FROM: Yuji Kinoshita
General Manager, Media & Publicity Department, The Japan Racing Association (JRA)
DATE: January 20, 2014
Phenomenal Sprinter Lord Kanaloa Named 2013 Horse of the Year
The Japan Racing Association will present its 2013 Horse of the Year Award to Lord
Kanaloa, who earned 209 of 280 votes for a superb racing season adorned with four
G1 victories, including a repeat win in the Hong Kong Sprint. The award will be
presented during the annual JRA Award ceremony in Tokyo on January 27, where
horses, trainers, jockeys and thoroughbred-related individuals and organizations are
recognized for accomplished performances or achievements each season.
Lord Kanaloa, the only short-distance runner besides Taiki Shuttle (1998) to
receive the JRA’s highest honor, also was the unanimous pick for Best Sprinter or
Miler, which he won in 2012 as well.
Lord Kanaloa at
2013 Hong Kong Sprint
Another unanimous selection was Meisho Mambo for Best Three-Year-Old Filly. Orfevre, who gave a
powerful performance in an eight-length victory, the last run of his career, claimed his second consecutive
title for Best Older Colt or Horse by a wide margin. Two-time Japan Cup winner and last year’s Horse of
the Year Gentildonna was the overwhelming choice for Best Older Filly or Mare.
Trainers’ awards are presented for wins, earnings and winning average (in JRA races and designated
National Association of Racing [NAR] and overseas races) and training technique. Three of the four
categories were won by Katsuhiko Sumii, who collected his third straight award for Races Won and
fourth awards overall for both Money Earned (also 2005, 2008 and 2010) and Training Technique (also
2009–2011). Hideaki Fujiwara took the award for Winning Average, which he also won in 2007 and
2008.
The criteria for JRA Awards presented to jockeys changed in 2013, with winners now decided by wins,
purses and winning average in JRA races only. Yuichi Fukunaga, a two-time JRA Award winner for
Newcomer in 1996 and Winning Average in 2011, won Races Won and Money Earned for the first time
each. Yuga Kawada and Jun Takada won their inaugural JRA Awards for Winning Average and Best
Steeplechase Jockey, respectively. The legendary Yutaka Take was given the Special Award for
noteworthy achievements, including an unprecedented 100th G1 victory. No one qualified for Best Jockey
(Newcomer), which requires at least 30 wins.
A new annual award, Most Valuable Jockey, was presented to Yuichi Fukunaga for amassing the most
points for combined rankings in wins, winning average, earnings and total rides in JRA races and
designated NAR and overseas races.
The Equine Culture Award went to Harumitsu Umezaki, a journalist for Sports Nippon Newspapers,
whose nonfiction “Ryukyu Horse Racing Lost—In Search of Legendary Champion Hikoki” vividly
reprises the history of a unique horse racing sport that was an integral part of Okinawan culture for
centuries. Umezaki is the first active newspaper reporter to be presented with a JRA Award.
Notes: All information, including ages and race performances, are as of December 31, 2013, unless otherwise indicated.
Wins and earnings figures include National Association of Racing (local public racing) and overseas starts designated
by the JRA for consideration in voting.
“Position” under “Season Performances” shows the horse’s position in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and final corners, from left to
right. “L3F” shows the time over the last three furlongs (600m).
1
HORSE OF THE YEAR
BEST SPRINTER OR MILER
Lord Kanaloa (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Career Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
5 (March 11, 2008)
Horse / Bay
King Kamehameha
Lady Blossom (Storm Cat)
Lord Horse Club
K. I. Farm
Takayuki Yasuda
Yasunari Iwata
6 starts, 5 wins, 1 second / ¥ 456,791,900
19 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third / ¥ 850,200,800
Hong Kong Sprint (G1), Sprinters Stakes (G1), Yasuda Kinen (G1),
Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1), Hankyu Hai (G3)
Lord Kanaloa marked a spectacular 2013 season by scoring five wins out of six starts and firmly
establishing himself as one of the greatest sprinters in the world. His consecutive victories in six G1
events — Sprinters Stakes and Hong Kong Sprint (both in 2012 & 2013) and Takamatsunomiya Kinen
and Yasuda Kinen — are part of the legacy he has left behind following his retirement at the end of 2013.
After an overwhelming six-length victory in his only start as a two-year-old, the King Kamehameha colt
in his first two starts at three just missed by 1/2-length both times, but then went undefeated in his next
four races over 1,200 meters, the last being his grade-race debut in the Keihan Hai (G3, 1,200m).
In his 2012 kick-off, Lord Kanaloa extended his winning streak to five with another grade-race victory,
the Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m), after which he finished third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. He
captured his first G1 victory in the Sprinters Stakes, giving trainer Takayuki Yasuda a one-two finish
along with defending champion Curren Chan, who finished second. His impressive season, which
included becoming the first Japanese runner to claim the Hong Kong Sprint, earned him the season’s Best
Sprinter or Miler award.
The son of King Kamehameha was virtually untouchable over sprint distances during 2013, claiming both
the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and the Sprinters Stakes. He also proved to be a world-class miler by
winning the Yasuda Kinen against a field that included two contingents from Hong Kong. In the final run
of his career, the Hong Kong Sprint, the defending champion did not disappoint despite starting from
outside barrier 12. He displayed his brilliant speed to gain the lead with 300 meters to go and then
dominating by five lengths at the wire—the biggest margin ever in the race. The victory made him the
first runner to claim two consecutive Hong Kong Sprint titles since Silent Witness in 2003 and 2004.
Now having begun his new career at Shadai Stallion Station, his fans wait with high expectations to see
his offspring in action in the coming future.
Season Performances of Lord Kanaloa
Racecourse
Dist. (m)
Going
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
'13
Hong Kong Sprint (G1)
12.08
Sha Tin
(HK)
1200
Firm
Y. Iwata
(57.0)
-
-
6
09.29 Sprinters Stakes (G1)
Nakayama
(JPN)
1200
Firm
Y. Iwata
(57.0)
-
09.08 Centaur Stakes (G2)
Hanshin
(JPN)
1200
Firm
Y. Iwata
(58.0)
06.02 Yasuda Kinen (G1)
Tokyo
(JPN)
1600
Firm
03.24 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1)
Chukyo
(JPN)
02.24 Hankyu Hai (G3)
Hanshin
(JPN)
Date
Race
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
4
1 / 14
(Sole Power)
1:08.2
(0.8)
- 7
(33.8)
5
1 / 16
(Hakusan Moon)
1:07.2
(0.1)
-
- 3
(33.4)
3
2 / 13
Hakusan Moon
1:07.5
(0.0)
Y. Iwata
(58.0)
-
- 8
(33.3)
8
1 / 18
(Shonan Mighty)
1:31.5
(0.0)
1200
Firm
Y. Iwata
(57.0)
-
- 9
(33.2)
7
1 / 17
(Dream Valentino)
1:08.1R
(0.2)
1400
Firm
Y. Iwata
(58.0)
-
- 5
(34.5)
5
1 / 16
(Majin Prosper)
1:21.0
(0.1)
2
Position
(L3F)
BEST TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT
Asia Express (USA)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
2 (February 9, 2011)
Colt / Chestnut
Henny Hughes
Running Bobcats (Running Stag)
Yukio Baba
Ocala Stud
Takahisa Tezuka
Ryan Moore
3 starts, 3 wins / ¥ 88,131,000
Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1)
Asia Express demonstrated exceptional power in his first test on turf to score a comfortable 1-1/4-length
victory in last year’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, closing out a brief but spectacular first season. In his
debut barely a month earlier, on November 3 at Tokyo Racecourse in a 1,400-meter 16-field dirt race, the
Henny Hughes colt kicked off his career with a sensational five-length victory. Three weeks later,
partnered by top British jockey Ryan Moore, the US-bred chestnut gave another terrific performance in
winning the Oxalis Sho by a dominant seven-length victory.
