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IRL:Mihono Bourbon

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Mihono Bourbon
ミホノブルボン

Mihono Bourbon at the 1992 Japanese Derby
Silks
Romaji Mihono Burubon
Foaled April 25, 1989
Died February 22, 2016
Sire Magnitude
Dam Katsumi Echo
Sex Stallion
Color Chestnut
Trainer Tameo Toyama
Race Record 8: 7-1-0
Earnings 437,300,000 JPY
Major wins
Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (1991)
Satsuki Sho (1992)
Japanese Derby (1992)


The Armor of Faith
The Armor of Faith

They shout,
"It's impossible for you"
The voice echoes,
"Even you have limits"

Other people's willfull
Assumptions or stereotypes,
Reject all of them.

Wearing the armor named faith
That you have forged until today.
- JRA Portrait of the Bucephalus[1]


Mihono Bourbon was a Japanese racehorse that was active from 1991 to 1992. He was one of the pioneers of using slopes in training, and was nicknamed "The Cyborg" and "Chestnut Express" due to his consistent pace.

Name Origin

His crown name "Mihono" comes from his owner, Mihono International. "Bourbon" is taken from the Bourbon Dynasty in France, and not the alcoholic beverage.[2]

Racing career

Before Debut

Mihono Bourbon's grandmother, High Flame, produced Tosho Highness with Dandy Lute, with 5 wins in JRA and 20 in Kochi. When High Flame was sold to the breeder Keiji Haraguchi and his father Ryo at 13 years old, they contemplated covering High Flame again with Dandy Lute, but the stud fee was too expensive for a small family ran breeding farm. Ryo decided to cover High Flame with Chalet, who had the same father as Dandy Lute, Luthier.[3] Their child born in 1983 was named Katsumi Echo, and kept at the Haraguchi farm for breeding after 1 win in 12 starts in southern Kanto racing.

As sires from the Mill Reef line were making great results at the end of the 1980s, Keiji planned on covering Katsumi Echo with Mill George (who produced Inari One), but was unable to pay the stud fee of 1 million yen. He decided to use Magnitude as a replacement for his cheaper 500,000 yen. Racing writer Katsutoshi Takai commented on Mihono Bourbon's pedigree, saying that Magnitude was "barely first-rate" as a sire, and Chalet, "nobody would mind if he was called a third-rate".[4]

Mihono Bourbon was born on the 25th of April, 1989, as the first son of Katsumi Echo by Magnitude.

During birth, he was stuck from his waist width.[5] He was often alone in the farm and was calm in temperament, with an unremarkable constitution.[6] Trainer Tameo Toyama had left results with rigorous slope training. He had a theory that first children grew to withstand hard training easier, and as Mihono Bourbon had a big body born from Magnitude (who had a tendency to produce smaller horses), as well as him being previously involved with Tosho Highness, it was decided that Mihono Bourbon will train under Toyama.[4][6] While other stables ran the slope 3 times, Mihono Bourbon ran it 4 times. He was able to digest the high load training with his big appetite. His stable hand and training assistant Tsukasa Yasunaga says that Bourbon hates to be approached while eating, and even as his stable hand, he scared Bourbon if he approached him at those times.[4]

Two-year-old season (1991)

Mihono Bourbon ran the slope course with training assistant Yasunaga as pre-race preparation in August of 1991, while open-class 4+ year olds typically clocks 30+ seconds, Mihono Bourbon at just two years old clocked 29.9 seconds, and trainer Toyama was seen exclaiming from excitement. With this result, Mihono Bourbon was the overwhelming favorite at his debut, a 1000-meter maiden race in Nakayama Racecourse on September 7th. He would be ridden by jockey Sadahiro Kojima, who would be the only one to ride him throughout his career. As another horse refused to entered the gates and forced a long wait in the narrow starting gates, they were unable to get a clean start, and was blocked from both sides and unable take position in front. Turning into the straight, they chose to go on the outside, and took a convincing victory by 1 1/4 lengths. Marking his first victory, the finishing time of 58.1 seconds was also a course record for two year olds. [6] He was diagnosed with periostitis in his metacarpal bone[7], and returned to racing two months later in a below 5 million yen class race (Tokyo Turf 1600m), and won by 6 lengths for two consecutive wins.

Asahi Hai

As the Hanshin Sansai Stakes (G1) were changed to the filly limited Hanshin Sansai Himba Stakes (G1)[Note 1] that year, promising two year old colts all converged into the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (G1)[Note 2] on December 8th. Mihono Bourbon was again the favorite, with Keisei Hai Sansai Stakes (G3) winner Yamanin Miracle, and Fuchu Sansai Stakes (OP) winner Matikanetannhauser following. Out of the gates, Mihono Bourbon ran parallel with the front-running horse. The short space between races might have caused Mihono Bourbon to be more eager, and jockey Kojima had a hard time settling into a rhythm. Turning into the straight, Mihono Bourbon in front was challenged by the fast closing Yamanin Miracle, and the two finished side by side. With just a nose between them, Mihono Bourbon had won his first G1 in a three win streak.[3] This was the first G1 victory for jockey Kojima as well as the first G1 victory for trainer Toyama since the graded system was introduced. Jockey Kojima commented, "he has great explosiveness, I look forward to what's to come for him". However, trainer Toyama thought that the 2,000-meter distance of the Satsuki Sho might be close to the limit for Mihono Bourbon. Toward jockey Kojima who tried to hold Bourbon back from the start, leading to a down-to-the-wire finish, Toyama scolded him as he thought if he just let the horse run on their own whim, it would have been an easy victory. After this point, Kojima did not hold back Bourbon's eagerness, and unapologetically raced with the front-running style. [3][6]

In voting at the JRA awards, Mihono Bourbon took 174 out of 176, crowning him Best Two-Year-Old Colt[Note 3] in 1991.[8]

Three-year-old season (1992)

Retirement and Death

After the Kikuka Sho, Mihono Bourbon was aimed at the Japan Cup (G1). However, he was diagnosed with lameness in his right hind leg, and was forced to pull out from both the Japan Cup and later the Arima Kinen.

