Family Lines in Japan #1
- Takasago family
- Mira family
- Amanogawa family
- Bauer Stock (Baverstock Ⅱ) family
- Koiwai Farm’s 20 mares
| Family Name | Takasago / 高砂 |
| Background | |
| From / Family Number | / |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Sekai O, Ina Bowless, Konan Ruby |
| netkeiba |
- Takasago is a historical horse that was presented in 1867 by the then Emperor Napoleon III of France to the 14th Tokugawa Shogunate’s Iemochi.
- Her descendants became a major force as the Anglo-Arab horse breed.
Her most recently successful offspring is an Anglo-Arab horse named Escape Hatch (JBIS). - At one time, it was said that one-sixth of Japan’s Anglo-Arab horses were descended from her.
Anglo-Arab horse races were being discontinued in Japan, and Anglo-Arab horses were no longer being produced. - Her descendants, who were bred to Thoroughbreds and passed down through the generations, became Thoroughbred-type.
A few of her descendants have been recognized as pure thoroughbreds through further generations. - Her descendants were active in the early days of Japanese horse racing, and quite a few of them won major races.
- After World War II, horses from the Takasago family were less active, but Sekai O, who won the Naruo Kinen from 1956 to 1958 for three years in a row, and Konan Ruby, who won the Teio Sho in 1978, are members of the Takasago family.
- The Takasago family is described in great detail in this tweet and supplementary tweets in Japanese.
It is interesting to read about how her arrival in Japan originated with the destruction of sericulture in France due to the spread of a disease.
サラブレッド系種 (Thoroughbred-type)
- Many of the horses from Australia at that time were physically as close to thoroughbreds as possible, but had no pedigree.
Horses with unknown pedigrees were classified as Thoroughbred-type horses. - Many Thoroughbred-type horses were active in racing.
However, Thoroughbred-type horses were treated unfairly in their breeding activities.
In particular, the colts were almost never in demand as stallions, even though they had excellent race records.
When pedigree became more important among the objectives of horse racing, they were disadvantaged because all the offspring of Thoroughbred-type stallions were also Thoroughbred-type. - The success of thoroughbred horses such as Hikaru Imai prompted the JRA to go to Australia to search for pedigrees of thoroughbred-type horses, but they could not find any pedigrees of them.
Mira family
| Family Name | Mira / ミラ |
| Background | Born in Australia in 1895 and moved to Japan in 1899 |
| From / Family Number | |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Wakataka, Daini Kotobuki, Sea Ace, Hikaru Imai, Land Prince |
| JBIS |
- The Nippon Race Club imported 30 horses from Australia in 1899, one of which was Mira.
Mira (ミラ) was active in Japan as a racehorse under the name Mirror (ミラー). - Her offspring were also very successful, and Mira was sometimes called the first great Japanese broodmare.
- Mira had no pedigree and was treated as a thoroughbred-type horse.
- The descendants of the Mira family are very few in number as of 2023, but some are still active as broodmares.
They have been bred to Thoroughbreds and are recognized as a purebred thoroughbred.
Amanogawa family
| Family Name | Amanogawa / 天ノ川 |
| Background | |
| From / Family Number | / |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Brownie, Daini Katsufuji, Yama Kabuto, Kenny Mor |
| JBIS |
- The Amanogawa family is also a family of thoroughbred-type horses, and the foals of Meireki / Chidori Kabuto (Meireki as the racehorse’s name and Chidori Kabuto as the broodmare’s name) are particularly famous.
- Brownie was born in the same year as Tokitsukaze and won the Oka Sho and Kikuka Sho.
Among the classic race titles that year, Brownie won the Oka Sho and Kikuka Sho, Tokitsukaze won the Satsuki Sho and Oaks, and Tokitsukaze finished second and Brownie third in the Derby.
Brownie is the second mare to win the Kikuka Sho after Kurifuji, and no mare has won the Kikuka Sho since Brownie. - Daini Katsufuji, Yama Kabuto, and Kenny Mor were Brownie’s sisters and brother who competed in steeplechase races.
Daini Katsufuji was the best steeplechase horse in 1955, Yama Kabuto was the best steeplechase horse in 1957, and Kenny Mor was the best steeplechase horse in 1958.
Kenny Mor became the first horse in history to win two Nakayama Daishogai.
Bauer Stock (Baverstock Ⅱ) family
| Family Name | Bauer Stock / バウアーストツク (バウアーストック) |
| Background | Born in Australia in 1922 (or 1923) |
| From / Family Number | Paulina family ? / F-No.8-e ? |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Kitano O, Kitano Hikari, Kitano Oza, Kitano Daio, I. T. O, Hikari Duel, Kyowa Thunder |
| JBIS | pedigreequery.com / netkeiba / en.netkeiba |
- It is reported that Bauer Stock probably had a pedigree.
However, the pedigree was not recognized as an official pedigree because of uncertainties in its pedigree.
(The exact details are unknown, as there is also a belief that the owner failed to register the pedigree on time, and thus the pedigree was not officially registered.)
In any case, Bauer Stock is almost certainly a thoroughbred in current research, but her classification is that of a Thoroughbred-type. - Many of Bauer Stock family horses was successful in racing and became popular.
It is well known to horse racing fans that they suffered disadvantages when it came to breeding activities.
Bauer Stock family is often referred to as a tragic thoroughbred or tragic family. - Hikari Duel became the first (and only) thoroughbred-type horse ever to be named Horse of the Year.
He became a stallion after his retirement, but due to his thoroughbred-type nature, the quality and quantity of his breeding mares were low and he did not produce good results. - Kitano Daio is known as a successful stallion among thoroughbred-type horses.