Initially aiming for the championship two-year-old dirt race held by the National Association of Racing
(NAR), the colt was excluded from the list of five JRA two-year-old dirt runners eligible to run in the race.
Instead, his connections decided that his speed and power would be effective over turf in the Asahi Hai
Futurity Stakes, in which the colt was also qualified to start.
So, by a twist of fate, Asia Express was given a chance in his first season to prove that he can excel both
on turf and dirt. Sent to post fourth choice in his turf debut, Asia Express bided his time along the rails in
mid-field under Moore, then accelerated impressively to contend at the stretch. Then he rallied with two
other foes while overtaking the tiring leader 100 meters out and finally drew away for a clear victory.
The first dirt runner in JRA history to have claimed a turf G1 title in his inaugural test over grass, Asia
Express’ options for his 2014 season are open wide, though it is most probable that he will begin his
three-year-old season on turf.
Season Performances of Asia Express
Date
Racecourse
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
Nakayama
(JPN)
1600
Firm
R. Moore
(55.0)
-
11 9
(35.3)
Oxalis Sho
(Allowance (5Million & Less))
Tokyo
(JPN)
1600D*
Standard
R. Moore
(55.0)
-
Two-Year-Olds
Tokyo
(JPN)
1400D*
Standard
U. Rispoli
(55.0)
-
Race
'13
Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1)
12.15
11.23
11.03
*D=Dirt
Dist. (m)
Going
(Newcomer)
3
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
7
1 / 16
(Shonan Achieve)
1:34.7
(0.2)
- 2
(37.6)
2
1 / 16
(Pean)
1:37.9
(1.1)
- 8
(36.9)
6
1 / 16
(Autumn Love)
1:26.5
(0.9)
Position
(L3F)
BEST TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Red Reveur (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
2 (February 19, 2011)
Filly / Dark Bay or Brown
Stay Gold
Desaucered (Dixieland Band)
Tokyo Horse Racing Co., Ltd.
Shadai Farm
Naosuke Sugai
Keita Tosaki
3 starts, 3 wins / ¥ 103,862,000
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1), Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3)
Red Reveur marked her third consecutive win in claiming the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, thereby
becoming the champion two-year-old filly of the 2013 season.
After debuting at Hanshin, the Stay Gold filly turned in a high-class performance in the Sapporo Nisai
Stakes. The lightly framed filly bided her time while saving ground near the back of the field before
advancing past most of the young two-year-olds, who used up their energy over the extremely deep going
after the third corner. She dug deeply after angling out to make headway between horses at the top of the
stretch and finally wore down the tenacious leader for a neck victory.
In the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, following a lengthy break, she was sent to post fifth choice against a
number of quality two-year-old fillies boasting grade-race victories and winning streaks. But Red Reveur
confirmed her superiority after a hard-fought rally to the line with other foes to claim the champion title
by a nose.
She is trained by Naosuke Sugai, who also saddled Gold Ship to multiple G1 victories during 2012 and
2013. The victory was the second consecutive title in the race for Sugai, after Robe Tissage in 2012. For
jockey Keita Tosaki, who transferred from NAR to JRA in March, it was his first G1 victory as a JRA
jockey and second overall, following a win in the Yasuda Kinen in 2011 while based at Ohi Racecourse
(NAR).
The filly, who is still growing, has much of her sire’s qualities according to her connections. Expectations
are high for a successful season as a three-year-old, which will likely begin with the Tulip Sho (G3,
1,600m) in March or the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) in April.
Season Performances of Red Reveur
Racecourse
Dist. (m)
Going
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
'13
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1)
12.08
Hanshin
(JPN)
1600
Firm
K. Tosaki
(54.0)
-
- 8
(34.1)
08.31 Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3)
Hakodate
(JPN)
1800
Soft
Y. Iwata
(54.0)
9
Hanshin
(JPN)
1600
Firm
C. Williams
(54.0)
-
Date
06.01
Race
Two-Year-Olds
(Newcomer)
4
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
8
1 / 18
(Harp Star)
1:33.9
(0.0)
10 8
(41.3)
4
1 / 14
(Meine Greville)
1:59.7
(0.0)
- 3
(33.3)
3
1/5
(Taisei Lullaby)
1:37.9
(0.1)
Position
(L3F)
BEST THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT
Kizuna (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Career Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
3 (March 5, 2010)
Colt / Dark Bay or Brown
Deep Impact
Catequil (Storm Cat)
Shinji Maeda
North Hills Co., Ltd.
Shozo Sasaki
Yutaka Take
6 starts, 4 wins / ¥ 367,181,800
9 starts, 6 wins, 1 third / ¥ 391,957,800
Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1), Prix Niel (G2),
Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2), Mainichi Hai (G3)
Kizuna was named Best Three-Year-Old Colt for a stellar 2013 campaign distinguished by a four-race
winning streak — all at the grade-race level — including the Prix Niel in France.
Debuting in October 2012, the Deep Impact colt won his first two starts and then finished third and fifth
in his next two graded outings. After claiming an inaugural grade-race win in his second start of 2013, a
convincing three-length victory in the Mainichi Hai, his connections passed up the first leg of the Triple
Crown, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), and instead chose the Kyoto Shimbun Hai while
looking ahead to a possible run in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). The dark bay colt gave a
performance reminiscent of his legendary sire — sitting far back early, rounding the field wide into the
straight and then mowing down his rivals with a terrific turn of speed. Sent to post favorite in the Derby,
the second leg of the Triple Crown Classic, he once again provided a thrilling finish with another late
charge. The win gave jockey Yutaka Take a record five Derby titles, including with Deep Impact in 2005.
Shipped to France for his first overseas challenge following a summer break, Kizuna ran in the Prix Niel
and prevailed over British Derby victor Ruler of the World in a tight finish to boost his credentials prior to
the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Sent to post third-favorite in the Arc, Kizuna held on well for fourth,
certainly not disgracing himself against top G1 and Classic winners from around the globe.
