Espoir City (Japanese: エスポワールシチー, foaled April 22, 2005) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 2010 February Stakes.

Espoir City
Espoir City right after winning the JBC Sprint in 2013
SireGold Allure
GrandsireSunday Silence
DamEminent City
DamsireBrian's Time
Foaled (2005-04-22) April 22, 2005 (age 19)
CountryJapan
ColorChestnut
BreederIkuchise Bokujo[1]
OwnerYushun Horse
TrainerAkio Adachi
JockeyHiroki Goto[2]
Record40:17-10-3
Earnings1,023,197,000 JPY
Major wins
Champions Cup (2009)
February Stakes (2010)
Kashiwa Kinen (2009, 2010, 2012)
Mile Championship Nambu Hai (2009, 2012, 2013)
JBC Sprint (2013)
Awards
JRA Award for Best Dirt Horse (2009 & 2010)

Career edit

Espoir City debuted on March 9, 2008, at Hanshin, where he came in 3rd.[3] He got his first win after six races on July 29, 2008, when he won at Kokura. He then picked up another win at Kokura on August 10, 2008. This sparked a 4 race winstreak.[3]

2009 was a very successful year for Espoir City. He went on a 6 race winstreak. He picked up his first graded win on March 29, 2009, when he won the March Stakes.[3] He then won his first Grade-1 race by winning the May 5th, 2009 Kashiwa Kinen.[1]

He won the Mile Championship Nambu Hai on October 12, 2009, and his Grade-1 win, the 2009 Champions Cup in December.[3]

He started off 2010 with another Grade-1 win, this time at the February 21st, 2010 February Stakes. He then successfully defended his Kashiwa Kinen title on May 5, 2010, to cap off his win streak.

His next win came on March 21, 2011, when he won the Nagoya Taishoten. He tried to defend his Kashiwa Kinen title for a 2nd time in May, but came in 3rd place. He was only able to win one more race in 2011, when he captured the November 2011 Miyako Stakes.[3]

He returned to the Kashiwa Kinen on May 2, 2012, and won the race for the 3rd and final time. Later in October, he also re-captured the Mile Championship Nambu Hai.

2013 was Espoir City's final year in racing. He came in 2nd at the 2013 February Stakes and at the 2013 Kashiwa Kinen. He then won the Mile Championship Nambu Hai for the 3rd and final time in October. His last win was the November 4th, 2013 Japan Breeding farms' Cup Sprint. He finished his career with a 3rd-place finish at the Champions Cup on December 1, 2013.[3]

Stud career edit

Espoir City's descendants include:[3]

c = colt, f = filly

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
2015 Yamano Fight c Haneda Hai
2015 Eternal Mall f Jungfrau Sho
2015 Cornus Florida c Hyogo Derby, Sonoda Junior Cup
2018 Igniter c Japan Breeding farms' Cup Sprint
2019 Peisha Es c Nagoya Grand Prix

Pedigree edit

Pedigree of Espoir City(JPN), 2005[1]
Sire
Gold Allure (JPN)
b. 1999
Sunday Silence (USA)
b. 1986
Halo Hail to Reason
Cosmah
Wishing Well Understanding
Mountain Flower
Nikiya (USA)
b. 1993
Nureyev Northern Dancer
Special
Reluctant Guest Hostage
Vaguely Royal
Dam
Eminent City (JPN)
b. 1998
Brian's Time (USA)
b. 1985
Roberto Hail to Reason
Bramalea
Kelley's Day Graustark
Golden Trail
Hepburn City (JPN)
b. 1990
Bravest Roman Never Bend
Roman Song
Compal City Traffic
Rinnes

In popular culture edit

An anthromorphized version of the horse appears as a character in Uma Musume Pretty Derby.[4][5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Espoir City".
  2. ^ "Espoir City". Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Espoir City". Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  4. ^ "ダート界からフリオーソ、トランセンド、エスポワールシチーも新ウマ娘に決定!". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  5. ^ "新ウマ娘・エスポワールシチー発表 元主戦騎手の佐藤哲三氏がコメント". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-03-18.