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IRL:Symboli Rudolf
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This page contains real life information that may spoil any story or events related to the character. Read at your own discretion! |
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| Symboli Rudolf | ||
|---|---|---|
| シンボリルドルフ | ||
| Symboli Rudolf at the 1985 Tenno Sho (Spring) with Yukio Okabe | ||
| Silks |  |
|
| Romaji | Shinbori Rudorufu | |
| Foaled | March 13, 1981 | |
| Died | October 04, 2011 | |
| Sire | Partholon | |
| Dam | Sweet Luna | |
| Sex | Stallion | |
| Color | Bay | |
| Trainer | Yuji Nohira | |
| Race Record | 16: 13-1-1 | |
| Earnings | 684,820,000 JPY | |
| Major wins | ||
| Yayoi Sho (1984) Satsuki Sho (1984) Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (1984) St. Lite Kinen (1984) Kikuka Sho (1984) Arima Kinen (1984, 1985) Nikkei Sho (1985) Tenno Sho (Spring) (1985) Japan Cup (1985) |
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Symboli Rudolf was a Japanese racehorse that was active from 1983 to 1986. He is the 4th horse to achieve the Classic Triple Crown, winning the Satsuki Sho, Japanese Derby, and Kikuka Sho, and the first to do so while undefeated.
With 7 G1 victories under his belt, a record at that time, Symboli Rudolf was then inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1987.
Name Origin
His crown name was adopted from his origin, Symboli Farm, where he resided most of his life. His name was derived from Rudolph I, a nobleman in Germany that would later become the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of this namesake and his achievements on his career, he was later dubbed as "Kōtei (皇帝)", or emperor.
Racing career
Debut: Two-Year Old Season (1983)
Symboli Rudolf won his maiden race on July 23, 1983 at Niigata Racecourse. His jockey, Yukio Okabe, said afterwards that the horse had raced a 1600-meter race in 1000 meters.
After being trained at Symboli Bokujo after his debut, he returned to Miura Training Center in early October before winning the Icho Stakes on October 29. When his trainer Yuji Nohira saw Okabe's riding, he said he had run a 2400-meter race in 1600 meters.
For Symboli Rudolf's third race, his team eschewed the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes, considered to be the junior championship race, instead opting for an open race on October 27, on the same day and at the same track as that year's Japan Cup. His trainer Nohira explained this choice as being rooted in a desire to show the rest of the world that Japan could produce incredible racehorses too.
Triple Crown: Three-Year Old Season (1984)
As the year began, Okabe was faced with a choice. He had also jockeyed Bizen Nishiki the year before, another strong horse who was on a four-race winning streak, but both he and Symboli Rudolf were slated to race against one another in the Yayoi Sho, the Satsuki Sho, and the Japanese Derby. There was a good deal of media attention given to this choice, and it was thought for a time that Okabe would choose Bizen Nishiki. However, he instead chose Symboli Rudolf, commenting that it wasn't even a choice at all. This choice was later proven to be the correct one.
Symboli Rudolf's first race in his 1984 four-year-old season was the G2 Yayoi Sho. Bizen Nishiki was the number-one favorite, but Symboli Rudolf defeated him by 1 1/4 lengths.
After recovering from a minor injury, the horse underwent harsher training to make up for it. He would race Bizen Nishiki again in the G1 Satsuki Sho, the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown; the two were considered the two main racers, but Symboli Rudolf was the number-one favorite this time. After keeping a third-place position throughout the race, he moved into the lead on the fourth corner. The final stretch turned into a one-on-one between him and Bizen Nishiki on the outside, and the two horses knocked into each other at one point before Symboli Rudolf won by 1 1/4 lengths and setting a race record, earning his first crown. The oblique motion that led to the collision on the track saw Okabe prohibited from jockeying for the next two days. At the award ceremony, Okabe held one finger up in the air, anticipating two more crowns. (Yutaka Take, who jockeyed Deep Impact, would later imitate that performance.)
The 1984 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) was nicknamed the "SB Derby," indicating the fierce rivalry between Symboli Rudolf and Bizen Nishiki. Symboli Rudolf was overwhelmingly the favorite, however, with 1.3 odds. Several other racehorses pulled out of the race, leading to a field of 21 horses, which was the lowest it had ever been at the time. The track was in poor condition because of a late-spring cold wave and lingering snowfall, which had deposited dirt on the course, giving an edge to horses that had more power than speed. The race began with Suzu Mach, Fujino Fuun, and Suzu Parade, all strong horses, running in the lead. On the far straightaway, Symboli Rudolf didn't respond to Okabe's signal to spurt, leading to audible confusion in the crowd. But on the stretch, he grabbed his bit in his own teeth, overtaking the three in the lead to win his second crown. Bizen Nishiki ended the race far back in 14th, possibly due to his lightness and focus on speed. Okabe held two fingers up at the awards ceremony.