The team still worked to return Mihono Bourbon to the track after he turned four, but on January 27th, 1993, he was diagnosed with periostitis in the same right hind leg. He was sent to pastures but fractured the same leg in April. With the death of his trainer Toyama on May 27th, he was transferred under trainer Shigeki Matsumoto in September, and sent to the JRA Equine Research Institute's Racehorse Rehabilitation Center in October. [9]

In the end, Mihono Bourbon was unable to make a return to racing, and was officially retired on January 19th, 1994. His retirement ceremony was held on February 6th, with Jockey Kojima riding him with his winning bib 15 at the Japanese Derby.

Mihono Bourbon was entered into stud duty after his retirement, but was unable to produce a JRA graded winner, which hinted all his achievements were due to his hard work and the intense training he received. He was retired from stud duty on November 1st, 2012 and spent the rest of his life in Smile Farm, a farm ran by the son-in-law of breeder Haraguchi.[10]

He passed away from old age on February 22nd, 2017.[11]

Honors

  • JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt (1991)
  • JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1992)
  • JRA Award for Horse of the Year (1992)

Race Records

Race data sourced from netkeiba.
Date Racecourse Race Grade Distance Gate Odds Fav. Fin. Time Margin Jockey Winner (Runner-Up) Other Umamusume
1991/09/07 Chukyo Three-Year-Old Newcomer Maiden T 1000m 3 1.4 1 1 0:58.1 -0.2 S.Kojima (Hoei Seiko)
1991/11/23 Tokyo Three-Year-Old Pre-OP Pre-OP T 1600m 9 1.5 1 1 1:35.1 -1.0 S.Kojima (Kuri Try)
1991/12/08 Nakayama Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes G1 T 1600m 4 1.5 1 1 1:34.5 0.0 S.Kojima (Yamanin Miracle) Matikanetannhauser
1992/03/29 Nakayama Spring Stakes G2 T 1800m 1 4.5 2 1 1:50.1 -1.2 S.Kojima (Mermaid Tavern) Rice Shower, Matikanetannhauser, Sakura Bakushin O
1992/04/19 Nakayama Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) G1 T 2000m 4 1.4 1 1 2:01.4 -0.4 S.Kojima (Narita Taisei) Matikanetannhauser, Rice Shower
1992/05/31 Tokyo Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) G1 T 2400m 15 2.3 1 1 2:27.8 -0.7 S.Kojima (Rice Shower) Rice Shower, Matikanetannhauser
1992/10/18 Kyoto Kyoto Shimbun Hai G2 T 2200m 10 1.2 1 1 2:12.0 -0.2 S.Kojima (Rice Shower) Rice Shower
1992/11/08 Kyoto Kikuka Sho (Japanese St.Leger) G1 T 3000m 7 1.5 1 2 3:05.2 0.2 S.Kojima Rice Shower Rice Shower, Matikanetannhauser

Pedigree

Horse pedigree of Mihono Bourbon (JPN)
Sire
Magnitude (IRE) 		Mill Reef (USA) Never Bend (USA) Nasrullah (GB)
Lalun (USA)
Milan Mill (USA) Princequillo (IRE)
Virginia Water (USA)
Altesse Royale (IRE) Saint Crespin (GB) Aureole (GB)
Neocracy (GB)
Bleu Azur (GB) Crepello (GB)
Blue Prelude (GB)
Dam
Katsumi Echo (JPN) 		Chalet (FR) Luthier (FR) Klairon (FR)
Flute Enchantee (FR)
Christiana (GB) Double Jump (GB)
Mount Rosa (GB)
High Flame (JPN) Your Highness (GB) Chamossaire (GB)
Lady Grand (GB)
Kami Yamato (JPN) Rising Flame (IRE)
Corona (JPN), (Family: 11-c)


Trivia

Notes

  1. ↑ Later Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1)
  2. ↑ Later Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1)
  3. ↑ Then Three-Year-Old, as the pre 2000 age counting standard in Japan counts horses as born 1 year old.

References

  1. ↑ JRA official
  2. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-%E5%84%AA%E9%A7%BF1992-6-132133-17
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-%E5%84%AA%E9%A7%BF1992-2-146149-12
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-%E5%84%AA%E9%A7%BF1992-3-913-11
  5. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-%E5%84%AA%E9%A7%BF1991-1-1011-15
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-%E5%84%AA%E9%A7%BF2013-3-7580-16
  7. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-22
  8. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-1991%E5%B9%B4JRA%E8%B3%9E-4
  9. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-%E5%90%8D%E9%A6%AC2-205-5
  10. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-%E5%84%AA%E9%A7%BF2013-4-155-53
  11. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%9B%E3%83%8E%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3#cite_note-55
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