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IRL:Almond Eye

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Almond Eye
アーモンドアイ

Almond Eye and jockey Christophe Lemaire at the 2018 Japanese Oaks
Silks
Romaji Aamondo Ai
Foaled March 10, 2015
Sire Lord Kanaloa
Dam Fusaichi Pandora
Sex Mare
Color Bay
Trainer Sakae Kunieda
Race Record 15: 11-2-1
Earnings 1,915,263,900 JPY
Major wins
Shinzan Kinen (2018)
Oka Sho (2018)
Japanese Oaks (2018)
Shuka Sho (2018)
Japan Cup (2018, 2020)
Dubai Turf (2019)
Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2019, 2020)
Victoria Mile (2020)

Almond Eye is a Japanese racehorse that was active from 2017 to 2020. Considered the most successful Japanese racemare of all time, Almond Eye is the previous record holder of the fastest time over 2400 meters on turf in the world[1], the 5th racehorse to achieve the fillies' Triple Tiara, and the first Japanese racehorse to surpass career earnings of over 1.9 billion yen, surpassing Kitasan Black's earnings.

Almond Eye was named Japanese Horse of the Year in both 2018 and 2020, and also earned the titles of Best Three-Year-Old Filly in 2018 and Best Older Filly or Mare in 2020. In 2023, she was inducted as the 35th horse to receive JRA Hall of Fame honor, and became known as the “Nine-Crown Queen” for her remarkable tally of nine Grade 1 victories.[2][3]

Name Origin

Her name means "An eye shape of a face considered beautiful".[4] Almond eyes are considered naturally attractive for beauty standards, known for their symmetry and balance.[5]

Racing career

Two-year-old season (2017)

Almond Eye made her debut on August 6th, 2017, in a 1,400-meter turf race on Niigata Racecourse. As the most popular, despite chasing in the final straight, she could not catch up to Nishino Urara and placed 2nd[6]. However, two months later, she won her next race by three and a half lengths.

Three-year-old season (2018)

Almond Eye entered the Shinzan Kinen (G3) on January 8th, 2018. Because her usual jockey, Christophe Lemaire, was suspended from riding at the time, Keita Tosaki rode in his place instead[7]. Though Almond Eye suffered a late start and had to race from the back, in the end, she overtook the leading horses and finished first, marking the race as her first graded victory[8]. She shortly took a break at Northern Farm until the spring.

Three months later, on April 8th, she entered the Oka Sho, the first leg of the Triple Tiara. Christophe Lemaire returned as her jockey in the race, where Almond Eye faced the popular Hanshin Juvenille Fillies winner from the previous year, Lucky Lilac. Almond Eye remained in the back of the race, as Lucky Lilac lead the rest of the pack. In the final 200 meters, Lucky Lilac began to break out of the pack, but Almond Eye caught up to her just in time, and won the race by three quarters of a length[9].

A month later, on May 20th, she returned to compete in the Japanese Oaks, aiming for her second Tiara. She had a good start, waiting in the pack until she ran alongside Lucky Lilac in the last 400 meters. At the remaining 200 meters, she surged past her and Lily Noble, winning by two lengths and attaining her second Tiara[10]. She became the 14th Double Tiara winner in six years since the Triple Tiara mare Gentildonna in 2012, and she rested up back at Northern Farm until the fall.

She entered the Shuka Sho on October 14th, the final leg of the Triple Tiara. She took a position in the middle section of the pack, and began to surge in the last 400 meters. She overtook Mikki Charm, and won the race by half a length, earning her the Triple Tiara and making her the fifth winner with the title. After this, she took a rest until she entered the Japan Cup on November 25th.

Almond Eye led the pack, until she began to accelerate in the third and final corners and prepared to overtake the escaping horse Kiseki. As Kiseki attempted to widen the gap, Almond Eye caught up to him in the last 300 meters, and won the race by three fourths of a length[11]. Almond Eye would set a record time of 2:20.6, going unbeaten for seven years until the Irish-bred horse Calandagan beat her record by three seconds in 2025. It was then announced that Almond Eye would participate in the G1 race Dubai Turf later next year[12]. It was also announced that she would participate in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as well[13].