After the derby, Tomohiro Wada made plans for Rudolf to race overseas, which was reported in newspapers at the time. But after an injury to his left front leg and not meeting quarantine requirements, this plan was announced to be canceled in July.
Recovered from an injury to his right shoulder, Symboli Rudolf went into the autumn season fully refreshed, winning the St Lite Kinen with a record time. From there, he took on the Kikuka Sho, the last of the Triple Crown races. He kept to the middle pack, and while the racers slightly ahead of him formed a wall on the third corner, Rudolf broke out on the final stretch and passed Gold Way to win by 3/4 of a length. He became the first ever horse in JRA racing history to win the Classic Triple Crown while undefeated, as well as the first Classic Triple Crown winner after the introduction of the grading system. At the awards ceremony, Okabe held up three fingers. To date, four other horses have won the Triple Crown, but no others have come from the Kanto region.
First Defeat
After the 3000-meter Kikuka Sho, Symboli Rudolf advanced to the Japan Cup just a week later.
The 4th Japan Cup would be the first time two Triple Crown winners would compete against each other, as Mr. C.B. had won it the year before. However, Symboli Rudolf was widely reported to be in bad shape, for example having diarrhea, and his younger age compared to the rest of the field as well as the 1-week gap from his previous race led to him being the number-four favorite, the lowest he would ever be in his career. The first favorite was Mr. C.B., who had just come off a record-breaking win at the autumn Tenno Sho as an end closer. The second favorite was Bedtime, a British horse who was said to be G1-class despite never being able to run in a G1 race due to being a gelding; the third favorite was the American turf-racer Majesty's Prince, said to be the second coming of John Henry. However, it was Takarazuka Kinen winner Katsuragi Ace, who flew under the radar at number-ten favorite, who would run away from the victory, becoming the first Japanese horse to win the Japan Cup. Symboli Rudolf maintained a good position throughout the race, and despite pulling off a better result than he ever had in his life, still came in 3rd place to Bedtime, bringing an end to his 8-win streak.
Return to Form
Coming off of his first loss, Symboli Rudolf would then compete against Mr. C.B. and Katsuragi Ace in the Arima Kinen. While Rudolf was only second-place in the fan vote to Mr. C.B., he was the favorite to win, with 1.7 odds. Okabe devoted himself to learning more about Katsuragi Ace after the upset. Katsuragi Ace attempted to replicate his result in the Japan Cup, running far out in front, while Rudolf maintained 2nd the entire time. On the final stretch, though, they traded places, Rudolf beating Katsuragi Ace by two lengths and a record time. Symboli Rudolf became the first JRA horse in history to earn four crowns in his four-year-old season. At the awards ceremony, Okabe held up four fingers. With a record that year of 6 wins and 1 third-place finish, Symboli Rudolf was chosen as the JRA's Horse of the Year.
Four-Year Old Season (1985)
Symboli Rudolf's first race of 1985 was the Nikkei Sho, where he was favored to win with 1:1 odds. The race comprised no front-runner horses, so Rudolf was pushed out into the lead, but won anyway by four lengths. Okabe never took his hands off the reins.
His third race against fellow triple-crown winner Mr. C.B. would come at the Spring Tenno Sho. Mr. C.B. surged early, just before the third corner, which was the first time Rudolf had ever seen the horse ahead of him. Despite Okabe's attempts to rally, however, Rudolf had difficulty keeping pace. However, when Mr. C.B. slowed down going into the final stretch, Rudolf easily passed him, winning by 2 1/2 lengths over Sakura Gaisen, another foal of Partholon. At the awards ceremony, Okabe held up five fingers. Rudolf was the first horse to earn five crowns since Shinzan.
From there, the team scheduled a race abroad—he, along with fellow Derby-winner Sirius Symboli, would compete in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was also voted into the 1985 Takarazuka Kinen, but on the Saturday before the race, the team pulled out of it because of a left shoulder limp sustained during his training because of a turf issue where the jockey was almost thrown off the horse. His owner Wada was furious, and the story was picked up by the news. The cancellation, however, was also due to Nohira sensing the horse was in poor condition; he didn't want Rudolf to run, which went counter to Symboli Bokujo's desire at the time, but Wada agreed to compromise. This injury would cancel Symboli Rudolf's plans to go abroad, with Sirius Symboli going alone. Wada also submitted his resignation at this time.
Meanwhile, the media reported on a comment of Wada's stating that Rudolf would retire. In a last-ditch effort, the team is said to have used acupuncture to heal Rudolf's condition; as the horse began to recover, Wada retracted his comment.
