Japan (horse)

Last updated
Japan
Sire Galileo
Grandsire Sadler's Wells
DamShastye
Damsire Danehill
SexColt
Foaled22 February 2016 [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Colour Bay
Breeder Newsells Park Stud
Owner Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Masaaki Matsushima
Trainer Aidan O'Brien
Record15: 6-0-3
Earnings£1,688,876
Major wins
Beresford Stakes (2018)
King Edward VII Stakes (2019)
Grand Prix de Paris (2019)
International Stakes (2019)
Ormonde Stakes (2021)
Meld Stakes (2021)

Japan (foaled 22 February 2016) is a British-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After being sold as a yearling for 1.3 million guineas he was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien. As a two-year-old in 2018 he showed considerable promise, winning two of his three races including the Group 2 Beresford Stakes. In the following year he improved to become one of the best three-year-olds in Europe, finishing fourth in the Dante Stakes and third in the Epsom Derby before winning the King Edward VII Stakes, the Grand Prix de Paris and the International Stakes. He failed to win in five attempts as a four-year-old in 2020.

Contents

Background

Japan is a bay colt with a white blaze bred in England by the Hertfordshire-based Newsells Park Stud. In October 2017 the yearling was put up for auction at Tattersalls and was bought for 1.3 million guineas by representatives of the Coolmore Stud. [2] He was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Like many Coolmore horses, the official details of his ownership changed from race to race but in his first two seasons he was usually described as being owned by a partnership of Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor.

He was sired by Galileo, who won the Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. Galileo became one of the world's leading stallions, earning his tenth champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland title in 2018. His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle, Found Minding and Ruler of the World. [3] Japan's dam Shastye showed above average racing ability, winning two minor races and running second in the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes. [4] She did better as a broodmare, producing several other winners including Secret Gesture (runner-up in the Epsom Oaks) and Isaac Newton (International Stakes). Shastye was a half-sister to Sagamix and closely related to Sagawara, Nasram, Lope de Vega and Tambourine. [5]

Racing career

2018: two-year-old season

On his racecourse debut Japan started at odds of 9/1 for a maiden race over one mile at the Curragh on 1 September in which he was ridden by Wayne Lordan and came home seventh of the thirteen runners behind his more fancied stablemate Sydney Opera House. Eleven days later the colt started odds-on favourite for a similar event over seven furlongs on heavy ground at Listowel Racecourse. Ridden by his trainer's son Donnacha O'Brien he raced in mid-division before finishing strongly and won "comfortably" by three quarters of a length from Aristocratic Man, having taken the lead in the last 100 yards. [6] Japan was then stepped up in class to contest the Group 2 Beresford Stakes over one mile at Naas Racecourse in which he was partnered by Seamie Heffernan and started the 11/2 third favourite behind his stablemates Mount Everest and Sovereign. After racing in third place for most of the way he moved up to challenge Mount Everest in the closing stages and got up in the final stride to win by a short head. [7]

2019: three-year-old season

Japan's early preparation for his second season was interrupted when he missed three weeks of training after developing an abnormally high temperature. [8] For his first run as a three-year-old, Japan was sent to England for the Dante Stakes (a major trial race for the Epsom Derby) over 10+1⁄2 furlongs at York Racecourse on 16 May. Ridden by Ryan Moore he never looked likely to win and came home fourth of the eight runners behind Telecaster, Too Darn Hot and Surfman. The 240th running of the Derby took place over 1+1⁄2 miles at Epsom Racecourse on 1 June 2019 and Japan, one of a seven-horse O'Brien entry, started at odds of 20/1. Ridden by Lordan, Japan raced towards the rear and turned into the straight in eleventh place before making strong progress on the wide outside. Despite Lordan dropping his whip inside the final furlong the colt finished third to Anthony Van Dyck and Madhmoon in a blanket finish with Broome and Sir Dragonet just behind. [9]

Twenty days after his third place at Epsom Japan ran for the third time in England when he was partnered by Moore and started 6/4 favourite for the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. His seven opponents included Private Secretary (Cocked Hat Stakes), Pablo Escobarr (runner-up in the Lingfield Derby Trial) and Bangkok (Sandown Classic Trial). After being restrained by Moore in the early stages he moved up to take the lead in the straight and "powered clear" to win by 4+1⁄2 lengths from Bangkok. [10] Ryan Moore commented "This is a high-class colt. He's very good, and he put them to bed very easily there. He was the best horse. It was just keeping it simple, really". [11]

