Sakura Chitose O
| Sakura Chitose O サクラチトセオー | |
|---|---|
Sakura Chitose O at the 1995 Takarazuka Kinen. | |
| Sire | Tony Bin |
| Grandsire | Kampala |
| Dam | Sakura Clear |
| Damsire | Northern Taste |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 11 May 1990 |
| Died | 30 January 2014 (aged 23) |
| Country | Japan |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Tanioka Bokujo |
| Owner | Sakura Commerce Co. |
| Racing colours | |
| Trainer | Katsutaro Sakai |
| Jockey | Futoshi Kojima Hitoshi Matoba |
| Record | 21: 9-3-3 |
| Earnings | ¥520,979,000 |
| Major wins | |
| Nakayama Kinen (1994) Keio Hai Autumn Handicap (1994) American JCC (1995) Tenno Sho (Autumn) (1995) | |
| Awards | |
| JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (1995) | |
Sakura Chitose O (Japanese: サクラチトセオー, Hepburn: Sakura Chitose Ō; 11 May 1990 – 30 January 2014) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He competed from 1992 to 1995, recording nine wins in twenty-one starts, including the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in 1995.[1] He received the JRA Award for Best Older Colt or Horse for his performances that year.[2]
Background
[edit]Sakura Chitose O was a bay horse bred in Shizunai, Hokkaido, by Tanioka Bokujo.[1] He was sired by Tony Bin, an Irish-bred stallion who won the 1988 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before standing in Japan.[3] His dam, Sakura Clear, was a daughter of the influential sire Northern Taste.[3]
He was owned by Sakura Commerce Co. and trained by Katsutaro Sakai at the JRA's Miho Training Center.[1] Throughout his racing career, he was primarily ridden by jockey Futoshi Kojima.[4]
Racing career
[edit]1992–1993: Early career
[edit]Sakura Chitose O debuted on October 11, 1992, at Tokyo Racecourse, winning his maiden race on the turf.[4] He won a subsequent allowance race at Nakayama Racecourse in December.[4]
In the spring of 1993, he contested the NHK Hai (GII), finishing third behind My Shinzan.[4] He subsequently entered the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, GI) in May, where he finished eleventh behind Winning Ticket.[4]
1994: Four-year-old season
[edit]Returning in 1994, Sakura Chitose O won the Nakayama Kinen (GII) in March, securing his first graded stakes victory.[4] In September, he contested the Keio Hai Autumn Handicap (GIII). Ridden by Hitoshi Matoba, he won the race and set a new Japanese record for 1600 meters on turf with a time of 1:32.1.[4][5]
He finished sixth in his first attempt at the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October, and sixth in the Arima Kinen (GI) in December.[4]
1995: Five-year-old season
[edit]Sakura Chitose O began his 1995 campaign by winning the American JCC (GII) in January.[4] In May, he contested the Yasuda Kinen (GI). Starting as the favorite, he finished second, losing by a nose to the UAE-trained horse Heart Lake.[4][6]
In June, he ran in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI). During the race, he was positioned near Rice Shower when the latter suffered a catastrophic injury and fell. Sakura Chitose O avoided physical contact but was visibly affected by the incident, losing his momentum and finishing seventh behind Dantsu Seattle.[4][7]
On October 29, 1995, Sakura Chitose O entered the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (GI) at Tokyo Racecourse. Ridden by Kojima, he was positioned near the rear of the field for the majority of the race. In the final straight, he accelerated on the outside, overtaking the leader Genuine in the final strides to win by a nose.[4][8] This victory marked his first GI win and made him and his half-sister Sakura Candle (who won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup that same year) the seventh pair of siblings to win GI races in Japan since the grading system was introduced in 1984.[9]
He made his final start in the Arima Kinen (GI) on December 24, 1995, finishing third behind Mayano Top Gun.[4] He was officially retired following this race.[2]
Statistics
[edit]The following table details all 21 starts of Sakura Chitose O's racing career based on official netkeiba and JBIS records.
