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Winners of the 2023 JRA Awards announced

3 minute read

Equinox was announced as a double winner for the JRA Awards for 2023.

EQUINOX winning the Japan Cup at Tokyo in Japan. Picture: Japan Racing Association

Equinox won both the Japan Racing Association's Horse of the Year for 2023 and Best Older Colt or Horse award. In the voting for the Horse of the Year award, Equinox received 293 votes out of 295.

The Horse of the Year title is the highest honor given to JRA-registered race horses and is selected by the Horse of the Year Selection Committee represented by journalists of various dailies and magazines.

Note: All information, including ages and race performances, are as of December 31, 2023, unless otherwise indicated.

Horse of the Year and Best Older Colt or Horse:

Equinox (JPN)
4-Year-Old, Brown, Colt

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Kitasan Black
Chateau Blanche (King Halo)
Owner Silk Racing Co. Ltd.
Trainer Tetsuya Kimura
Jockey Christophe Lemaire
Breeder Northern Farm
Wins / Starts in 2023 4 / 4
(Overseas 1/1)
Earnings in 2023 1,408,844,100 Yen
(Overseas 458,890,100 Yen)
Principal Wins in 2023 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)
Takarazuka Kinen (G1)
Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1)
Japan Cup (G1)

Comments from the horse's connections

Owner: Masashi Yonemoto, CEO of Silk Racing Co. Ltd.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the honor of being recognized with the Horse of the Year award. Equinox's two races in the autumn – the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and his final run the Japan Cup – were extremely impressive. In these, after enduring the intense summer heat, he exhibited further maturity and gave performances that could be only be called the picture of perfection. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude in recognizing all those involved with Equinox's care, all those at the stable and the farms, and all the fans who gave us their warm support. With the debut of his progeny, I think we can anticipate, at the earliest in 2027, what Equinox himself was unable to attain -- victory in the classics."

Trainer: Tetsuya Kimura
"I consider it a great honor for Equinox, a horse in my care, to be recognized as the Horse of the Year. In 2023, he was able to win on his first trip overseas and in his race in Kansai. Later in the year, in his two races in the fall, I believe his world-class performances were adequate in convincing his fans around the world that he was No. 1. From this year, he will, as stallion, shoulder the expectations of his fans. And, I believe that he will meet those expectations and that his fans can eagerly look forward to that day. I ask for your continued support of JRA racing."

Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
"In 2023, Equinox gave us top-level, spectacular performances, for a perfect record of four wins from four races. In Dubai, he showed the world his ability and held his No. 1 spot in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. And, he demonstrated his true strength in the Takarazuka Kinen, the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and in the Japan Cup. He is a horse I will never forget. And I think his performances are something that none of his fans will ever forget, and no one in any way involved with him will ever forget."

Best Two-Year-Old Colt:

Jantar Mantar (JPN)
2-Year-Old, Dark Bay, Colt

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Palace Malice
India Mantuana (Wilburn)
Owner Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd.
Trainer Tomokazu Takano
Jockey Yuga Kawada
Breeder Shadai Farm
Wins / Starts in 2023 3 / 3
Earnings in 2023 116,810,000 Yen
Principal Wins in 2023 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1)

Best Two-Year-Old Filly:

Ascoli Piceno (JPN)
2-Year-Old, Dark Bay, Filly

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Daiwa Major
Ascolti (Danehill Dancer)
Owner Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.
Trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa
Jockey Hiroshi Kitamura
Breeder Northern Farm
Wins / Starts in 2023 3 / 3
Earnings in 2023 104,936,000 Yen
Principal Wins in 2023 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1)

Best Three-Year-Old Colt:

Tastiera (JPN)
3-Year-Old, Bay, Colt

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Satono Crown
Partitura (Manhattan Cafe)
Owner Carrot Farm Co. Ltd.
Trainer Noriyuki Hori
Jockey Damian Lane
Breeder Northern Farm
Wins / Starts in 2023 2 / 6
Earnings in 2023 563,053,000 Yen
Principal Wins in 2023 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1)
 
LIBERTY ISLAND winning the Shuka Sho at Kyoto in Japan. Picture: Japan Racing Association

Best Three-Year-Old Filly:

