The horse racing world knew the name Equinox not just for his impressive pedigree but for the sheer dominance he displayed on the track. A brown colt foaled in 2019, Equinox retired in 2023 with a record of eight wins from ten starts, cementing his status as a legend. His career earnings soared to over 2.2 billion yen (approximately $15.8 million), making him the first Japanese-trained horse to surpass the 2-billion-yen mark. His list of victories reads like a catalog of the sport’s most prestigious events: he captured the Japan Cup, the Dubai Sheema Classic, the Takarazuka Kinen, and won the Tenno Sho Autumn twice.

Equinox’s extraordinary performances earned him the title of World’s Best Racehorse in 2023 and back-to-back Japanese Horse of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023, solidifying his place in the history books before his retirement to stud. Bred by Northern Farm and raced by Silk Racing, just like her brother, and trained by the same masterful hands of Tetsuya Kimura, the anticipation for her debut was immense.

Exceed did not disappoint. As reported by Netkeiba, as the race favorite, she settled in mid-pack under jockey Christophe Lemaire before unleashing a powerful late surge in the final stretch to win by a length and a half, instantly justifying the hype surrounding her. The similarities to her famous brother were immediately apparent.

Trainer Tetsuya Kimura, who conditioned Equinox to global acclaim, expressed his satisfaction with the debut. He said, “She has quite a few weaknesses, and I could see some of them today. She was running a bit tight early on, but once her engine kicked in, she showed a great turn of foot. She’s similar to her brother in her development, temperament, and spirit. I’m relieved she could start her career with a win.”

This observation of a shared calm yet focused temperament, along with sharp acceleration, echoes the qualities that made Equinox so formidable. Jockey Christophe Lemaire, who piloted both horses, also seemed pleased, commenting on how easy Exceed was to ride. “She’s very easy to ride. Once she settled, she was completely professional. When I asked her to go, she responded instantly and kept extending. She wasn’t even tired at the end. She reminds me of her father, Kitasan Black,” the jockey expressed.

For Exceed, the path forward is one of high expectation and limitless potential. Her successful first outing is more than just a win; it is the thrilling beginning of a new chapter in one of racing’s most celebrated bloodlines, offering the tantalizing possibility that another superstar has arrived. However, how fierce were both Equinox’s and Exceed’s sire?

Looking at the career of another Japanese horse racing legend

Kitasan Black is a legendary Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse who really made a name for himself as one of the top horses of his time. He won seven Grade 1 races and even set a record for the most prize money earned in Japan, raking in over 1.8 billion yen (which is about $16.5 million). The bay colt, born in 2012, was bred by Yanagawa Bokujo and owned by Ōno Shōji, which is linked to singer Saburo Kitajima.

Hisashi Shimizu trained him during his impressive horse racing career. He’s had some amazing wins, like three Tenno Sho titles in a row (Spring 2016, Spring 2017, and Autumn 2017), the Japan Cup in 2016, the Osaka Hai in 2017, and a really special retirement victory in the Arima Kinen in 2017. He really wowed everyone with his amazing performances on the track, which led to him being voted Japanese Horse of the Year in both 2016 and 2017. Jockey Yutaka Take, who teamed up with Kitasan Black for a lot of his big wins, really admired the horse’s fighting spirit.

After a close victory in the Tenno Sho (Spring), he mentioned, “I was intending to settle him in a good position after the start. He ran an ideal race, he responded beautifully. He’s not the type with an enormous burst of speed, so we made an early bid. It was so close but I’m glad he never gave up and stretched the way he did.”

After hanging up his racing shoes in 2017, Kitasan Black made his way into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2020, really cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats. His legacy is now in the hands of his children, and Equinox has already become a horse racing legend in his own right. Now, it’s time for Equinox’s sister, Exceed, to take the spotlight.