Taking off the remainder of the season to rest, Kizuna is set to start his four-year-old campaign with the
Sankei Osaka Hai (G2, 2,000m) and then aim for the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) and the
Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m). If all goes well, he will prepare for his second challenge in the Prix de
l’Arc de Triomphe thereafter.
Season Performances of Kizuna
Date
Race
'13
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1)
10.06
09.15 Prix Niel (G2)
05.26
Tokyo Yushun (G1)
(Japanese Derby)
05.04 Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2)
03.23 Mainichi Hai (G3)
03.03 Yayoi Sho (G2)
Racecourse
Dist. (m)
Going
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
Longchamp
(FR)
Longchamp
(FR)
Tokyo
(JPN)
Kyoto
(JPN)
Hanshin
(JPN)
Nakayama
(JPN)
2400
Yielding
2400
Yielding
2400
Firm
2200
Firm
1800
Firm
2000
Firm
Y. Take
(56.0)
Y. Take
(58.0)
Y. Take
(57.0)
Y. Take
(56.0)
Y. Take
(56.0)
Y. Take
(56.0)
5
Position
(L3F)
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
16 15 14 14
(33.5)
16 16 15 13
(34.5)
- 11 10
(34.3)
10 9 8 7
(34.8)
4 / 17
Treve
1 / 10
(Ruler of the World)
1 / 18
(Epiphaneia)
1 / 16
(Peptide Amazon)
1 / 13
(Geyersworth)
5 / 12
Camino Tassajara
2:32.0
(1.1)
2:37.6
(0.0)
2:24.3
(0.1)
2:12.3
(0.2)
1:46.2
(0.5)
2:01.0
(0.1)
BEST THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Meisho Mambo (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Career Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
3 (February 25, 2010)
Filly / Bay
Suzuka Mambo
Meisho Momoka (Grass Wonder)
Yoshio Matsumoto
Yoshio Matsumoto
Akihiro Iida
Koshiro Take
8 starts, 5 wins, 1 second / ¥ 391,067,000
10 starts, 6 wins, 1 second / ¥ 398,067,000
Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1), Shuka Sho (G1),
Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1), Fillies’ Revue (G2)
Meisho Mambo capped off a very successful three-year-old campaign with a third G1 victory in her first
challenge against older fillies and mares. This achievement, along with victories in two of the Fillies’
Triple Crown races — the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and the Shuka Sho — stamped her as the
uncontested choice for Best Three-Year-Old Filly.
Meisho Mambo won her debut in late November and selected from a draw to run in the Hanshin Juvenile
Fillies two weeks later, where she finished tenth. After a runner-up effort in her first three-year-old start in
January, the Suzuka Mambo filly won two in a row, including her first grade-race victory in the Fillies’
Revue. In the following Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), however, she was unable to perform from an
outermost gate and finished tenth. Her potential finally blossomed in her first G1 victory in the Yushun
Himba. Rated along the rails behind a very solid pace, which allowed the bold filly to exert a bursting
turn of speed at the stretch, she took command and effortlessly sustained her lead to the wire for a
1-1/4-length victory. Meisho Mambo thus became the first G1 winner sired by 2005 Tenno Sho (Spring)
winner Suzuka Mambo. Her second triple-crown title, the Shuka Sho, showcased an even stronger side as
the bay filly unleashed a powerful late charge after racing wide throughout the 2,000-meter trip for
another comfortable win. She demonstrated even greater ability with a win against older mares in the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
When trainer Akihiro Iida retires in February, Meisho Mambo will be handed down to his son, Yuji, who
partnered with her as a jockey in her first two career starts. The filly is headed towards the Sankei Osaka
Hai as her four-year-old debut, where she could face Kizuna for the first time.
Season Performances of Meisho Mambo
Racecourse
Dist. (m)
Going
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
'13
Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1)
11.10
Kyoto
(JPN)
2200
Yielding
K. Take
(54.0)
7
7 8
(34.1)
10.13 Shuka Sho (G1)
Kyoto
(JPN)
2000
Firm
K. Take
(55.0)
11 11 8
(34.2)
Hanshin
(JPN)
1800
Yielding
K. Take
(54.0)
-
Tokyo
(JPN)
2400
Firm
K. Take
(55.0)
Hanshin
(JPN)
1600
Firm
Hanshin
(JPN)
Kobushi Sho
(Allowance (5Million & Less))
Kobai Stakes
Date
Race
09.15 Rose Stakes (G2)
05.19
Yushun Himba (G1)
(Japanese Oaks)
04.07
Oka Sho (G1)
(Japanese 1000 Guineas)
03.10 Filiies' Revue (G2)
02.16
01.14
(Open Class)
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
7
1 / 18
(Lachesis)
2:16.6
(0.2)
8
1 / 18
(Smart Layer)
1:58.6
(0.2)
- 10
(36.3)
9
4 / 18
Denim and Ruby
1:47.7
(0.1)
9
9 7
(34.6)
7
1 / 18
(Ever Blossom)
2:25.2
(0.2)
K. Take
(55.0)
-
- 9
(36.5)
7
10 / 18
Ayusan
1:35.0
(0.9)
1400
Firm
Y. Kawada
(54.0)
-
- 11 11
(34.8)
1 / 16
(Nancy Shine)
1:22.1
(0.2)
Kyoto
(JPN)
1600
Good
K. Take
(54.0)
-
- 6
(34.3)
7
1/9
(Dynamic Guy)
1:37.2
(0.2)
Kyoto
(JPN)
1400
Yielding
K. Take
(54.0)
-
- 8
(36.5)
8
2 / 16
Red Oval
1:23.5
(0.5)
6
Position
(L3F)
BEST OLDER COLT OR HORSE
Orfevre (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Career Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
5 (May 14, 2008)
Horse / Chestnut
Stay Gold
Oriental Art (Mejiro McQueen)
Sunday Racing Co., Ltd.
Shadai Corporation Inc.
Yasutoshi Ikee
Kenichi Ikezoe
4 starts, 3 wins, 1 second / ¥ 397,463,000
21 starts, 12 wins, 6 seconds, 1 third / ¥ 1,576,213,000
Arima Kinen (G1), Prix Foy (G2), Sankei Osaka Hai (G2)
Orfevre’s remarkable eight-length victory in the 2013 Arima Kinen was like icing on the cake for the
talented son of Stay Gold, bringing to end one of the most successful and eventful careers in Japanese
racing. His accomplishments during the year also included another win in the Sankei Osaka Hai, his only
other start in Japan, as well as a second consecutive victory in the Prix Foy at Longchamp and a second
runner-up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The 2011 Horse of the Year retired with total earnings of
1,576,213,000 yen, the second highest after T. M. Opera O, and will now begin a stud career at Shadai
Stallion Station this spring.
