IRL:Vodka

Vodka
ウオッカ
Vodka winning the 2007 Japan Derby
Romaji	Uokka
Foaled	April 04, 2004
Died	April 01, 2019
Sire	Tanino Gimlet
Dam	Tanino Sister
Sex	Mare
Color	Bay
Trainer	Katsuhiko Sumii
Race Record	26: 10-5-3
Earnings	1,333,565,800 JPY
Major wins
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (2006) Japan Derby (2007) Yasuda Kinen (2008, 2009) Fall Tennoshou (2008) Victoria Mile (2009) Japan Cup (2009)

To Far Away

You always looked at far away.

You aimed for somewhere nobody cannot reach.

As if you had believed something you can get only there.

Was there satisfaction or peace

At the place you reach?

― JRA Portraits of the Bucephalus

Vodka (ウオッカ, 4 April 2004 – 1 April 2019) was a Japanese racehorse that was active from 2006-2010. She is a decorated racemare and considered one of the greatest Japanese racehorses of all time, having won 7 Group 1 races including the 2007 Japan Derby, becoming the first filly to win the race in 64 years. She earned the honors of JRA Horse Of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and was inducted into the JRA Hall of Fame in 2011.

Name Origin

A liquor name, same as her father Tanino Gimlet. Vodka is "stronger" than gimlet, and her owner didn't put his crown name (Tanino) not to "thin" her strength.

Racing career

In 2006 (2 years old)

After winning her debut and coming 2nd in the Kigiku Sho, Vodka won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1), beating Aston Machan by a neck. At the end of the year, she was awarded the 2006 JRA Award for Best 2-year-old Filly.

In 2007 (3 years old)

Vodka began her 3 year old campaign winning the Elfin Stakes, followed by another win in the G3 Tulip Sho, where she would have her first race against her long time rival, Daiwa Scarlet. Her next start would be in the 2007 Oka Sho, where she would lose to Daiwa Scarlet by 1 1/2 lengths.

The owner Yuzo Tanimizu, decided to enter Vodka into the Japan Derby as her next race, wanting her to achieve the same victory as her sire, Tanino Gimlet. Furthermore, trainer Katsuhiko Sumii believed that Vodka had the strength to race against older horses. She would become the first filly to race in the Derby since Biwa Heidi in 1996. She went off as the 3rd popular horse, behind favorite Fusaichi Ho O and Satsuki Sho winner, Victory.

In a shocking and historic result, Vodka would end up winning the Japan Derby by 3 lengths, becoming the first filly to achieve victory in the race since Kuriji in 1943.

Vodka would go on to have 4 consecutive losses for the rest of 2007, having been defeated in the Takarazuka Kinen, Shuka Sho, Japan Cup and Arima Kinen. She would also scratch from the Queen Elizabeth II Cup due to lameness. Though Vodka won the Japan Derby, she lost to Daiwa Scarlet for JRA Champion 3-year-old Filly, having lost to the filly in 3 of the 4 races they ran in that year. However, Vodka was awarded the JRA Special Award for her Japan Derby victory.

In 2008 (4 years old)

Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet in the 2008 Fall Tennosho (Nikkan Sports)

Vodka's losing streak would continue into the beginning of 2008, placing 6th in the G2 Kyoto Kinen. She would then travel internationally, to run in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. Though she would close in late in race, she ended up placing 4th.

After returning to Japan, Vodka would enter the Victoria Mile, going in as a heavy favorite in the race. However, she would fail to win the race being upset by Asian Wind, placing 2nd. This defeat would mark a full year since Vodka's Japan Derby victory. Vodka would run again 3 weeks later in the Yasuda Kinen, becoming the only Derby winner to enter the race since Sakura Chiyono O in 1989. Vodka would end up winning the race with ease, beating runner up Armada by 3 1/2 lengths. It was her first victory in over a year, and her 3rd G1 victory. She would also be only the 3rd filly ever to win the Yasuda Kinen, following Daiichi Ruby in 1991 and North Flight in 1994.

Vodka would enter in the Mainichi Okan as her first race in the fall season. Though she was a heavy favorite, she ended up losing to fellow rival Super Hornet by a head. Vodka would race again in November, entering a star-studded Fall Tennosho. The field included 2008 Japan Derby winner Deep Sky, 2008 Takarazuka Kinen winner Dream Journey and her longtime rival and 3 G1 winner Daiwa Scarlet.

The race would end up being a thriller and regarded as one of the greatest races in JRA history, as Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet would cross the finish line noses apart. It took 13 minutes for stewards to determine Vodka as the winner, beating Daiwa Scarlet by only 2 centimeters.

She would end the year running in the Japan Cup, and though leading in the final meters of the race, was caught by eventual winner Screen Hero, with Vodka finishing the race in 3rd.

Relationships

Relatives

• Tanino Gimlet - Father

Fought with

• Daiwa Scarlet
• Aston Machan