At the end of year, she not only won the JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Filly, she also won the Japanese Horse of the Year. This marked it the first time in history that a mare would win Japanese Horse of the Year by a full vote[13].

Four-year-old season (2019)

On March 30th, 2019, Almond Eye competed in the Dubai Turf, a 1,800-meter race. Here, she faced off with Vivlos, the 2017 winner of the race. In the last 300 meters, she broke out of the pack, held off Vivlos who was accelerating behind her, and won by one length and a half. This was not just be her fifth G1 victory, but she became the fifth Japanese horse in history to win the Dubai Turf. She returned to Japan on April 2nd, and on April 17th, it was announced by Silk Racing in a document that Almond Eye would not participate in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe due to the race being potentially tough on the horse[14].

After months of rest, Almond Eye returned in the Yasuda Kinen on June 3rd. During the race, Logi Cry obstructed the paths of Persian Knight, Danon Premium, and Lord Quest, and Almond Eye herself, which forced her to run from the rear[15]. She struggled to maintain her position in the middle of the pack, and though she began to accelerate in the final 400 meters, she lost to Indy Champ, who broke out first[16]. This 3rd place finish marked Almond Eye's first G1 defeat, and Indy Champ became the only colt to ever defeat her.

She returned to compete in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), on October 27th. In a good position, she began to widen the gap at the last 250 meters of the race, and won by three lengths[17]. As this became her sixth G1 victory, she took a rest at Northern Farm to prepare for the end of the year Arima Kinen. Originally aiming for the Hong Kong Cup, she developed a fever before departure, so the expedition was cancelled[18].

On December 22nd, she competed in the Arima Kinen, where she took a position in the middle of the pack. As Aerolithe was tiring out from her great escape, Almond Eye began to accelerate, but once Lys Gracieux overtook her in the stretch, Almond Eye began to tire out, placing 9th as Lys Gracieux won by five lengths[19]. This marked her first and only major loss throughout her career. While there were concerns by her trainer and jockey that she had issues during the race, her physical and mental condition was determined as fine[20]. Accepting the Dubai Turf invitation, her next goal was to run in the race for a second time[21].

Five-year-old season (2020)

Almond Eye arrived at Al Maktoum International Airport on March 19th, 2020. At first, due to COVID-19, the race was initially going to be a no-spectator race[22]. However, on March 22nd, it was announced that the race would be postponed due to safety reasons[23], and Almond Eye returned to Japan on March 29th. After resting, she entered the Victoria Mile on May 17th, where she escaped from the pack in the last leg of the race and won by four lengths[24]. This race became her seventh G1 victory, and the Yasuda Kinen was up next.

On June 7th, she competed in the Yasuda Kinen, where she once again encountered Indy Champ. She attempted to secure her path in the final straight after overtaking the other horses, but Gran Alegria, the Oka Sho winner of the previous year, broke out of the pack first, beating her[25]. After this second place finish, Almond Eye took a break for a couple of months until the fall.

She entered the Tenno Sho (Autumn) once again on November 1st. She lead the pack throughout the race, and within the last 100 meters, she began to escape and win by half a length, holding off the surging Chrono Genesis and Fierement[26]. This marked her eight G1 victory, which broke the seven G1 record held by the horses Symboli Rudolf, T.M. Opera O, Deep Impact, Vodka, Gentildonna, and Kitasan Black. She also became the second horse to win the Tenno Sho (Autumn) twice since the horse Symboli Kris S in 2002-2003. It was then announced that her retirement race would be the Japan Cup[27].

On November 29th, Almond Eye raced for the last time at the Japan Cup. There, she faced not only the first undefeated Triple Tiara winner Daring Tact, but the undefeated Triple Crown winner Contrail. This marked it the first time in history that two undefeated Triple Crown/Tiara winners of the same year would face a Triple Tiara winner, drawing more attention to the race to the point where it was even described as a "dream race"[28].

Almond Eye raced in a good position, as Daring Tact began to mark her. As Kiseki ran ahead at multiple lengths, he eventually tired out, and Glory Vase made the first move. As Almond Eye ran right beside him, Contrail, Daring Tact, and Curren Bouquetd'or began to chase from behind. However, Almond Eye continued to surge and finished first, winning her 9th and final G1 and beating her own record[29]. She also became the second mare to win the Japan Cup twice after Gentildonna.