Although highly regarded as a two-year-old, Orfevre scored just one win out of three starts and had a
tenth-place finish. He was not counted among the top three-year-old classic hopefuls until his first
grade-race victory, the 2011 Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m), where he began a six-race winning streak
decorated with Triple Crown races and the Arima Kinen, besting a field of senior multiple-G1 winners in
the latter.
His mood swings, however, began to surface early in his four-year-old season. While managing to
produce another G1 victory in the Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m), his unstableness cost him what could have
been Japan’s first Arc title and the 2012 Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m). Nevertheless he did not fail to show his
tremendous talent.
After kicking off the 2013 season with a win in the Sankei Osaka Hai in March, he was withdrawn from
the Takarazuka Kinen in June due to an exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. But he bounced back
with an impressive victory in the Prix Foy prior to his second Arc challenge. In the Arima Kinen, as if to
avenge his defeat in the Arc, Orfevre quickly made headway on the outside from near the rear, took the
front 300 meters out and romped to an uncontested and convincing triumph.
Season Performances of Orfevre
Racecourse
Dist. (m)
Going
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
'13
Arima Kinen (G1)
12.22
Nakayama
(JPN)
2500
Firm
K. Ikezoe
(57.0)
10.06 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1)
Longchamp
(FR)
2400
Yielding
09.15 Prix Foy (G2)
Longchamp
(FR)
Hanshin
(JPN)
Date
Race
03.31 Sankei Osaka Hai (G2)
Position
(L3F)
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
1 / 16
(Win Variation)
2:32.3
(1.3)
C. Soumillon
(59.5)
2 / 17
Treve
2:32.0
(0.8)
2400
Yielding
C. Soumillon
(58.0)
1/9
(Very Nice Name)
2:41.4
(0.5)
2000
Firm
K. Ikezoe
(58.0)
1 / 14
(Shonan Mighty)
1:59.0
(0.1)
7
13 13 12
(36.0)
10 11 9
(33.0)
2
6
BEST OLDER FILLY OR MARE
Gentildonna (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Career Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
4 (February 20, 2009)
Filly / Bay
Deep Impact
Donna Blini (Bertolini)
Sunday Racing Co., Ltd.
Northern Racing
Sei Ishizaka
Ryan Moore
4 starts, 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third / ¥ 427,325,400
13 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third / ¥ 1,116,863,400
Japan Cup (G1)
Gentildonna is the first horse to capture a second Japan Cup title in the race’s 33-year history, an
impressive feat she accomplished back to back. It was her fifth G1 victory, having also claimed the fillies’
Triple Crown and the Japan Cup in 2012, the latter helping her to become the first three-year-old filly to
be named Horse of the Year. Although winless in her first three starts in 2013, the brilliant filly had
registered a second in the Dubai Sheema Classic, a third in the Takarazuka Kinen in June, and another
second the Tenno Sho (Autumn) start prior to her second Japan Cup victory. She is now the third filly to
exceed the billion yen mark in career earnings, after Buena Vista and Vodka.
With a win and a second in two starts as a two-year-old, the bay filly registered her first grade-race
victory in the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1,600m), which she followed with her first G1 victory in the Oka Sho
(Japanese 1000 Guineas, 1,600m). She claimed the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m) by five
lengths while setting a new race record, and then scored an easy win in her fall debut, the Rose Stakes
(G2, 1,800m). In her next start, the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m), she became the fourth filly in JRA history to
sweep the fillies’ Triple Crown. Her historic achievement as the first three-year-old filly to claim the
Japan Cup title, which had been her first G1 test against top older male rivals, sealed her selection for the
highest JRA Award in the 2012 season.
Kicking off her four-year-old campaign in Dubai, she registered a runner-up effort in the Dubai Sheema
Classic but then went through a frustrating period in which she tended to be keen early and unable to
sustain her strong drive. This even led to some skepticism about her ability to stay the 2,400-meter
distance prior to her second Japan Cup challenge. Nevertheless, the exceptional filly proved her critics
wrong as she prevailed gallantly under Ryan Moore by a nose to defend her Japan Cup title.
She continues to train for her five-year-old season with the Dubai Sheema Classic as her first target.
Season Performances of Gentildonna
Date
Race
'13
Japan Cup (G1)
11.24
10.27 Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1)
06.23 Takarazuka Kinen (G1)
03.30 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)
Racecourse
Dist. (m)
Going
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
Tokyo
(JPN)
Tokyo
(JPN)
Hanshin
(JPN)
Meydan
(UAE)
2400
Firm
2000
Firm
2200
Firm
2410
Firm
R. Moore
(55.0)
Y. Iwata
(56.0)
Y. Iwata
(56.0)
Y. Iwata
(54.5)
8
Position
(L3F)
3
3
3 3
(33.9)
2 2
(35.8)
3 3
(35.9)
4
2
3
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
1 / 17
(Denim and Ruby)
2 / 17
Just a Way
3 / 11
Gold Ship
2 / 11
St Nicholas Abbey
2:26.1
(0.0)
1:57.5
(0.7)
2:13.2
(0.6)
2:27.7
(0.4)
BEST DIRT HORSE
Belshazzar (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Career Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
5 (April 25, 2008)
Horse / Dark Bay or Brown
King Kamehameha
Maruka Candy (Sunday Silence)
Shadai Race H.
Shadai Farm
Kunihide Matsuda
Christophe Lemaire
6 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third / ¥ 219,670,000
16 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds / ¥ 326,653,000
Japan Cup Dirt (G1), Musashino Stakes (G3)
Belshazzar rose to stardom after switching to dirt, finishing within the top three in all six starts after his
dirt debut in May and then capping off the season with his first G1 title in the Japan Cup Dirt. The son of
King Kamehameha concluded his five-year-old season with a 4-1-1 record out of six starts, including
another grade-race victory in the Musashino Stakes.
The dark bay won his debut on turf as a two-year-old and concluded the season with two wins and a third.
He also fared well when stepping up in class in his three-year-old season, finishing second by a 3/4 length
to subsequent Triple Crown winner Orfevre in the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m). This was followed by a
third in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m).
Trained by Kunihide Matsuda, who has 13 G1 titles with eight runners, including Kurofune, Tanino
Gimlet, King Kamehameha and Daiwa Scarlet, Belshazzar’s racing career was hindered with respiratory
issues and fractures that sidelined him for part of his three-year-old season and most of 2012. Coming off
a prolonged break that lasted 13 months, Matsuda transitioned to dirt for his comeback and the dark bay
responded impressively. He finished third in his debut, and then scored a win, a second and another win
before making his first grade-race challenge over dirt. Sent to post race favorite in the Musashino Stakes,
Belshazzar assumed command from a striking position and held off strong challenges from behind for a
3/4-length win under Christophe Lemaire, who had won on turf with the horse early in his career.
As third choice in the Japan Cup Dirt, his first dirt G1 challenge, Belshazzar steadily advanced along the
outside through the backstretch and then steered further out around the last corner before unleashing a
powerful turn of speed in the final 300 meters. After catching the race favorite, he held off a powerful late
charge by his opponent for a neck victory.