Liberty Island (JPN)
3-Year-Old, Bay, Filly

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Duramente
Yankee Rose (All American)
Owner Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.
Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida
Jockey Yuga Kawada
Breeder Northern Racing
Wins / Starts in 2023 3 / 4
Earnings in 2023 659,008,000 Yen
Principal Wins in 2023 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1)
Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1)
Shuka Sho (G1)

Best Older Filly or Mare and Best Miler:

Songline (JPN)
5-Year-Old, Brown, Mare

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Kizuna
Luminous Parade (Symboli Kris S)
Owner Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.
Trainer Toru Hayashi
Jockey Keita Tosaki
Breeder Northern Farm
Wins / Starts in 2023 2 / 5
(Overseas 0/2)
Earnings in 2023 352,421,800 Yen
(Overseas 7,911,800 Yen)
Principal Wins in 2023 Victoria Mile (G1)
Yasuda Kinen (G1)

Best Sprinter:

Mama Cocha (JPN)
4-Year-Old, Bay, Filly

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Kurofune
Buchiko (King Kamehameha)
Owner Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd.
Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee
Jockey Yuga Kawada
Breeder Kaneko Makoto Holdings Inc.
Wins / Starts in 2023 2 / 5
Earnings in 2023 223,671,000 Yen
Principal Wins in 2023 Sprinters Stakes (G1)
 
LEMON POP winning the Champions Cup at Chukyo in Japan. Picture: Japan Racing Association

Best Dirt Horse:

Lemon Pop (USA)
5-Year-Old, Chestnut, Horse

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Lemon Drop Kid
Unreachable (Giant's Causeway)
Owner Godolphin
Trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka
Jockey Ryusei Sakai
Breeder Mr. & Mrs. Oliver S. Tait
Wins / Starts in 2023 4 / 5
(Overseas 0/1, NAR 1 / 1)
Earnings in 2023 357,287,000 Yen
(NAR 70,000,000 Yen)
Principal Wins in 2023 February Stakes (G1)
Mile Championship Nambu Hai
Champions Cup (G1)
 
MEINER GRAND winning the Nakayama Daishogai at Nakayama in Japan. Picture: Japan Racing Association

Best Steeplechase Horse:

Meiner Grand (JPN)
5-Year-Old, Brown, Horse

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Gold Ship
Meine Nouvelle (Brian's Time)
Owner Thoroughbred Club Ruffian Co. Ltd.
Trainer Takafumi Aoki
Jockey Shinichi Ishigami
Breeder Big Red Farm
Wins / Starts in 2023 4 / 4
Earnings in 2023 134,847,000 Yen
Principal Wins in 2023 Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1)
 
USHBA TESORO winning the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Picture: Christopher Pike/Getty Images

Special Award:

Ushba Tesoro (JPN)
6-Year-Old, Bay, Horse

Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Orfevre
Millefeui Attach (King Kamehameha)
Owner Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co. Ltd.
Trainer Noboru Takagi
Jockey Yuga Kawada
Breeder Chiyoda Farm Shizunai
Wins / Starts in 2023 4 / 5
(Overseas 1/2, NAR 3/3)
Earnings in 2023 1,161,515,800 Yen
(Overseas 941,515,800 Yen,
NAR 220,000,000 Yen)
Principal Wins in 2023 Kawasaki Kinen
Dubai World Cup
Tokyo Daishoten (G1)

Trainers & Jockeys

*Best Trainer (races won): Haruki Sugiyama (56 wins)
*Best Trainer (winning average): Tetsuya Kimura (0.209)
*Best Trainer (money earned): Yoshito Yahagi (2,732,768,100 Yen)
*Best Trainer (training technique): Tetsuya Kimura

JRA Best Jockey (races won): Christophe Lemaire (165 wins)
JRA Best Jockey (winning average): Yuga Kawada (0.305)
JRA Best Jockey (money earned): Christophe Lemaire (5,084,761,000 Yen)
**MVJ (Most Valuable Jockey): Kohei Matsuyama (47 points)
Best Steeplechase Jockey: Shinichi Ishigami
Best Jockey (newcomer): Kanta Taguchi

*Trainers' figures include National Association of Racing (NAR; Racing by Local Governments) and overseas race results.

**The MVJ is determined by points allotted a jockey for his or her ranking in four different categories for designated JRA, NAR and overseas races. The four categories are "number of wins," "win average," "earnings," and "number of rides for the year." The MVJ award is bestowed upon the jockey with the highest total points.