On 14 July Japan was sent to France for the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 2400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. With Moore again in the saddle he went off the 1/2 favourite in an eight-runner field which also included Roman Candle (Prix Greffulhe), Slalom (Prix Noailles), Jalmoud (Prix de l'Avre) and Western Australia (Yeats Stakes) who appeared to be acting as Japan's pacemaker. Japan raced in third place behind Western Australia and Jalmoud before taking the lead 300 metres out and won "readily" by half a length from Slalom. [12] O'Brien said "We were very happy with him... At Ascot, they went very fast, and when he came there, the rest of the field died away. Here they didn't go fast early, and then it was sprinting all the way. Knowing the horse, we were very happy with him", before suggesting that the colt would be aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. [8]

The 48th running of the International Stakes over 10+1⁄2 furlongs at York on 21 August saw Japan (with Moore in the saddle) matched against older horses for the first time. He started the 5/1 third favourite behind Crystal Ocean and King of Comedy in a nine-runner field which also included Circus Maximus, Cheval Grand and Lord Glitters (Queen Anne Stakes). After tracking the leaders as his stablemate Circus Maximus set the pace Japan moved up to dispute the lead approaching the final furlong and got the better of a back-and-forth struggle with Crystal Ocean to win by a head. [13] After the race O'Brien said "We always thought that he was very good, but he had a setback in the spring and we thought he wasn’t going to make the Derby... but he ran a super race. We've always thought the three-year-olds have been under-rated; it's a good crop and we’ve been very happy with them." [14]

On 6 October Japan was made the 9/1 third favourite for France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400 metres on very soft ground at Longchamp. Ridden by Moore he raced in mid-division before making steady progress in the straight and finishing fourth behind Waldgeist, Enable and Sottsass.

In the 2019 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Japan was given a rating of 122, making him the nineteenth best racehorse in the world and the second best three-year-old. [15]

2020: four-year-old season

In February a share in the horse's ownership was acquired by Masaaki Matsushima. [16] The flat racing season in Britain and Ireland was disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak and Japan did not make his reappearance until 17 June when he contested the Prince of Wales's Stakes which was run behind closed doors at Royal Ascot. Ridden by Moore, he started the 6/4 favourite but was unable to recover from a slow start and finished fourth behind the geldings Lord North, Addeybb and Barney Roy. [17] On 5 July Japan started third choice in the betting for the Eclipse Stakes which was not open to three-year-olds for the first time. He tracked the front-running Ghaiyyath for most of the way but was unable to peg back the leader in the straight and lost second place to Enable in the closing stages. [18] Three weeks later the colt started second favourite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot but after reportedly sustaining a "stone bruise" in the race he finished tailed off last of the three runners behind Enable and Sovereign. [19] In the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in September the colt never threatened to win and came home fifth of the six runners behind his stablemate Magical. On his final run of the year Japan produced another disappointing effort as he finished unplaced in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on 17 October.

In the 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Japan was rated on 120, making him the equal 40th best racehorse in the world. [20]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Japan (GB), bay colt, 2016 [1]
Sire
Galileo (IRE)
1998		 Sadler's Wells (USA)
1981		 Northern Dancer (CAN) Nearctic
Natalma (USA)
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason
Special
Urban Sea (USA)
ch. 1989		 Miswaki Mr. Prospector
Hopespringseternal
Allegretta (GB)Lombard (GER)
Anatevka (GER)
Dam
Shastye (IRE)
2001		 Danehill (USA)
1986		 Danzig Northern Dancer (CAN)
Pas de Nom
Razyana His Majesty
Spring Adieu (CAN)
Saganeca (USA)
1988		 Sagace (FR) Luthier
Seneca
HagletteHagley
Sucrette (Family 11-d) [5]

Related Research Articles

Mutafaweq is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in England, Germany, and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruler of the World</span> Thoroughbred racehorse