His 2014 campaign will be targeted towards the February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m) prior to a possible
overseas challenge in the Dubai World Cup (G1, AW, 2,000m).
Season Performances of Belshazzar
Date
Race
Racecourse
'13
Japan Cup Dirt (G1)
12.01
11.10
10.20
09.15
06.29
05.26
Dist. (m)
Going
Position
(L3F)
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
Hanshin
(JPN)
Tokyo
Musashino Stakes (G3)
(JPN)
Brazil Cup
Tokyo
(Open Class)
(JPN)
Radio Nippon Sho
Nakayama
(Open Class)
(JPN)
Shirakawago Stakes
Chukyo
(Allowance (16Million & Less))
(JPN)
1800D*
Standard
1600D*
Standard
2100D*
Sloppy
1800D*
Sloppy
1800D*
Standard
C. Lemaire 13 9 8
(36.1)
(57.0)
C. Lemaire
- 5
(36.0)
(56.0)
Y. Shibata
2 3 4
(35.6)
(56.0)
Y. Yoshida
8 9 6
(55.0)
(36.7)
S. Hamanaka 5 5 4
(57.0)
(35.9)
1990s Derby Memories Narita Brian Cup
(Allowance (16Million & Less))
1800D*
Standard
S. Hamanaka
(57.0)
Kyoto
(JPN)
9
2
3 3
(37.2)
6
5
4
4
4
1
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
1 / 16
(Wonder Acute)
1 / 16
(Admire Royal)
1 / 15
(Meteorologist)
2 / 16
Grazia
1 / 15
(Suzuka Lucent)
1:50.4
(0.0)
1:35.3
(0.1)
2:08.3
(0.2)
1:50.0
(0.4)
1:50.9
(0.8)
3 / 16
Vent Nouveau
1:50.8
(0.2)
BEST STEEPLECHASE HORSE
Apollo Maverick (JPN)
Age (Date of Foaling)
Sex / Color
Sire
Dam (Sire of Dam)
Owner
Breeder
Trainer
Jockey
Season Record / Earnings
Career Record / Earnings
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
4 (April 15, 2009)
Colt / Bay
Apollo Kingdom
Omega Fastar (Theatrical)
Apollo Thoroughbred Club
Apollo Thoroughbred Club
Masahiro Horii
Yusuke Igarashi
7 starts, 3 wins, 1 third / ¥ 108,071,000 *steeplechases only
7 starts, 3 wins, 1 third / ¥ 108,071,000 *steeplechases only
Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1), Tokyo Jump Stakes (J-G3)
Apollo Maverick was named the JRA’s Best Steeplechase Horse in his first season as a jumper, which he
capped off with an inaugural J-G1 victory in the Nakayama Daishogai.
Debuting on the flat as a two-year-old, the Apollo Kingdom colt broke his maiden in his fifth start.
Thereafter, however, he managed only one more win while disappointing to double-digit finishes in the
remainder of his 2012 races. After kicking off his four-year-old campaign with another dismal finish on
the flat, Apollo Maverick was switched to jump races and responded immediately with a third-place
finish in March. He scored his first steeplechase victory in his second start, and less than three months
later he registered his first grade-race victory in the Tokyo Jump Stakes.
He had an unfortunate outing in the Shuyo Jump Stakes, tracking the leader in second but then unseating
his rider while trying to avoid the pacesetter, who had fallen on the landing side of an obstacle mid-race.
Unfazed by the incident, he bounced back in the Nakayama Daishogai, his first J-G1 challenge. The big
bay colt, weighing around 530 kilos, settled in mid-division for the first half of the 4,100-meter trip, made
headway while cruising effortlessly over the large jumps with impressive speed to lead after the fifth
obstacle (fence 6), exerted a terrific turn of foot entering the final stretch and drew away impressively for
a dominating eight-length victory.
Apollo Maverick, who gave trainer Masahiro Horii his first G1 title since the 2004 Asahi Hai Futurity
Stakes with Meiner Recolte, will begin his five-year-old campaign with a step race prior to his next J-G1
attempt in the Nakayama Grand Jump in April.
Season Performances of Apollo Maverick
Date
Race
'13
Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1)
12.21
11.16
10.12
06.22
06.09
03.30
03.09
01.19
*D=Dirt **FF=Fail to Fiinsh
Racecourse
Dist. (m)
Going
Jockey
(Wgt (kg))
Nakayama
(JPN)
4100
Good
Y. Igarashi
(63.0)
Shuyo Jump Stakes
Tokyo
3110
(JPN)
Firm
Tokyo
3110
Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2)
(JPN)
Firm
Tokyo
3110
Tokyo Jump Stakes (J-G3)
(JPN)
Good
Three-Year-Olds & Up Steeple-Chase
Tokyo
3100T →D*
(Open Class)
(JPN)
Firm / Standard
Four-Year-Olds & Up Steeple-Chase
Nakayama
2880T →D*
(Maiden)
(JPN)
Firm / Standard
Four-Year-Olds & Up Steeple-Chase
Nakayama
2880T →D*
(Maiden)
(JPN)
Firm / Standard
(Open Class)
Four-Year-Olds & Up
Nakayama
(Allowance (10Million & Less))
(JPN)
1800D*
Muddy
10
T. Kusano
(61.0)
T. Kusano
(60.0)
T. Kusano
(60.0)
T. Kusano
(60.0)
K. Hirasawa
(59.0)
K. Hirasawa
(59.0)
H. Tanaka
(56.0)
Position
(L3F)
1
1
1
1
5
6
4
6
2
2
2
2
9
9
9
8
5
5
3
2
4
5
6
6
11 11 10 13
(39.9)
Placed / Field
Winner (2nd)
Winning Time
(Margin (sec.))
1 / 16
(Happy Tear)
4:45.8
(1.3)
FF** / 14
A Shin Iguazu
5 / 11
Osumi Moon
1 / 14
(Snark Spain)
5 / 14
Assatis Boy
1 / 14
(Taisei Climber)
3 / 12
Timber Wolf
3:27.2
3:27.3
(1.0)
3:27.9
(0.1)
3:24.3
(1.6)
3:10.3
(1.2)
3:16.0
(0.6)
11 / 16
Dragon Forte
1:52.1
(2.7)
BEST TRAINER (RACES WON)
BEST TRAINER (MONEY EARNED)
BEST TRAINER (TRAINING TECHNIQUE)
Katsuhiko Sumii
Age
: 49 (March 28, 1964)
License Issued
: 2000
First Race
: March 11, 2001 (Setono McQueen; 5th)
First Win
: March 24, 2001 (Sky and Ryu)
Season Record
: 374 starts, 56 wins, 49 seconds, 39 thirds
Career Record
: 3,524 starts, 497 wins, 360 seconds, 316 thirds
Winning Average in 2013 : 0.150
Earnings in 2013
: ¥ 1,773,267,000
Principal Wins in 2013
: Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, Epiphaneia),
Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, Epiphaneia), Rose Stakes (G2, Denim and Ruby),
Flora Stakes (G2, Denim and Ruby), Elm Stakes (G3, Fleet Street),
Fukushima Himba Stakes (G3, All That Jazz)
Katsuhiko Sumii continued to reign as the champion trainer with his third consecutive Best Trainer
award for Races Won with 56 wins, as well as repeat awards for Money Earned and Training Technique.