Symboli Rudolf's next race would be the Autumn Tenno Sho, a 2000-meter course said to be unfavorable at the time; he was the number-one favorite despite starting far out in post 17. He was also still in the process of recovering from his injury. He had a late start as well, and the high pace of the race made it difficult for him to catch up. Still, on the opposite straight, he pulled into a better position, and coming into the final stretch he took the lead, causing a crazed uproar in the audience. But despite his astonishing strength at out-speeding horses like Windsor Knot, he ultimately lost just before the finish line by half a length to Gallop Dyna, the thirteenth-favorite who came out of nowhere. It was reported that after the race, Symboli Rudolf cried in frustration in his stable.
Despite the loss, trainer Nohira said, "They say there are no absolutes in horse racing, but Rudolf is an exception. He is an absolute."
Symboli Rudolf then returned to the Japan Cup after his loss the year prior. This time, global media attention was on him, with many jockeys for other competing racehorses offering impressed comments on him. The Daily Racing Form placed him on the same level as John Henry and Sagace, winner of the previous Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
On the day of the race, weather was poor and the track's condition was heavy. Nevertheless, Symboli Rudolf won as the first favorite of the race, which had never happened before. Placing second was Rotsuki Tiger, a very strong racehorse on the local circuit, leading to a first-ever one-two finish for Japanese horses at the race. At the awards ceremony, Okabe had to take his hands off the reins to indicate six crowns with his fingers.
Once again, the team scheduled the horse to go abroad, determining that the 1985 Arima Kinen would be his last run. Before the race, his trainer Nohira instructed Okabe to not just win, but overwhelm the others. He ultimately won by four lengths over Miho Shinzan, double-crown winner of that year's Satsuki Sho and Kikuka Sho. This was the first time a horse had won two Arima Kinen races in a row since Speed Symboli. Okabe didn't hold up seven crowns for this one.
With his 1985 record of four wins and one second-place finish, Symboli Rudolf was chosen as JRA's Horse of the Year a second time in a row. The selection committee's decision was unanimous for only the third time in history after Meiji Hikari in 1956 and Ten Point in 1977. (After that, the same would happen to T. M. Opera O in 2000 and Almond Eye in 2018.)
End Of An Era: Five-Year Old Season and Retirement (1986)
In 1986, Symboli Rudolf went abroad, but Wada and Nohira had subtly different plans in mind. Wada wanted to go to the US first in the spring, then to Europe in the fall. Nohira's plan, however, was to let Rudolf rest in the spring before going to Europe in the fall. This created antagonism between the two, and while Wada's plan would be adopted in the end, none of the stable team went with the horse, leaving him completely up to the staff on-site. Wada also wouldn't invite Nohira to foreign races, so Nohira had to travel there on his own dime to watch.
Wada's plan was to have Symboli Rudolf race first in the G1 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita Racecourse, then in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap. But during the first of those races, he lost to Dahar and came in 6th place. The reason for Rudolf's loss was given as desmitis in the horse's left front leg from having to cross the dirt course in the middle of the track—a famous characteristic of the track—and many Japanese news outlets reported on the same day that Rudolf had been injured and lost the race. Okabe had noticed the horse acting strangely during training before the race, and advised the team to pull out, but he wasn't listened to. Incidentally, each of Symboli Rudolf's losses were on left-handed courses.
After returning to Japan and a brief evaluation of returning overseas to race again, Symboli Rudolf was ultimately retired at a ceremony at Nakayama Racecourse on December 7. He wore a bib marked with the number 7 and a crown, representing his seven crowns.
Symboli Rudolf died on October 4, 2011 at the Symboli Farm in Narita, Chiba.
