Tokyo International News Agency

Bond Girl, a racehorse who captured the hearts of Japanese racing fans, has officially retired from the track to begin her new career as a broodmare. Her trainer, Hisashi Tezuka, voiced his support for her next chapter, commenting, "I hope she will be blessed with wonderful foals." Although Bond Girl made a triumphant debut by winning her maiden race, that victory ultimately remained the sole win of her career. However, she consistently proved her strength at the highest levels, earning seven second-place finishes across Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III races. Her remarkable record of coming so close to major titles earned her nicknames like the "Silver Collector" and the "Strongest One-Win Horse." Partnered with legendary jockey Yutaka Take, her dramatic and unpredictable performances kept fans on the edge of their seats. Following the announcement of her retirement, social media was flooded with emotional messages from fans. Many expressed regret that sh...

Racehorse Danburite, who won two GII races during his active career, including the American Jockey Club Cup in 2018 and the Kyoto Kinen in 2019, and placed third in the 2017 Satsuki Sho, tragically passed away at the age of 12 on February 21 due to an intestinal torsion. His premature death, after a successful second career as a riding horse and being loved by many fans, has led to an outpouring of grief and condolences on social media. Danburite's death was announced by "Old Friends Japan," a facility for retired racehorses, on February 23. They reported that despite their best efforts in the limited time available, recovery was not possible, and he was peacefully laid to rest. In response to this sudden news, numerous messages expressing shock and sorrow, such as "He was still so young" and "Too soon," have been posted. During his racing career, Danburite competed 38 times, securing 5 victories. His strong performance in the Satsuki Sho and his GII w...

Promesa Al Mundo, the second foal of nine-time G1 winner and celebrated mare Almond Eye (sired by Maurice), made a brilliant debut on the 3rd at Niigata Racecourse in a 2-year-old maiden race (Turf 1600m), securing a magnificent victory. Ridden by jockey Christophe Lemaire, Promesa Al Mundo, the overwhelming 1.5-1 odds favorite, triumphed over a fierce challenge from the second favorite, Badrinath, living up to the expectations for a well-bred horse. During the race, there were moments when the colt was jostled in the pack, but his acceleration after breaking free was remarkable, closing the final three furlongs in an impressive 33.2 seconds with a magnificent burst of speed. After the race, Jockey Lemaire commented, "Almond Eye's progeny are special. They are very intelligent, just like their mother," highly praising the colt's potential. Mashashi Yonemoto, representative of Silk Racing, also hinted at big race aspirations, stating, "To win a G1 with trainer Kun...

It has been announced that racehorse Prognosis (7-year-old male), who secured three victories in GII races and competed actively in G1 races both domestically and internationally, is retiring from racing and will enter stud. According to the Shadai Thoroughbred Club, his retirement was decided after an examination to assess his racing ability revealed inflammation in part of a sesamoid ligament. Prognosis debuted as a highly anticipated colt, boasting a distinguished pedigree as a son of Deep Impact out of the mare Tiara. In GII races, he made a name for himself as a formidable middle-distance runner, achieving back-to-back victories in the Kinko Sho in 2023 and 2024, in addition to winning the Sapporo Kinen in 2023. However, he narrowly missed securing a G1 title, frequently finishing as a close runner-up. He placed second four times in G1 races, all of which were overseas, including consecutive second-place finishes in the Hong Kong Cup, earning him the moniker 'unlucky genius...

Danon Ballard, a racehorse and stallion beloved by many fans, passed away suddenly on the morning of July 10th due to peritonitis. His unexpected death at the young age of 17 has elicited a flood of grief and farewells from horse racing stakeholders and fans alike. Danon Ballard, sired by Deep Impact, had a successful racing career. He won the 2010 Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes (then GIII) and the 2013 American Jockey Club Cup (GII). He also performed well in G1 races, notably finishing a close second to Gold Ship in the 2013 Takarazuka Kinen, outperforming strong contenders like Gentildonna and Fenomeno, showcasing his high ability. After retirement, he returned to Japan as a stallion. His progeny, including Kita Wing, have achieved success in both JRA (Japan Racing Association) and regional races. He was particularly popular among racing fans and bettors as a "stallion whose offspring are easy to target" due to many of his progeny showing strength in summer local meetings a...

It has been revealed that Shahryar (5-year-old stallion), winner of the 2021 Japan Derby, has retired from stud duty. This unusually early retirement, coming just this year after he began his career as a stallion, has sent shockwaves through the horse racing fan community. The primary reason for his retirement was an extremely low conception rate. In his first year of breeding, he covered 74 mares, but ultimately, only 7 conceptions were confirmed, a severely challenging situation. Given this exceptionally low rate, discussions among those involved led to the decision that it would be difficult for him to continue as a stallion. Information circulating suggests that a testicular disease may be the cause, and there are indications that standard stallion insurance might apply, or that he may be re-purposed. On social media, numerous posts express shock and sadness, with comments like "So sad," "Far too soon," and "Is it even possible for a stallion to retire this...