He has now amassed 11 JRA titles, including previous awards for Money Earned (’05, ’08 and ’10),
Training Technique (’09, ’10 and ’11) and Races Won (’11 and ’12).
Saddling an impressive 21 winners in his training debut in 2001, Sumii saw his wins steadily rise to well
above 40, ranking him within the top five every year between 2008 and 2010, before becoming Best
Trainer (Races Won) for three straight three seasons.
His first grade-race winner came in the 2002 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G3, Blue Eleven), after
which he captured his first G1 title in the 2004 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with subsequent 2006
Melbourne Cup (G1) victor Delta Blues.
Sumii’s outstanding training methods have produced many JRA Award winners, including Delta Blues
(’04 Best Horse by Home-Bred Sire), Cesario (’05 Best Three-Year-Old Filly and Best Horse by
Home-Bred Sire), Hat Trick (’05 Best Sprinter or Miler), Kane Hekili (’05 Best Dirt Horse and ’08 Best
Dirt Horse), Vodka (’06 Best Two-Year-Old Filly, ’07 Special Award, ’08 Horse of the Year and Best
Older Filly or Mare, and ’09 Horse of the Year and Best Older Filly or Mare), Tall Poppy (’07 Best
Two-Year-Old Filly), Victoire Pisa (’10 Best Three-Year-Old Colt and ’11 Best Older Colt or Horse), and
Aventura (’11 Best Three-Year-Old Filly).
Quick to make his name known internationally, Sumii was the first Japanese trainer to saddle a
Japanese-bred/trained G1 winner in the U.S. with Cesario (American Oaks) in 2005. He then captured the
2005 Hong Kong Mile (G1) with Hat Trick and made more headlines by taking the first two places in the
2006 Melbourne Cup with Delta Blues and Pop Rock, respectively. Victoire Pisa, who contributed the
most to Sumii’s success in 2010 with G1 victories in both the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and
the Arima Kinen, also gave him his fourth international G1 title, the Dubai World Cup in March 2011,
after which Rulership gave him his fifth title by claiming the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2012.
11
BEST TRAINER (WINNING AVERAGE)
Hideaki Fujiwara
Age
License Issued
First Race
First Win
Season Record
Career Record
Winning Average in 2013
Earnings in 2013
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
48 (June 29, 1965)
2000
March 3, 2001 (Invisible Touch; 1st)
March 3, 2001 (Invisible Touch)
280 starts, 54 wins, 35 seconds, 29 thirds
2,954 starts, 447 wins, 326 seconds, 261 thirds
0.193
¥ 1,210,086,500
Mile Championship (G1, Tosen Ra), Mainichi Okan (G2, Eishin Flash),
Kyoto Kinen (G2, Tosen Ra), Asahi Challenge Cup (G3, Archimedes),
Empress Hai (Miracle Legend)
Hideaki Fujiwara scored another successful season to claim his third JRA Award for Best Trainer
(Winning Average), having also won the award in 2007 and 2008. His 54 wins for a leading win rate of
19.3% included five grade-race titles, most notably his eighth G1 title in the Mile Championship with
Tosen Ra, which also gave jockey Yutaka Take his 100th G1 win.
Debuting in 2001 after 12 years as assistant to Kaoru Hoshikawa in Ritto, Fujiwara won his first race at
Hanshin with Invisible Touch, landed his first two flat grade-race victories with Tenzan Seiza in the Kyoto
Shimbun Hai (G2) and the Keihan Hai (G3), and then concluded his rookie season with 15 wins out of
150 starts. He doubled his wins in 2006 while capturing five grade-race titles and finishing 18th in the
JRA national rankings.
Armed with a string of quality two-year-olds and three-year-olds in 2007, he ranked third among
Ritto-based trainers and his winning average jumped to a leading 18.3%, which earned him his first JRA
Award. He continued to improve in 2008, concluding the season with a winning average of 20.0% for his
consecutive title while notching seven grade-race wins, including his first G1 title in the Victoria Mile
with Asian Winds.
Since then he has produced top runners, both on turf and dirt. Eishin Flash brought him his first classic
tile in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in 2010, followed by the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in 2012,
delighting his many fans while racing under Fujiwara. Success Brocken scored him three G1 titles on dirt
— the 2008 Japan Dirt Derby, the 2009 February Stakes and the 2009 Tokyo Daishoten, while Roman
Legend was a G1 winner in the 2012 Tokyo Daishoten.
Fujiwara continues to rise in the ultimate category of races won, coming in runner-up to Katsuhiko
Sumii in 2013.
12
BEST JOCKEY (RACES WON)
BEST JOCKEY (MONEY EARNED)
MOST VALUABLE JOCKEY
Yuichi Fukunaga
Age
: 37 (December 9, 1976)
License Issued
: 1996
First Race
: March 2, 1996 (Marubutsu Bravest; 1st)
First Win
: March 2, 1996 (Marubutsu Bravest)
Season Record
: 844 starts, 131 wins, 103 seconds, 103 thirds
Career Record
: 13,063 starts, 1,589 wins, 1,340 seconds, 1,309 thirds
Winning Average in 2013 : 0.155
Earnings in 2013
: ¥ 2,619,274,000
Principal Wins in 2013
: Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, Just a Way),
Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, Epiphaneia),
Mainichi Okan (G2, Eishin Flash), Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, Epiphaneia)
Miyako Stakes (G3, Brightline), CBC Sho (G3, Majin Prosper)
Yuichi Fukunaga, in addition to claiming his first two awards for Races Won and Money Earned,
became the inaugural winner of the JRA’s Most Valuable Jockey Award, which recognizes most points
earned for wins in both JRA and designated non-JRA races, eclipsing Yasunari Iwata by just one point.
The 2013 season was certainly a memorable one for Fukunaga, who reached his 1,500th JRA victory on
April 21, a feat accomplished by only 13 others. He also became just the seventh jockey to score 100 JRA
grade-race career wins when he notched the Mainichi Okan (G2) title on board Eishin Flash in October. It
was his fourth consecutive season to register more than 100 victories, which included back-to-back G1
wins in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with Epiphaneia and the Tenno Sho (Autumn) with Just a
Way.
Following the footsteps of his father, former jockey Yoichi Fukunaga, he made an impressive debut in
1996, winning his first two career starts on his way to becoming Best Jockey (Newcomer) with 53 wins.
