career

Equinox and Do Deuce entered the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun Japanese Derby intending to get back to their winning ways. Equinox had just taken his first loss in his previous race. Do Deuce on the other hand had failed to come first in two races after three consecutive career-opening wins.

The race started as the then three-year-old thoroughbreds ran faster than their opponents, slowly losing them behind. Both horses matched each other’s speeds and raced down the grassy equestrian racetrack. Do Deuce had the lead and never lost it as he blazed past the last furlong to clinch the win.

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Equinox was beaten for the second consecutive time. Equestrian fans watched the showdown while being on the edge of their seats as the winner wasn’t unveiled until the race’s final moments. Will Do Deuce race as hard as the Japanese Derby in the Arima Kiren Grand Prix and close his 2023 season with a big win?

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