| Date | Distance (Condition) | Race | Class | Course | Odds (Favourite) |
Field | Finish | Time | Winning (Losing) Margin |
Winner (2nd Place) |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Oct 11 | Turf 1600 m (Firm) | 3-Y-O Newcomer | Maiden | Tokyo | 3.4 (1st) | 15 | 1st | 1:36.3 | –0.2 | (Hashino Hayato) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Dec 19 | Turf 1600 m (Firm) | Hiiragi Sho | Allowance | Nakayama | 5.0 (2nd) | 15 | 1st | 1:35.0 | –0.7 | (Hashino Hayato) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| 1993 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| May 1 | Turf 2400 m (Firm) | Aoba Sho | Open | Tokyo | – | 16 | Scratched | – | – | Stage Champ | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| May 9 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | NHK Hai | GII | Tokyo | 8.8 (3rd) | 13 | 3rd | 2:01.5 | 0.8 | My Shinzan | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| May 30 | Turf 2400 m (Firm) | Tokyo Yushun | GI | Tokyo | 21.1 (6th) | 18 | 11th | 2:27.9 | 2.4 | Winning Ticket | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| 1994 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Feb 5 | Dirt 1400 m (Fast) | Setsubun Sho | Allowance | Tokyo | 1.5 (1st) | 16 | 3rd | 1:26.3 | 0.1 | Royal Harbor | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Feb 20 | Turf 1600 m (Firm) | TV Saitama Hai | Allowance | Tokyo | 4.2 (2nd) | 15 | 1st | 1:34.6 | –0.4 | (Kioi Smart) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Mar 13 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | Nakayama Kinen | GII | Nakayama | 6.7 (3rd) | 14 | 1st | 1:48.9 | –0.2 | (Fujiyama Kenzan) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Apr 10 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | April Stakes | Open | Nakayama | 1.3 (1st) | 10 | 2nd | 2:00.1 | 0.0 | Under King | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| May 1 | Turf 2300 m (Firm) | Metropolitan Stakes | Open | Tokyo | 1.4 (1st) | 10 | 1st | 2:20.9 | –0.3 | (Mermaid Tavern) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Jun 12 | Turf 2200 m (Firm) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Hanshin | 21.6 (4th) | 14 | 6th | 2:12.6 | 1.4 | Biwa Hayahide | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Sep 11 | Turf 1600 m (Firm) | Keio Hai Autumn Handicap | GIII | Nakayama | 3.8 (2nd) | 14 | 1st | R1:32.1 | –0.1 | (Air Real) | Hitoshi Matoba | [4] |
| Oct 30 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | Tokyo | 11.9 (4th) | 13 | 6th | 1:59.1 | 0.5 | Nehai Caesar | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Nov 13 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | Fuji Stakes | Open | Tokyo | 1.3 (1st) | 11 | 1st | 1:46.9 | –0.6 | (Stabilizer) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Dec 25 | Turf 2500 m (Firm) | Arima Kinen | GI | Nakayama | 17.9 (5th) | 14 | 6th | 2:33.3 | 1.1 | Narita Brian | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| 1995 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 22 | Turf 2200 m (Firm) | American JCC | GII | Nakayama | 3.9 (2nd) | 10 | 1st | 2:14.4 | –0.1 | (Hokuto Vega) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Mar 12 | Turf 1800 m (Good) | Nakayama Kinen | GII | Nakayama | 1.4 (1st) | 12 | 2nd | 1:50.4 | 0.1 | Fujiyama Kenzan | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| May 14 | Turf 1600 m (Firm) | Yasuda Kinen | GI | Tokyo | 3.3 (1st) | 18 | 2nd | 1:33.2 | 0.0 | Heart Lake | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Jun 4 | Turf 2200 m (Good) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Kyoto | 4.4 (1st) | 17 | 7th | 2:10.9 | 0.7 | Dantsu Seattle | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Oct 8 | Turf 1800 m (Soft) | Mainichi Okan | GII | Tokyo | 4.1 (2nd) | 14 | 4th | 1:49.0 | 0.6 | Sugano Oji | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Oct 29 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | Tokyo | 5.3 (2nd) | 17 | 1st | 1:58.8 | –0.0 | (Genuine) | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
| Dec 24 | Turf 2500 m (Firm) | Arima Kinen | GI | Nakayama | 7.0 (4th) | 12 | 3rd | 2:34.0 | 0.4 | Mayano Top Gun | Futoshi Kojima | [4] |
Stud career
[edit]Following his retirement, Sakura Chitose O stood at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Hokkaido.[10] He later moved to Rex Stud in Shinhidaka.[11] He sired 5 graded stakes winners during his stud career.[10] He was retired from stud duties in 2011 and spent his remaining years as a pensioner at Shinwa Bokujo.[11] He died of old age on January 30, 2014, at the age of 23.[12]
In popular culture
[edit]Sakura Chitose O is depicted as an anthropomorphic character in the multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, developed by Cygames.[13]
Notable progeny
[edit]- 1997 crop
- Leger Regulus – Radio Nikkei Sho Nisai Stakes (GIII)
- 1999 crop
- Namura Thanks – Diamond Stakes (GIII)
- 2001 crop
- Namura Rouge – Hanshin Spring Jump (J-GII)
Pedigree
[edit]| Sire Tony Bin (IRE) 1983 |
Kampala (GB) 1976 |
Kalamoun | Zeddaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khairunissa | |||
| State Pension | Only For Life | ||
| Lorelei | |||
| Severn Bridge (GB) 1965 |
Hornbeam | Hyperion | |
| Thicket | |||
| Priddy Fair | Preciptic | ||
| Campanette | |||
| Dam Sakura Clear (JPN) 1982 |
Northern Taste (CAN) 1971 |
Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
| Natalma | |||
| Lady Victoria | Victoria Park | ||
| Lady Angela | |||
| Clare Bridge (USA) 1967 |
Quadrangle | Cohoes | |
| Tap Day | |||
| Abeyance Lass | Ambiorix | ||
| Vulcania |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "サクラチトセオー (Sakura Chitose O) - Profile & Race Record". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 "【95年JRA賞 決定】年度代表馬はGI2勝のマヤノトップガン". Yushun (in Japanese) (February 1996). Japan Racing Association. 1996.
- 1 2 "サクラチトセオー - 5代血統表". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 "サクラチトセオー 競走成績". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "【重賞プレイバック】第39回京王杯オータムハンデ(GIII)サクラチトセオー". Yushun (in Japanese) (November 1994). Japan Racing Association. 1994.
- ↑ "【第45回安田記念】UAE勢が前哨戦に続いて優勝! ハートレイク". Yushun (in Japanese) (July 1995). Japan Racing Association. 1995.
- ↑ "【今月の記録室】第36回宝塚記念(GI)ダンツシアトル". Yushun (in Japanese) (August 1995). Japan Racing Association. 1995.
- ↑ "【第112回天皇賞(秋)】直線大外。Going My Way サクラチトセオー". Yushun (in Japanese) (December 1995). Japan Racing Association. 1995.
- ↑ "【今月の記録室】"サクラ"兄妹が揃ってGI制覇". Yushun (in Japanese) (January 1996). Japan Racing Association. 1996.
- 1 2 "種牡馬情報:世代・年次別|サクラチトセオー". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 "サクラチトセオーを訪ねて~レックススタッド". Uma Furusato (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "サクラチトセオー老衰死 95年の天皇賞・秋など重賞4勝". Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). 31 January 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "サクラチヨノオー". Umamusume: Pretty Derby Official Site (in Japanese). Cygames. Retrieved 22 June 2026.