His first grade-race victory came the following year with King Halo in the Tokyo Sports Hai Sansai
Stakes (G3). Later, captured his first G1 win with Primo Ordine in the 1999 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000
Guineas), but his season was interrupted by a career-threatening fall a week later. However, he made a
sensational comeback to capture the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes with Eishin Preston. The pair then
proceeded to claim four other JRA grade-race titles in 2000 and 2001, and further demonstrated their
combined talents overseas by capturing the 2001 Hong Kong Mile (G1) and consecutive Queen Elizabeth
II Cup (G1) titles in 2002 and 2003.
His best season yet was in 2005, when he grabbed five G1 titles among 16 grade-race wins in Japan and
also claimed the American Oaks aboard Cesario, the first Japanese-bred and trained horse to capture a
U.S. G1 title. In 2011, 133 wins out of 824 rides carried Fukunaga to the top of the JRA jockey rankings
for the first time, enabling him to claim his first Best Jockey (Winning Average) award while missing out
on the JRA Award (Races Won) by coming up short in NAR wins.
13
BEST JOCKEY (WINNING AVERAGE)
Yuga Kawada
Age
License Issued
First Race
First Win
Season Record
Career Record
Winning Average in 2013
Earnings in 2013
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
28 (October 15, 1985)
2004
March 7, 2004 (Surely Gold; 5th)
March 20, 2004 (Homan Rookie)
724 starts, 120 wins, 95 seconds, 85 thirds
6,314 starts, 713 wins, 612 seconds, 556 thirds
0.166
¥ 2,060,982,000
Fillies’ Revue (G2, Meisho Mambo), Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3, Harp Star),
Mermaid Stakes (G3, Marcellina)
Yuga Kawada registered his 100th annual win on October 12 for a second time, following 2011, and
reached a milestone 700 career JRA wins on November 9. His 120 wins out of 724 rides boasted three
grade-race titles, including the Fillies’ Revue (G2) aboard multiple G1-winner Meisho Mambo.
Born into a racing family—his father and uncle are jockey-turned-trainers and his grandfather was a
trainer at Saga Racecourse (NAR)—Kawada started learning to ride from his early elementary-school
days before entering the JRA Horse Racing School at 15. He made his debut in March 2004 and
registered his first win two weeks later at Hanshin Racecourse. Finishing his debut year with 16 wins, he
gradually accumulated more wins in the following years and then landed his first grade-race title in the
Kokura Daishoten (G3) with Mejiro Meyer in 2006. His big break came in 2008 when he won his first G1
and classic title with Captain Thule in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas). He also demonstrated
great skill in guiding longshot Admire Monarch to second place in the Arima Kinen (G1) and marked 73
wins, including six grade-race victories, in 2008.
His other G1 winners include Suni, with whom he claimed JBC Sprint titles in 2009 and 2011, and Big
Week, who gave him his second classic G1 title in the 2010 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). He boosted
his wins rank from 17th in 2009 to ninth in 2010 with 83 victories, and then surpassed the century mark
for the first time the following year, finishing third with 109 wins. While short of 100 wins last year, he
captured his third JRA G1 victory in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) aboard Gentildonna, having
replaced regular rider Yasunari Iwata who was under suspension at the time.
14
BEST STEEPLECHASE JOCKEY
Jun Takada
Age
License Issued
First Race
First Win
Season Record*
Career Record*
Winning Average in 2013*
Earnings in 2013*
Principal Wins in 2013
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
33 (November 3, 1980)
1999
March 6, 1999 (Yamakatsu Robbery; 7th)
June 12, 1999 (Air Winslet)
39 starts, 14 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds
448 starts, 72 wins, 49 seconds, 28 thirds
0.359
¥ 245,073,000
Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, Osumi Moon),
Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3, Osumi Moon),
Kokura Summer Jump (J-G3, Osumi Moon)
*steeplechases only
Jun Takada was named the Best Steeplechase Jockey of 2013, the first JRA Award in his 15th season as
a jockey. His 14 wins out of 39 rides (jump races only) during the season included grade-race titles with
Osumi Moon in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2), the Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3) and the Kokura Summer
Jump (J-G3).
Beginning his career as a stable jockey under Hiroyoshi Matsuda, who became known for saddling 2010
Horse of the Year Buena Vista, Takada debuted in 1999 and registered his first win on the flat at Chukyo
Racecourse aboard Air Winslet that June. Standing 165 cm, he began riding over jumps from his second
season and started to show potential in 2001, winning nine out of 36 rides. That same year he scored four
jump grade-race titles, his first being with Hisako Bomber in the Kokura Summer Jump. In 2006, he
captured a G2 title on the flat with Dream Passport in the Kobe Shimbun Hai.
Recovering from a serious injury that sidelined him for almost three months during 2007, Takada
claimed his long-awaited J-G1 title in the 2008 Nakayama Daishogai aboard subsequent 2008 Best
Steeplechase Horse King Joy, with whom he had finished second in the same race the previous year. The
pair also finished second in the Nakayama Grand Jump in 2009. Takada continued to show his jump
jockey skills in a runner-up effort with Dear Majesty in the 2011 Nakayama Daishogai.
An Osaka native and freelancer since November 2009, Takada entered the JRA record books by winning
the 2010 Niigata Jump Stakes to become the first jockey to claim at least one grade-race title at all six
courses where graded steeplechases are held in Japan. He set another record in 2013 by capturing his third
consecutive Kokura Summer Jump with Osumi Moon, following with M S World in 2012 and Don
Gracias in 2011.
15
SPECIAL AWARD
Yutaka Take
Age
: 44 (March 15, 1969)
License Issued
: 1987
First Race
: March 1, 1987 (Agnes Dictor; 2nd)
First Win
: March 7, 1987 (Dyna Bishop)
Season Record
: 649 starts, 97 wins, 62 seconds, 58 thirds
Career Record
: 18,138 starts, 3,594 wins, 2,564 seconds, 2,065 thirds
Winning Average in 2013 : 0.149
Earnings in 2013
: ¥ 2,300,237,000
Principal Wins in 2013
: Mile Championship (G1, Tosen Ra),
Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, Kizuna),
Sapporo Kinen (G2, Tokei Halo), Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2, Kizuna),
Kyoto Kinen (G2, Tosen Ra), Fantasy Stakes (G3, Bel Canto),
Kokura Kinen (G3, Meisho Naruto), Hakodate Kinen (G3, Tokei Halo),
Naruo Kinen (G3, Tokei Halo), Mainichi Hai (G3, Kizuna),
Tulip Sho (G3, Kurofune Surprise)
Yutaka Take was presented with a second Special Award for further accomplishments in his illustrious
career, securing his milestone 3,500th win early in the season and then riding his fifth Japanese Derby
winner, Kizuna, in May. The same pair also went overseas to claim the Prix Niel title prior to finishing
fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. In yet another memorable achievement, Take captured his 100th
career G1 win by claiming the Mile Championship with Tosen Ra in November.
