IRL:Grass Wonder
| Main | Gallery | IRL | Game | Party Dash |
| Grass Wonder | ||
|---|---|---|
| グラスワンダー | ||
| Grass Wonder in the 1997 Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes. | ||
| Silks |  |
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| Romaji | Gurasu Wandā | |
| Foaled | February 15, 1995 | |
| Died | August 08, 2025 | |
| Sire | Silver Hawk | |
| Dam | Ameriflora | |
| Sex | Stallion | |
| Color | Chestnut | |
| Trainer | Mitsuhiro Ogata | |
| Race Record | 15: 9-1-0 | |
| Earnings | 691,646,000 JPY | |
| Major wins | ||
| Keisei Hai Sansai Stakes (1997) Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (1997) Arima Kinen (1998, 1999) Keio Hai Spring Cup (1999) Takarazuka Kinen (1999) Mainichi Okan (1999) |
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Grass Wonder was an American-bred, Japanese-trained racehorse that was active from 1997 to 2000, who was bought from the Keeneland September Sale. Among all the horses from the Golden Generation, he was known for his quiet demeanor but incredible turn of foot, earning the nickname "Chestnut Monster".
Name Origin
"Grass" is the crown name of owner Nobuya Hanzawa (under Hanzawa Ltd.), sharing the crown name with his twin brother Kichishiro, who notably owned Green Grass.
He was named "Wonder" after the CEO of Hanzawa Ltd. , Junichi Itou, said that "He gave a wonderful impression" at the sale of Grass Wonder.[1]
Racing career
Two-year-old season (1997)
Grass Wonder made his debut on September 17th in a 1,800-meter turf race on Nakayama Racecourse. Because he had issues with starts before, they decided to enter him in a shorter distance race so he run comfortably[2]. Though he started a bit late, he began to surge in the final straight, and he won the race by three lengths. On October 12th, he entered the Ivy Stakes, where he won the race by five lengths. A few weeks later, on November 8th, he won the Keisei Hai (G2), his first graded victory. This victory earned him a priority entry in the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes[Note 1] on December 7th, a race that'd determine the two-year-old champion of that year.
Grass Wonder entered the race as the most popular, and he ran in the middle of the pack. At the third corner, he began to surge past the other horses, and this marked the first time Grass Wonder was whipped during a race, as he hadn't been whipped in his previous races. Winning by two lengths and a half, this marked not just Grass Wonder's first G1 victory, but a new record time of 1:33.6[Note 2], beating the 1990 winner Lindo Shaver's time by 0.4 seconds. Due to his strength, Grass Wonder was also nicknamed as "the second coming of Maruzensky" as Grass Wonder was the second horse to defeat Maruzensky's record which was considered a record that was impossible to break and as well winning the race while remaining undefeated, a feat that was similar to Maruzensky's racing career.
At the end of the year, Grass Wonder received the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt for his victory.
Three-year-old season (1998)
Since Grass Wonder could not enter many major races at the time due to being an American-bred horse, it was initially planned to have him run in the NHK Mile Cup and the New Zealand Trophy (G2)[2]. However, when he resumed training in the beginning of the year, it was noted that his walking seemed irregular. On March 15th, further examinations discovered that he suffered a fracture in his right hind leg, so he was sent to recuperate at Northern Farm on March 22nd[3].
After months of rest, Grass Wonder returned in the Mainichi Okan (G2) on October 11th. At the third corner, Grass Wonder began to chase from the back, but began to stall in the final straight and lost to Silence Suzuka, placing 5th. He then competed in the Copa Republica Argentina (G2), where he began to stall in the stretch once again and placed 6th. Though he was originally set to run in the Japan Cup, it was later decided to not have him enter[4]. It was instead planned for him to compete in the Arima Kinen on December 27th.
Entered in as the fourth favorite, Grass Wonder raced within the pack. As Seiun Sky was running in the front, Grass Wonder began to overtake him in the last 200 meters of the race, and he attained his second G1 victory.
Four-year-old season (1999)
Originally set to compete in the Nakayama Kinen (G2) to begin the year, Grass Wonder suffered from pain in his right shoulder, so it was decided to not have him run[2]. After that, it was set to have him compete in the Osaka Hai (G2)[Note 3]. However, a laceration was discovered in Grass Wonder's left eye, so that plan was also cancelled[2].
Grass Wonder entered the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2) on May 15th. Waiting patiently as the pace was slow, he began to accelerate in the stretch, held off the horses coming from behind, and won by three-quarters of a length. Later, on June 13th, he entered the Yasuda Kinen. As he surged from the back, Air Jihad was marking him from behind, and eventually caught up to him. This marked Grass Wonder's first G1 defeat, as he placed 2nd.