Honors
4th Japanese Triple Crown Champion (1984)
JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1984)
Japanese Horse of the Year (1984, 1985)
JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (1985)
JRA Hall of Fame (1987)
Relationships
Relatives
- Speed Symboli - Maternal Grandfather
- Tokai Teio - Son
- Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi - Son
Race Data
| Date | Racecourse | Race | Grade | Distance | Gate | Odds | Fav. | Fin. | Time | Margin | Jockey | Winner (Runner-Up) | Other Umamusume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983/07/23 | Niigata | Three-Year-Old Newcomer | Maiden | T 1000m | 6 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 0:59.2 | -0.4 | Y.Okabe | (Broken Hill) | |
| 1983/10/29 | Tokyo | Icho Tokubetsu | Pre-OP | T 1600m | 4 | 3.4 | 1 | 1 | 1:37.3 | -0.3 | Y.Okabe | (Ebisu George) | |
| 1983/11/27 | Tokyo | Three-Year-Old Pre-OP | Pre-OP | T 1600m | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1:39.9 | -0.3 | Y.Okabe | (Haruda) | |
| 1984/03/04 | Nakayama | Yayoi Sho | OP | T 2000m | 12 | 4.9 | 2 | 1 | 2:01.7 | -0.3 | Y.Okabe | (Bizen Nishiki) | |
| 1984/04/15 | Nakayama | Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) | G1 | T 2000m | 10 | 1.9 | 1 | 1 | 2:01.1 | -0.2 | Y.Okabe | (Bizen Nishiki) | |
| 1984/05/27 | Tokyo | Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) | G1 | T 2400m | 10 | 1.7 | 1 | 1 | 2:29.3 | -0.3 | Y.Okabe | (Suzu Mach) | |
| 1984/09/30 | Nakayama | St. Lite Kinen | OP | T 2200m | 5 | 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 2:13.4 | -0.5 | Y.Okabe | (Onward Cameroun) | |
| 1984/11/11 | Kyoto | Kikuka Sho (Japanese St.Leger) | G1 | T 3000m | 5 | 1.7 | 1 | 1 | 3:06.8 | -0.1 | Y.Okabe | (Gold Way) | |
| 1984/11/25 | Tokyo | Japan Cup | G1 | T 2400m | 12 | 6.5 | 4 | 3 | 2:26.5 | 0.2 | Y.Okabe | Katsuragi Ace | Katsuragi Ace, Mr. C. B. |
| 1984/12/23 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | G1 | T 2500m | 4 | 2.3 | 1 | 1 | 2:32.8 | -0.3 | Y.Okabe | (Katsuragi Ace) | Katsuragi Ace, Mr. C. B. |
| 1985/03/31 | Nakayama | Nikkei Sho | OP | T 2500m | 6 | 1.3 | 1 | 1 | 2:36.2 | -0.7 | Y.Okabe | (Kane Kuroshio) | |
| 1985/04/29 | Kyoto | Tenno Sho (Spring) | G1 | T 3200m | 15 | 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 3:20.4 | -0.4 | Y.Okabe | (Sakura Gaisen) | Mr. C. B. |
| 1985/06/02 | Hanshin | Takarazuka Kinen | G1 | T 2200m | 3 | DNR | Y.Okabe | Suzuka Koban | |||||
| 1985/10/27 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | G1 | T 2000m | 17 | 1.8 | 1 | 2 | 1:58.8 | 0.1 | Y.Okabe | Gallop Dyna | |
| 1985/11/24 | Tokyo | Japan Cup | G1 | T 2400m | 15 | 2.7 | 1 | 1 | 2:28.8 | -0.3 | Y.Okabe | (Rocky Tiger) | |
| 1985/12/22 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | G1 | T 2500m | 6 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 2:33.1 | -0.7 | Y.Okabe | (Miho Shinzan) | |
| 1986/03/29 | Santa Anita | San Luis Rey Stakes | G1 | T 2400m | 1 | 6 | 2:26.8 | Y.Okabe | Dahar |
Pedigree
| Sire Partholon (IRE) |
Milesian (GB) | My Babu (GB) | Djebel (FR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfume (GB) | |||
| Oatflake (GB) | Coup de Lyon (GB) | ||
| Avena (GB) | |||
| Paleo (FR) | Pharis (FR) | Pharos (GB) | |
| Carissima (FR) | |||
| Calonice (FR) | Abjer (FR) | ||
| Coronis (FR) | |||
| Dam Sweet Luna (JPN) |
Speed Symboli (JPN) | Royal Challenger (IRE) | Royal Charger (GB) |
| Skerweather (GB) | |||
| Sweet Inn (JPN) | Rising Light (GB) | ||
| Feenagh (GB) | |||
| Dance Time (IRE) | Palestine (GB) | Fair Trial (GB) | |
| Una (GB) | |||
| Samaritaine (FR) | Maravedis (FR) | ||
| Sarita (FR), (Family: 11-c) |
Trivia
- Because of his record-setting career, many expectations were placed on his children. However, his children were unable to match their father's success.
- Two of his children - Tokai Teio and Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi were afflicted with ailments that impacted their racing career. Tokai Teio, his most successful offspring, had his career repeatedly impacted by leg fractures. Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi had a sickly constitution that left him unable to push too hard, having to take long rests after races, and never won a G1 race in the process.
- His foal name "Luna" came from his dam - Sweet Luna and from his crescent-shaped blaze.
- Due to the JRA adopting the international graded system in 1984, Symboli Rudolf became the very first Japanese G1 winner when he won the Satsuki Sho, as it was the very first G1 of the year at the time.
- At that time, Kawasaki Kinen and February Stakes weren't G1 races yet. They became G1 races in 1998 and 2007, respectively.
- Symboli Rudolf's trainer Yuji Nohira was once interviewed by the magazine Yushun, being asked who he think the strongest Japanese racehorse of all time was. Though he had trained Symboli Rudolf, who was already being looked upon as one of the strongest horses in Japanese racehorse history, he answered "Kurifuji" without any hesitation, claiming that "she was on another level".[1]
- All of Symboli Rudolf's losses were left-handed tracks.
Notes