On December 19th, a retirement ceremony was held for her at Nakayama Racecourse[30]. On the same day, she was deregistered from the Japan Racing Association. She was not only awarded the JRA Award for Best Older Filly or Mare, she also won the Japanese Horse of the Year for the second time[31].

Retirement

After retirement, she became a broodmare at Northern Farm. Her first foal, a colt named Aaron's Rod, was born on Janaury 13th, 2022, to the sire Epiphaneia. She continues to work as a broodmare, and she's had more foals since then.

Honors

  • 5th Japanese Triple Tiara Champion (2018)
  • JRA Horse of the Year (2018, 2020)
  • JRA Best Three-year-old Filly (2018)
  • JRA Best Four-year-old or Older Filly (2020)
  • Hong Kong Best Foreign-Trained Horse (2019/2020, 2020/2021)[32][33]
  • Dubai Racing Best Racehorse (2019, 2020)[34]
  • Thoroughbred Racing Commentary Horse of the Year (2020)[35]
  • JRA Hall of Fame Inductee (2023)

Relationships

Relatives

Race Records

Race data sourced from netkeiba.
Date Racecourse Race Grade Distance Gate Odds Fav. Fin. Time Margin Jockey Winner (Runner-Up) Other Umamusume
2017/08/06 Niigata Two-Year-Old Newcomer Maiden T 1400m 12 1.3 1 2 1:24.0 0.3 C.Lemaire Nishino Urara
2017/10/08 Tokyo Two-Year-Old Maiden Maiden T 1600m 11 1.2 1 1 1:35.1 -0.6 C.Lemaire (Cosmo Feerique)
2018/01/08 Kyoto Shinzan Kinen G3 T 1600m 3 2.9 1 1 1:37.1 -0.3 K.Tosaki (Tsuzumimon)
2018/04/08 Hanshin Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) G1 T 1600m 13 3.9 2 1 1:33.1 -0.3 C.Lemaire (Lucky Lilac) Lucky Lilac
2018/05/20 Tokyo Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) G1 T 2400m 13 1.7 1 1 2:23.8 -0.3 C.Lemaire (Lily Noble) Lucky Lilac
2018/10/14 Kyoto Shuka Sho G1 T 2000m 11 1.3 1 1 1:58.5 -0.2 C.Lemaire (Mikki Charm) Lucky Lilac
2018/11/25 Tokyo Japan Cup G1 T 2400m 1 1.4 1 1 2:20.6 -0.3 C.Lemaire (Kiseki) Cheval Grand, Satono Diamond, Satono Crown, Sounds of Earth, Kiseki
2019/03/30 Meydan Dubai Turf G1 T 1800m 7 1.2 1 1 1:46.78 C.Lemaire (Vivlos) Vivlos
2019/06/02 Tokyo Yasuda Kinen G1 T 1600m 14 1.7 1 3 1:30.9 0.0 C.Lemaire Indy Champ
2019/10/27 Tokyo Tenno Sho (Autumn) G1 T 2000m 2 1.6 1 1 1:56.2 -0.5 C.Lemaire (Danon Premium)
2019/12/22 Nakayama Arima Kinen G1 T 2500m 9 1.5 1 9 2:32.3 1.8 C.Lemaire Lys Gracieux Cheval Grand, Kiseki
2020/05/17 Tokyo Victoria Mile G1 T 1600m 12 1.4 1 1 1:30.6 -0.7 C.Lemaire (Sound Chiara) Loves Only You
2020/06/07 Tokyo Yasuda Kinen G1 T 1600m 5 1.3 1 2 1:32.0 0.4 C.Lemaire Gran Alegria Gran Alegria
2020/11/01 Tokyo Tenno Sho (Autumn) G1 T 2000m 9 1.4 1 1 1:57.8 -0.1 C.Lemaire (Fierement) Chrono Genesis, Blast Onepiece, Kiseki
2020/11/29 Tokyo Japan Cup G1 T 2400m 2 2.2 1 1 2:23.0 -0.2 C.Lemaire (Contrail) Daring Tact, Curren Bouquetd'or, Kiseki

