(26th Nov 07)

ADMIRE MOON won Japan Cup and retired

Admire Moon, bred by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm and sold to Riichi Kondo at the 2003 JRHA Select Sale for 16,000,000yen, won the G1/Japan Cup on November 25th at Tokyo impressively.
After the G1/Takarazuka Kinen in June, Riichi Kondo received the offer from Sheikh Mohammed and Admire Moon was sold to Darley Japan Farm, the Sheihk Mohammed's breeding operation in Japan, for 4 billion Yen. Admire Moon carried the purple silk of Darley Japan Farm in two outings in autumn. The G1/Emperor's Cup Autumn in October found a shape in rough race, where many runners including Admire Moon could not have clear run, and he finished disappointing sixth. However, Admire Moon bounced up at the top in the G1/Japan Cup, defeating the quality field which included top local horses, such as Meisho Samson, Pop Rock, Vodka, and Delta Blues, and the strong foreign raiders, such as Saddex from Germany, Papal Bull from U.K, and Artiste Royale from U.S.A.
Japan Cup was the third Graded One Stakes Admire Moon won, after G1/Dubai Duty Free in March at Nad Al Sheba and G1/Takarazuka Kinen in June at Hanshin.
Admire Moon has run his last race, and was send to the Darley Japan Farm in Monbetsu, Hokkaido, where he will start his stud duty from 2008, and his stud fee is announced as 5 million Yen.

(23rd May 07)

Japanese finished one-two in the Singapore International Cup

It was only six months ago when Delta Blues and Pop Rock achieved the terrific one-two in the Melbourne Cup, and the superiority of Japanese runners was proved again at the international event, as Shadow Gate and Cosmo Bulk occupied the first and second spot in the G1/Singapore Airline International Cup at Kranji on May 20th.
While Cosmo Bulk, who tried to complete the back-to-back win of the race, was certainly brave enough to devastate the 14 runners' field, which included the top class horses from South Africa, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, and the home nation Singapore, far more impressive this year was Shadow Gate, owned by Tomokazu Iizuka and trained by Yukihiro Kato. This late developed horse won his first Graded Stake as he captured the G3/Nakayama Kimpai earlier this year, and proved that he is the contender in the highest class as he finished second to Meisho Samson, a duel classic winner in Japan in 2006, in the G2/Osaka Hai last time out on April 1st.
Settled after the pacesetters by Katsuharu Tanaka, Shadow Gate enjoyed the trip and delivered the
strongest challenge on the homestretch to gain his first Graded One victory.
Shadow Gate is a five-year-old horse by White Muzzle, bred by Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm.
Six colts and one filly by White Muzzle are catalogued in the yearling session of the 2007 JRHA July Select Sale.

(2nd Apr 07)

ADMIRE MOON bathed at Arabian Night

Admire Moon, one of eight Japanese representatives at the 2007 Dubai International Race Day on March 31st, was the most fascinating in the 16 runners' field of the G1/Dubai Duty Free, which carried the total purse of 5 million dollars, and captured his first Graded One win at Nad Al Sheba.
The Duty Free was the most international race on the card, which contained the thoroughbreds bred in eight different countries and the runners trained at eight different countries from all over the world. For example, the United States has sent Lava Man, the six times G1 winning dynamo and the best horse at the West Coast, and Miesque's Approval, the winner of '06 Breeders' Cup Mile. Stormy River, the winner of G1/Prix Jean Prat, looked holding the best chance for Europeans, and Pompeii Ruler, the winner of G1/Australian Cup, was carrying a high hope by Australians. And Daiwa Major, the winner the G1/Japanese 2000 Guineas and G1/Emperor's Cup Autumn, was very keen to complete the one-two finish by Japanese-trained horses with Admire Moon.
Ridden by Yutaka Take, Admire Moon by End Sweep broke the gate well and settled in the mid of field smoothly. Admire Moon and Yutaka Take hit the front at the two-furlong pole, which was a bit sooner than his usual running style, but he was strong enough to hold the late challenge by Linngari.
Winning owner Riichi Kondo, who bought Admire Moon at 2003 JRHA Select Sale for 16,000,000yen, approximately $133,000, was totally overcome with joy, after his Admire Moon earned $3,000,000 through the race for 1 minute 47.94 seconds. Admire Moon was bred by Northern Racing, and has been trained by Hiroyoshi Matsuda at Ritto Training Center.
Admire moon will travel from Dubai to Hong Kong to compete in the G1/Queen Elizabeth Second Cup at Sha Tin on April 29th, according to Riichi Kondo.