Ruler of the World is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won The Derby in 2013. He was unraced as a two-year-old. In 2013, he won a maiden race at the Curragh and the Group Three Chester Vase before winning the Derby on his third appearance. Later that year, he finished second in the Prix Niel and third in the Champion Stakes. He remained in training as a four-year-old and won the Prix Foy before being retired to stud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Found (horse)</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Found is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Galileo out of the mare Red Evie, she represents the Coolmore Stud organisation and is trained by Aidan O'Brien. In 2014 she won a strong maiden race on her debut and then finished third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes before winning the Prix Marcel Boussac. She was rated the equal-best two-year-old filly to race in Europe in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Hobbs (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Jack Hobbs is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a juvenile, he established himself as a potentially top-class colt with a twelve length win in a race at Sandown on his three-year-old debut. He finished second to his stable companion Golden Horn in both the Dante Stakes and The Derby before winning the Irish Derby by five lengths. He ran twice more in 2015, winning the September Stakes before being beaten when favourite for the Champion Stakes. His 2016 season was badly disrupted by injury and he ran only twice, failing to complete his first start and being beaten on his eventual reappearance. However, he rebounded in 2017 by winning the Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup Night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Army Ranger (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

US Army Ranger is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In May 2016 he won the Chester Vase on his second racecourse appearance and finished second when favourite for the 2016 Epsom Derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Reel</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Highland Reel is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career running from June 2014 to December 2017 he raced in Ireland, Britain, France, the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai, and recorded seven victories at Group 1 or Grade 1 level in the Secretariat Stakes, Hong Kong Vase (twice), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and Prince of Wales's Stakes. He was also placed in the Prix du Jockey Club, Cox Plate, International Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Champion Stakes. He holds the record for the greatest amount of prize money earned by a racehorse trained in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Idaho is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In four years on the track he raced in seven countries, namely Ireland, France, England, Canada, the United States, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. In 2016 he finished third in The Derby and second in the Irish Derby before winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes. He was the odds-on favourite for the St Leger Stakes but stumbled and unseated his rider. In the following year he ran poorly in the Coronation Cup but then won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The highlight of his final season was a win in the Ormonde Stakes.

Bracelet is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She won the second of her two starts as a two-year-old in 2013 and developed into a top-class filly in the following year, taking the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial and Ribblesdale Stakes. She recorded her biggest victory on her sixth and final appearance when she won the Irish Oaks. She was retired from racing at the end of the season and became a broodmare for the Coolmore Stud.

Septimus was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which was frequently interrupted by injury he won eight of his thirteen races between September 2005 and November 2008. He showed very promising form as a juvenile, winning the Beresford Stakes and finishing third when favourite the Racing Post Trophy and went on to win the Dante Stakes by eight lengths in an abbreviated three-year-old campaign. At four he won the Mooresbridge Stakes and was then stepped up in distance to take the Lonsdale Cup and the Doncaster Cup. In his final season he won the Curragh Cup and the Irish St. Leger, taking the latter event by thirteen lengths. He was rated the best horse in the world over extended distances in both 2007 and 2008. He was retired to stud but had fertility problems and died on 12 December 2010 after complications resulting from a gelding operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capri (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Capri is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 he won three of his five races including the Canford Cliffs Stakes and the Beresford Stakes as well as finishing third in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud. In the following year he was beaten in his first two races and finished sixth in The Derby before emerging as one of the best colts of his generation in Europe with wins in the Irish Derby and the St Leger. He won the Alleged Stakes on his four-year-old debut but failed to win in eleven subsequent starts and was retired from racing at the end of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saxon Warrior</span> Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse

Saxon Warrior is a Japanese-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2017 he was one of the best colts of his generation in Europe, winning all three of his races including the Beresford Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. On his three-year-old debut the colt won the 2000 Guineas before finishing fourth when odds-on favourite for the 2018 Epsom Derby. He went on to be placed in the Irish Derby, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kew Gardens (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Kew Gardens is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed considerable promise as a juvenile in 2017 when he won two of his five races including the Zetland Stakes. In the following year he developed into a top class stayer, taking the Queen's Vase, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger. As a four-year-old he added another major win as he took the British Champions Long Distance Cup as well as finishing second in the Coronation Cup and the Irish St. Leger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Ocean</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Crystal Ocean is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After finishing second on his only appearance as a juvenile he developed into a high-class middle-distance performer in the following year when he won the Gordon Stakes, finished second in the St Leger and was placed in both the Dante Stakes and the King Edward VII Stakes. He was even better in the following year when he took the Gordon Richards Stakes, Aston Park Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes before being narrowly beaten by his stablemate Poet's Word in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He later finished second to Enable in the September Stakes and to Cracksman in the Champion Stakes. In 2019 he won his first Group One race when taking the Prince of Wales's Stakes but was retired to stud in September 2019 after suffered a career-ending leg injury on the gallops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Van Dyck (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Anthony Van Dyck was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2019 Epsom Derby. He was a top-class two-year-old in 2018 when he won three of his seven races including the Tyros Stakes and the Futurity Stakes as well as finishing second in the National Stakes and third in the Dewhurst Stakes. He won the Derby Trial Stakes on his three-year-old debut before taking the Epsom Derby on 1 June. Later that year he was placed in the Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf. He remained in training as a four-year-old in 2020, winning the Prix Foy and running second in both the Coronation Cup and the Caulfield Cup. He was euthanized after breaking down in the 2020 Melbourne Cup on 3 November 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circus Maximus (horse)</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Circus Maximus, is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed promise as a juvenile in 2018 when he won one minor race and ran well in both the Autumn Stakes and the Vertem Futurity Trophy. In the following year he showed top class form over a mile, winning the Dee Stakes, St James's Palace Stakes and Prix du Moulin as well as finishing second in the Sussex Stakes. As a four-year-old he won the Queen Anne Stakes and finished second in both the Sussex Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Mile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sovereign (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sovereign is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2019 Irish Derby. He showed promising form as a juvenile in 2018 when he won one minor race as well as finishing third in the Eyrefield Stakes and fourth in the Beresford Stakes. In the following year he was placed in the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial before running unplaced when acting as a pacemaker in the 2019 Epsom Derby. He was given little chance in the Irish Derby but won easily at odds of 33/1. He failed to win in 2020 but was placed in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Vintage Crop Stakes and Bahrain International Trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serpentine (horse)</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Serpentine is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his win in the 2020 Epsom Derby.

Mogul is a British-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed very good form as a two-year-old in 2019 when he won two races including the Juvenile Stakes as well as finishing fourth in the Vertem Futurity Trophy. He improved to become a top-class middle distance performer in the following year, winning the Gordon Stakes, Grand Prix de Paris and the Hong Kong Vase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowfall (horse)</span> Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Snowfall was a Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2021 Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, and Yorkshire Oaks. She showed promising but unremarkable form as a two-year-old in 2020, winning one minor race from seven starts. The following year she improved dramatically, winning the Group 3 Musidora Stakes and then taking the Epsom Oaks by a record margin of sixteen lengths. She went on to win emphatic victories in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks over older horses.

Broome is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed very good form as a juvenile in 2018 when he won one minor race and ran second in both the Champions Juvenile Stakes and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. He improved in the following year to win the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial before finishing a close fourth in the Epsom Derby. After running poorly in two races in 2020 he returned to form as a five-year-old to win the Devoy Stakes, Alleged Stakes, Mooresbridge Stakes and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

References

  1. 1 2 "Japan pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ↑ "Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1) 2017Catalogue". Racing Post .
  3. ↑ "Galileo stud record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  4. ↑ "Shastye Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  5. 1 2 "Flight – Family 11-d". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  6. ↑ "Exchange Inn Ballybunion & Kevin's Bar Listowel Irish EBF Maiden result". Racing Post. 12 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Beresford Stakes result". Racing Post. 30 September 2018.
  8. 1 2 Burton, Scott (14 July 2019). "Japan's Success in Grand Prix de Paris Adds to Arc Case". The Blood-Horse .
  9. ↑ "Epsom Derby result". Racing Post. 1 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "King Edward VII Stakes result". Racing Post. 21 June 2019.
  11. ↑ Stevens, Martin (21 June 2019). "Japan Gives Aidan O'Brien a 70th Royal Winner". The Blood-Horse .
  12. ↑ "Grand Prix de Paris result". Racing Post. 14 July 2019.
  13. ↑ "International Stakes". Racing Post. 21 August 2019.
  14. ↑ Wood, Greg (21 August 2019). "Japan battles past Crystal Ocean in final strides to win Juddmonte International". The Guardian .
  15. ↑ "The 2019 World Thoroughbred Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  16. ↑ Burton, Scott (5 February 2020). "Matsushima Buys Into O'Brien Ace Japan Targeting Arc". The Blood-Horse .
  17. ↑ "Prince of Wales's Stakes result". Racing Post. 17 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "Eclipse Stakes result". Racing Post. 5 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes result". Racing Post. 25 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "The 2020 World Thoroughbred Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.