Grass Wonder entered the Takarazuka Kinen as the second favorite on July 11th, where he faced off the the previous year's Japanese Derby winner Special Week. This match sparked a lot of attention in articles, where the race was considered a "Grand Prix showdown"[5]. As Special Week was ahead of him during the race, Grass Wonder began to mark him. When Special Week began to overtake the other horses in front at the third corner, Grass Wonder began to surge as well, and caught up to him in the last 200 meters. Overtaking the horse, Grass Wonder accelerated further and further, winning the race by three lengths. Achieving his third G1 victory, Grass Wonder took a break for a few months after.
Returning on October 11th to compete in the Mainichi Okan, he won the race by a mere 3 centimeters. While preparing to compete in the Japan Cup, he began to suffer from muscle pains in his left leg, so the race was avoided[2]. However, it was still planned for him to enter the Arima Kinen at the end of the year.
On December 26th, Grass Wonder entered the race as the most popular, where he once again faced off Special Week. At a slow pace, Grass Wonder began to accelerate at the third corner as Special Week began to surge as well. As they both tried to overtake each other, T.M. Opera O and Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi started to surge as well, result in a four-horse finish[6]. At first, assuming that Special Week had won, his jockey Yutaka Take began to do a winning run after the race, and began to pose[7]. However, after deliberation, it was confirmed that Grass Wonder was actually ahead of Special Week by 4 centimeters. Therefore, this not only became Grass Wonder's fourth and final G1 victory, this also made him the third horse after Speed Symboli in 1969-1970 and Symboli Rudolf in 1984-1985 to win the Arima Kinen twice, and the second horse to win three Grand Prix races.
Because of both of their efforts, both Grass Wonder and Special Week were awarded the JRA Special Award.
Five-year-old season (2000)
While Grass Wonder was originally going to retire after the Arima Kinen, both El Condor Pasa and Special Week had began stud duty at the time, so his trainer Mitsuhiro Ogata did not want to retire him and have Grass Wonder compete with them as a stallion[2]. It was aimed for him to compete in the Tenno Sho (Spring) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe throughout the year.
However, Grass Wonder's condition began to deteriorate, as his walking became so erratic to the point where Ogata suspected a fracture[7]. His condition didn't improve until February, and Grass Wonder was entered in the Nikkei Sho (G2) on March 26th. Because he lost and placed 6th, the plans to have him compete in the Tenno Sho (Spring) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe were scrapped.
Suffering a late start at the Keio Hai Spring Cup on May 14th, he did not catch up to the horses in front of him and placed 9th, the lowest placement in his career. After this loss, Grass Wonder's jockey Hitoshi Matoba was replaced by Masayoshi Ebina.
On June 25th, Grass Wonder entered the Takarazuka Kinen for the second time, where he faced off T.M. Opera O. From the third corner, he began to accelerate. However, he lost momentum in the final straight and placed 6th, losing to T.M. Opera O. It was then later discovered that Grass Wonder had suffered a fracture in his left leg, so Ogata made the decision to retire him[7].
Retirement and Breeding Career
On July 23rd, Grass Wonder was transported to Northern Farm to undergo treatment for his injury. On December 24th, on the day of the Arima Kinen, a retirement ceremony was held for Grass Wonder, where he wore the same bib from when he won the Arima Kinen last year[8]. However, since he hadn't fully healed, he wasn't ridden throughout the ceremony, and he only walked at a slow pace.
Grass Wonder retired to perform stud duty at Shadai Stallion Station. In 2008, he placed 10th in the JRA Stallion Rankings, the same year his son Seiun Wonder won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes. Furthermore, Grass Wonder sired many successful progenies, such as the 2008 Japan Cup winner Screen Hero and the 2011 Takarazuka Kinen winner Earnestly. His grandchildren also produced great results. Meisho Mambo won the Japanese Oaks, the Shuka Sho, and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup all in 2013. His son, Screen Hero, sired successful children such as Maurice, Win Marilyn, Gold Actor, and Win Carnelian.
In 2014, both Grass Wonder and Special Week participated in an event on July 12th at Hakodate Racecourse, where they both walked around the paddock.
On October 29th 2016, he was transferred to Big Red Farm. Years later, on April 5th, 2020, it was announced that he would retire as a stallion and spend the rest of his days on Meiwa Farm[9].
On August 8th 2025, Grass Wonder developed an organ failure due to his old age and passed away at the age of 30.
