Admire Moon (アドマイヤムーン, Adomaiya mūn); born February 23, 2003) is a Japanese racehorse who won the 2007 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, Takarazuka Kinen and Japan Cup.

Admire Moon
October 29, 2006 Tokyo Racecourse
SireEnd Sweep
GrandsireForty Niner
DamMy Katies
DamsireSunday Silence
SexStallion
Foaled2003
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederNorthern Farm
OwnerRiichi Kondo
Darley Japan Farm Co Ltd
TrainerHiroyoshi Matsuda
Record17: 10-2-2
Earnings870,462,000 JPY
+3,000,000 USD
+5,900,000 HKD
Major wins
Sapporo Nisai Stakes (2005)
Kyodo Tsushin Hai (2006)
Yayoi Sho (2006)
Dubai Duty Free Stakes (2007)
Takarazuka Kinen (2007)
Japan Cup (2007)
Awards
Japanese Horse of the Year (2007)
Last updated on January 31, 2008

Background

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Admire Moon was foaled on February 23, 2003, at Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido, Japan. He was bred by Katsumi Yoshida. He was sired by champion sire End Sweep and his dam was My Katies, a daughter of Sunday Silence. During the 2003 Japan Horse Racing Association Select Sale, Admire Moon was sold to Riichi Kondo for ¥16 million (roughly $135,000). [1] He was trained by Ritto Training Center trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda.

Racing career

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2005: two-year-old season

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In 2005, Admire Moon started four times. He won the Clover Cho and the Sapporo Nisai Stakes, and came second in the Radio Tampa Hai Nisai Stakes. [2]

2006: three-year-old season

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At the beginning of his three-year-old season, Admire Moon won the Kyodo Tsushin Hai. He then won the Yayoi Sho, a trial race for the Satsuki Sho. Admire Moon ran in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) later in 2006, his first Grade I race. He placed 4th to Meisho Samson. [2] He then went to Tokyo for the Japanese Derby, the Tokyo Yushun, where he placed 7th, also to Meisho Samson. That August, Admire Moon ran in the Sapporo Kinen, winning it.

He returned to Tokyo in late October for the Tenno Sho, not the Kikuka Sho (the Japanese St. Leger), and finished 3rd to Daiwa Major. In December, he traveled to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Cup, his first-ever race outside Japan. He finished second to Pride by a nose.

2007: four-year-old season

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In 2007, he raced in Kyoto Kinen and won. He then headed to Dubai for the Dubai Duty Free Stakes. He finished first by half a length, winning his first ever Group One race, over Linngari, Daiwa Major, etc. On June 24, ridden by jockey Yasunari Iwata, he took on the Takarazuka Kinen by a vote of fans and finished first by half a length ahead of Vodka (the 2007 Tokyo Yushun winner), Daiwa Major etc., winning his first Grade I race in Japan. [3]

In the middle of his four-year-old season, Admire Moon was sold by his owner Riichi Kondo to Godolphin for ¥4 billion ($33 million). The sale was confirmed on July 24 of that year. [4]

Admire then ran in the Japan Cup the same year in November and won by a head over Pop Rock. With the Takarazuka Kinen win earlier in the year, Admire Moon earned a ¥130 million bonus in addition to over ¥250 million in prize money. Admire Moon retired after winning the Japan Cup. Overall, he raced 17 times, came first ten times, came second twice, and came third twice. After his retirement, he was named the Japanese Horse of the Year for 2007, as well as top older male.

Stud record

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At the end of his racing career, Admire Moon was retired to become a breeding stallion at Darley Stud. The best of his offspring have included the sprinters Fine Needle and Seiun Kosei, both of whom won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. [5]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Admire Moon
Sire
End Sweep
Forty Niner Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
File Tom Rolfe
Continue
Broom Dance Dance Spell Northern Dancer
Obeah
Witching Hour Thinking Cap
Enchanted Eye
Dam
My Katies
Sunday Silence Halo Hail to Reason
Cosmah
Wishing Well Understanding
Mountain Flower
Katies First Kris Sharpen Up
Doubly Sure
Katies Nonoalco
Mortefontaine F-No.7-f

References

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  1. ^ "Admire Moon Won Japan Cup and Retired". Japan Racing Horse Association. 26 November 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Admire Moon". Darley. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Admire Moon charges late to pick up victory". The Japan Times. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Admire Moon Sold to Godolphin". Bloodhorse. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Stallion Reports | Admire Moon(JPN) | JBIS-Search".