Pedigree

Horse pedigree of Almond Eye (JPN)
Sire
Lord Kanaloa (JPN) 		King Kamehameha (JPN) Kingmambo (USA) Mr. Prospector (USA)
Miesque (USA)
Manfath (IRE) Last Tycoon (IRE)
Pilot Bird (GB)
Lady Blossom (JPN) Storm Cat (USA) Storm Bird (CAN)
Terlingua (USA)
Saratoga Dew (USA) Cormorant (USA)
Super Luna (USA)
Dam
Fusaichi Pandora (JPN) 		Sunday Silence (USA) Halo (USA) Hail to Reason (USA)
Cosmah (USA)
Wishing Well (USA) Understanding (USA)
Mountain Flower (USA)
Lotta Lace (USA) Nureyev (USA) Northern Dancer (CAN)
Special (USA)
Sex Appeal (USA) Buckpasser (USA)
Best in Show (USA), (Family: 8-f)


Trivia

  • In HKJC, Almond Eye has her own brand number, which was used to identify overseas contenders and local horses. However, Almond Eye never raced in Hong Kong, the reason why her data is left over in HKJC was because she entered the 2019 Hong Kong Cup, but ended up withdrawing from the race due to having a fever.
  • Fans nicknamed her as "Cucumber", a pun on her title of 9 G1 wins (九冠馬, kyuukanba, "Nine Crown Horse").
  • Almond Eye almost always placed in the top three during her career, the only huge loss in her career was the 2019 Arima Kinen, where she came in ninth place.
    • Coincidentally, the number of G1 wins that she had won before retirement.
  • Almond Eye was the second three-year old filly to win the Japan Cup, after Gentildonna did in 2012.

Notes


References

  1. ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2018/11/26/kiji/20181125s00004048453000c.html
  2. ↑ https://p.keibabook.co.jp/news/detail/71745
  3. ↑ 『週刊Gallop臨時増刊「９冠女王 アーモンドアイ」』産経新聞社。
  4. ↑ https://www.jra.go.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud102015104961/3E
  5. ↑ https://irisblink.com/en-in/blogs/iris-art-photography-blog/7-most-captivating-eye-shapes
  6. ↑ https://www.radionikkei.jp/keiba_article/news/post_12385.html
  7. ↑ https://hochi.news/articles/20171223-OHT1T50112.html
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIPRDZEkVA
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSJZK__iv58
  10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIsVosmQKHo
  11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqzRu1v13TQ
  12. ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2019/01/28/kiji/20190128s00004216233000c.html
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 https://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2019/01/08/kiji/20190108s00004048198000c.html
  14. ↑ https://www2.silkhorseclub.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SILKHC0417_AE.pdf#search='%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AF%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%83%A9%E3%83%96+%E5%87%B1%E6%97%8B%E9%96%80%E8%B3%9E+%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4'
  15. ↑ https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/839545
  16. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyuKHPJbtDs
  17. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQDBjC-85aI
  18. ↑ https://hochi.news/articles/20191130-OHT1T50207.html
  19. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY8OYzlspdA
  20. ↑ https://news.netkeiba.com/?pid=news_view&no=165088
  21. ↑ https://www.daily.co.jp/horse/2020/02/07/0013098021.shtml
  22. ↑ https://news.netkeiba.com/?pid=news_view&no=168440
  23. ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2020/03/22/kiji/20200322s00004050365000c.html
  24. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB59jFZe-j0
  25. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wGc0T5vnak
  26. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUzkpE7-qvE
  27. ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2020/11/05/articles/20201104s00004048446000c.html
  28. ↑ https://www.sankei.com/article/20201127-FR6OZV727JOQRHYEOLOEB5AXFI/
  29. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO55Nl7Fxeg
  30. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-e6Gt1NrYU
  31. ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/gamble/news/2021/01/06/kiji/20210106s00004048269000c.html
  32. ↑ https://news.netkeiba.com/?pid=news_view&no=174056
  33. ↑ https://world.jra-van.jp/news/N0009289/
  34. ↑ https://hochi.news/articles/20210328-OHT1T50114.html?page=1
  35. ↑ https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/4842/almond-eye-trc-global-rankings-world-champion-2020/
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