Honors
- JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt (1997)
- JRA Special Award (1999)
Race Records
| Date | Racecourse | Race | Grade | Distance | Gate | Odds | Fav. | Fin. | Time | Margin | Jockey | Winner (Runner-Up) | Other Umamusume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997/09/13 | Nakayama | Three-Year-Old Newcomer | Maiden | T 1800m | 9 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1:52.4 | -0.5 | H.Matoba | (Bildschon) | |
| 1997/10/12 | Tokyo | Ivy Stakes | OP | T 1400m | 8 | 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 1:21.9 | -0.8 | H.Matoba | (Machikane Sanshiro) | |
| 1997/11/08 | Tokyo | Keisei Hai Sansai Stakes | G2 | T 1400m | 2 | 1.1 | 1 | 1 | 1:21.9 | -1.0 | H.Matoba | (Machikane Sanshiro) | |
| 1997/12/07 | Nakayama | Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes | G1 | T 1600m | 11 | 1.3 | 1 | 1 | 1:33.6 | -0.4 | H.Matoba | (Meiner Love) | |
| 1998/10/11 | Tokyo | Mainichi Okan | G2 | T 1800m | 6 | 3.7 | 2 | 5 | 1:46.4 | 1.5 | H.Matoba | Silence Suzuka | Silence Suzuka, El Condor Pasa |
| 1998/11/07 | Tokyo | Copa Republica Argentina | G2 | T 2500m | 13 | 3.0 | 1 | 6 | 2:33.5 | 0.6 | H.Matoba | Yusei Top Run | |
| 1998/12/27 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | G1 | T 2500m | 2 | 14.5 | 4 | 1 | 2:32.1 | -0.1 | H.Matoba | (Mejiro Bright) | Mejiro Bright, Seiun Sky, Air Groove, King Halo, Mejiro Dober, Matikanefukukitaru, Stay Gold |
| 1999/05/15 | Tokyo | Keio Hai Spring Cup | G2 | T 1400m | 5 | 2.1 | 1 | 1 | 1:20.5 | -0.1 | H.Matoba | (Air Jihad) | |
| 1999/06/13 | Tokyo | Yasuda Kinen | G1 | T 1600m | 7 | 1.3 | 1 | 2 | 1:33.3 | 0.0 | H.Matoba | Air Jihad | Seeking the Pearl, King Halo, Shinko Windy |
| 1999/07/11 | Hanshin | Takarazuka Kinen | G1 | T 2200m | 5 | 2.8 | 2 | 1 | 2:12.1 | -0.5 | H.Matoba | (Special Week) | Special Week, Matikanefukukitaru, King Halo, Stay Gold |
| 1999/10/10 | Tokyo | Mainichi Okan | G2 | T 1800m | 8 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1:45.8 | 0.0 | H.Matoba | (Meisho Odo) | King Halo, Mejiro Dober |
| 1999/12/26 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | G1 | T 2500m | 7 | 2.8 | 1 | 1 | 2:37.2 | 0.0 | H.Matoba | (Special Week) | Special Week, T.M. Opera O, Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi, Mejiro Bright, Narita Top Road, Stay Gold |
| 2000/03/26 | Nakayama | Nikkei Sho | G2 | T 2500m | 7 | 1.3 | 1 | 6 | 2:36.3 | 0.9 | H.Matoba | Leo Ryuho | Meisho Doto, Stay Gold |
| 2000/05/14 | Tokyo | Keio Hai Spring Cup | G2 | T 1400m | 8 | 2.4 | 1 | 9 | 1:21.6 | 0.6 | H.Matoba | Stinger | King Halo |
| 2000/06/25 | Hanshin | Takarazuka Kinen | G1 | T 2200m | 11 | 2.8 | 2 | 6 | 2:14.7 | 0.9 | M.Ebina | T.M. Opera O | T.M. Opera O, Meisho Doto, Matikanefukukitaru, Stay Gold |
Pedigree
| Sire Silver Hawk (USA) |
Roberto (USA) | Hail to Reason (USA) | Turn-to (IRE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nothirdchance (USA) | |||
| Bramalea (USA) | Nashua (USA) | ||
| Rarelea (USA) | |||
| Gris Vitesse (USA) | Amerigo (GB) | Nearco (ITY) | |
| Sanlinea (GB) | |||
| Matchiche (FR) | Mat de Cocagne (FR) | ||
| Chimere Fabuleuse (FR) | |||
| Dam Ameriflora (USA) |
Danzig (USA) | Northern Dancer (CAN) | Nearctic (CAN) |
| Natalma (USA) | |||
| Pas de Nom (USA) | Admiral's Voyage (USA) | ||
| Petitioner (GB) | |||
| Graceful Touch (USA) | His Majesty (USA) | Ribot (GB) | |
| Flower Bowl (USA) | |||
| Pi Phi Gal (USA) | Raise a Native (USA) | ||
| Soaring (USA), (Family: 12-c) |
Notes
References
- ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B0%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B9%E3%83%AF%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC#cite_note-meibameijin-9
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Weekly 100 Horses Vol.89
- ↑ Yushun Magazine 2001
- ↑ Matoba 2001
- ↑ Yushun Magazine 1999
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5NeUmaOISU
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Yushun Magazine 2000
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpGJYKOFj_Y
- ↑ https://www.bigredfarm.jp/post/%E3%82%B0%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B9%E3%83%AF%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AE%E7%A8%AE%E7%89%A1%E9%A6%AC%E5%BC%95%E9%80%80%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6