The third son of jockey-turned-trainer Kunihiko Take, Yutaka started riding at 10 and has continued to
renew practically every record available. He debuted in 1987 and immediately stood out with 69 wins. A
champion jockey for 18 years, including from 1992 to 2000 and 2002 to 2008, he exceeded 200 wins for
three consecutive years starting in 2003, culminating with a record 212 wins in 2005. By 2007, he had
become the youngest to reach a number of milestones, including an unprecedented 3,000 wins. He
completely dominated the JRA Awards for jockeys by earning the Grand Prix (tops in wins, money and
average) a stunning nine years between 1997 and 2006, missing out just once by not finishing first in
wins in 2001. His last JRA award, however, was for Best Jockey (Money Earned) in 2009.
His first G1 and Classic win was with Super Creek in the 1988 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) and his
first Derby title came with Special Week 10 years later. Take became the first JRA jockey to ride a G1
winner overseas when he claimed the 1994 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp with Andre Fabre-trained Ski
Paradise. He also rode the first Japanese-trained G1 winner abroad when guiding Seeking the Pearl to
victory in the 1998 Prix Maurice de Gheest. He has 20 wins overseas at the group-race level, including
seven G1 events in the United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong and Dubai combined.
Having concluded the season with 3,746 career wins, including designated wins at NAR and overseas,
Take aspires to further success, perhaps in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, his only unclaimed G1 title in
JRA, or possibly overseas, where he would love to claim Japan’s first title in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de
Triomphe.
16
JRA EQUINE CULTURE AWARD
The JRA Equine Culture Award recognizes noteworthy achievements and contributions to Japanese
equine culture. Nominations for the 2013 award included cultural events and publications relating to
horses that were published, broadcast or held between November 2012 and October 2013. The award was
presented to “Ryukyu Horse Racing Lost—In Search of Legendary Champion Hikoki” written by
Harumitsu Umezaki.
Winner: “Ryukyu Horse Racing Lost—In Search of Legendary Champion Hikoki”
Umezaki’s nonfiction book introduces the history of horse racing in Okinawa as a unique and important
part of local culture for some 400 years, from the Ryukyu Kingdom up to World War II, when the sport
vanished. Ryukyu Racing was not a contest of speed but a series of two-horse match races contested by
small, native breeds. The entrants were decorated with strappings and judged by the smoothness of their
ambling gaits and the beauty of their movements. Racing was held at more than 160 racetracks scattered
around the islands.
The author, who had always held a deep interest in the history of Okinawa, learned of the region’s equine
sport and a white pony named Hikoki (the Japanese word for airplane), whose flowing strides made him a
legendary champion during the peak era of the sport from the late 1920s. Umezaki’s research involved
studying massive amounts of historical records, interviewing elderly people with recollections of the sport
and touring former racing sites. The 344-page book is an intriguing travel journal as well as a detailed
reprise of a long-lost part of Okinawan culture. It also proved to be of great help to an Okinawan zoo that
revived the sport for the first time in some 70 years.
Recipient: Harumitsu Umezaki
Harumitsu Umezaki, 51, is a Tokyo native who began reporting on horse racing two years after joining
Sports Nippon Newspaper in 1986. He also is an amateur singer and player of the sanshin, a three-string
instrument from Okinawa, and has been awarded for his musical skill by the Ryukyu Folk Song
Association. Umezaki’s accolades now include recognition of his contribution to the history of Okinawa.
17
Results of the 2013 JRA Awards (Total Votes: 280)
Horse of the Year
Place
1
2
3
Horse
Best Two-Year-Old Colt
Votes
Lord Kanaloa
Orfevre
Gentildonna
None
Place
209
69
1
1
1
2
Best Three-Year-Old Colt
Place
1
2
Horse
1
2
Horse
Asia Express
One and Only
Place
242
38
1
Best Older Filly or Mare
Place
Best Two-Year-Old Filly
Votes
279
1
Best Three-Year-Old Filly
Votes
Kizuna
Epiphaneia
Horse
Horse
280
Best Sprinter or Miler
Votes
Gentildonna
Verxina
None
Place
274
3
3
1
Horse
Votes
Red Reveur
Harp Star
279
1
Place
1
2
Horse
Votes
Orfevre
Lord Kanaloa
176
104
Best Dirt Horse
Votes
Lord Kanaloa
1
2
Horse
Best Older Colt or Horse
Votes
Meisho Mambo
Place
280
Place
1
2
3
Horse
Votes
Belshazzar
Hokko Tarumae
Espoir City
None
154
122
1
3
Best Steeplechase Horse
Place
Horse
1
2
3
3
Apollo Maverick
Osumi Moon
Basel River
Blackstairmountain
None
Votes
261
5
1
1
12
2013 JRA Trainer Ranking
Place
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Name
Katsuhiko Sumii
Hideaki Fujiwara
Yoshito Yahagi
Yasutoshi Ikee
Takayuki Yasuda
Kazuo Fujisawa
Hiroyoshi Matsuda
Sakae Kunieda
Noriyuki Hori
Mitsugu Kon
1st
56
54
50
49
46
43
41
38
38
35
2nd
49
35
63
38
41
33
34
30
27
33
3rd
39
29
30
29
24
28
34
34
18
14
4th
33
24
38
25
26
27
44
25
17
12
5th
23
22
24
28
24
18
32
32
21
17
*Including NAR and overseas starts
Below Rides Win Ratio
Earnings
0.150
0.193
0.099
0.142
0.141
0.151
0.118
0.109
0.161
0.154
¥1,773,267,000
¥1,210,086,500
¥1,213,011,000
¥1,564,805,000
¥1,302,798,500
¥859,617,000
¥882,695,000
¥802,941,000
¥734,867,000
¥536,722,000
Below Rides Win Ratio
*JRA only
Earnings
174
116
300
176
166
135
161
189
115
116
374
280
505
345
327
284
346
348
236
227
2013 JRA Jockey Ranking
Place
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Name
Yuichi Fukunaga
Yuga Kawada
Suguru Hamanaka
Hiroyuki Uchida
Keita Tosaki
Yasunari Iwata
Hiroshi Kitamura
Yutaka Take
Hironobu Tanabe
Masayoshi Ebina
1st
131
120
119
114
113
111
101
97
88
86
2nd
103
95
101
103
94
111
85
62
67
81
3rd
103
85
88
77
88
80
83
58
81
83
4th
71
74
88
80
72
68
81
62
85
66
18
5th
70
63
73
79
75
98
82
47
59
41
366
287
393
444
424
386
466
323
499
416
844
724
862
897
866
854
898
649
879
773
0.155
0.166
0.138
0.127
0.130
0.130
0.112
0.149
0.100
0.111
¥2,619,274,000
¥2,060,982,000
¥2,314,722,000
¥2,348,051,000
¥1,965,428,000
¥2,496,264,000
¥1,691,367,000
¥2,300,237,000
¥1,463,614,000
¥1,952,110,000