If he had been recognized as a pure thoroughbred, he would have had significantly better stallion performance. - Kyowa Thunder is the only thoroughbred-type horse to win a G1 race since the grading system was established.
Koiwai Farm’s 20 mares
Of course, the Japanese could not produce Thoroughbreds without importing them from other countries.
There were only a limited number of organizations that could do that at a time when there was far less money, technology, and information than there is today.
The 20 mares imported from Great Britain in 1907 by Koiwai Farm, operated by the Mitsubishi Conglomerate, can be said to be the beginning of thoroughbred production in Japan, and some of the most successful horses still come from their family lines.
At that time, the quality of war horses in Japan was poor and had to be improved.
And at that time, Western countries were very cautious about the outflow of their valuable thoroughbreds.
The cost of the purchase of 20 mares and a stallion by Koiwai Farm was immeasurable, and it was truly a national project.
(If we were to convert the figure to the current monetary value, it would be about 100 billion yen.)
Some of those 20 mares died as soon as they arrived in Japan, and some did not produce very good offspring.
However, the offspring of the other mares were very successful.
Their descendants were at the center of Japanese horse racing, especially until Japan gained economic power and the ability to freely purchase mares.
| Family Name | Beautiful Dreamer / ビユーチフルドリーマー (ビューチフルドリーマー) |
| Background | Born in GB in 1903 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Mother Western family / F-No.12-a |
| To | Dai-3 Beautiful Dreamer family, Yukiyoshi family, (Astral family – O Hayabusa family) |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
(Meiji Hikari, Hakuryo, Shinzan, Tamami) in Dai-3 Beautiful Dreamer family, (Erimo George, Erebus, Leo Durban, T.M. Ocean) in Yukiyoshi family, (Kabutoyama, Take Fubuki, Take Hope) in Astral family, (Nippo Teio, Talented Girl, Whale Capture) in O Hayabusa family |
| JBIS |
- Beautiful Dreamer family was often ranked first in the Japanese family line due to the presence of the Triple Crown winner Shinzan.
- Although it seems to have faded a bit since the year 2000, it is still a very powerful family line more than 100 years after Beautiful Dreamer arrived in Japan.
Florries Cup family – Shiraoki family
| Family Name | Florries Cup / フロリースカツプ (フロリースカップ) |
| Background | Born in GB in 1904 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Mayonaise family / F-No.3-l |
| To | (Florist family – (Star Cup family – Shiraoki Family), Garnet family), Eishoku family, (Sterling Mor family – Tosa Mor family) |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Daigo Totsugeki, (Garnet, Date Tenryu, Seiun Wonder) in Florist family, (Shiraoki, Yamanin More, Kenho, Narita Hayabusa, Big Wolf) in Star Cup family (Polaire, Meisho Samson) in Garnet family, (Matsu Midori, Kitano Kachidoki, Nihon Pillow Winner, Sand Peeress) in Eishoku family, (Yashima Daughter, Katsurano Haiseiko) in Sterling Mor family, (Suzuka Koban, Lei Papale) in Tosa Mor family |
| JBIS |
- Many successful horses have been produced from the Florries Cup family for a long time.
- With a very large number of mares still active in 2023, Florries Cup family is an indispensable part of the Japanese horse racing industry.
- Recently, Lei Papale won a G1 race.
| Family Name | Shiraoki / シラオキ |
| Background | Born in JP in 1946 |
| From / Family Number | Star Cup family / F-No.3-l |
| To | Rose Tosho family |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Kodama, Shiyono Roman, Samani Beppin, T M Dragon, Special Week, (Sister Tosho, Matikanefukukitaru, She is Tosho, Vodka) in Rose Tosho family |
| JBIS |
- The Shiraoki family is one of the most famous of the Florries Cup families.
- Shiraoki is a mare who finished second in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
She produced the Hall of Fame winner Kodama and Satsuki Sho winner Shin Tsubame. - After Kodama and Shin Tsubame, her family was not very successful for a while, but became very successful in the 1990s and 2000s.
The success of Special Week in particular improved the value of Japan’s old family lines.
Vodka was very successful and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. - Rose Tosho family was active mainly in Tosho Bokujo (Tosho Farm).
| Family Name | Astonishment / アストニシメント |
| Background | Born in GB in 1902 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Maid of Lune family / F-No.7-c |
| To | (Dai-2 Astonishment family – (Augment family – (Asama Yuri family, Yamato Nadeshiko family))), (Dai-5 Astonishment family – Everest family) |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Trot Star, (Kurifuji (Toshifuji), Ryuzuki, Yamaichi, Brocade) in Dai-2 Astonishment family, (Mejiro Durren, Mejiro McQueen, Shonan Kampf, Regent Bluff) in Asama Yuri family, (Yamato Kyodai, Monta Son, Temmon) in Yamato Nadeshiko family, Fight Gulliver in Dai-5 Astonishment family, (Suzu Parade, Offside Trap, Blue Concorde) in Everest family |
| JBIS |
- Two of the most famous members of Astonishment family are Kurifuji and Mejiro McQueen, both Hall of Famers.
- Asama Yuri became one of the progenitors of Mejiro Farms’ broodmares and helped Mejiro Farms make great strides.
- Although Astonishment family will continue to exist, I am personally concerned that the survival of Kurifuji family is now in a bit of a jeopardy.
| Family Name | Propontis / プロポンチス |
| Background | Born in GB in 1897 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Manganese family / F-No.4-d |
| To | Pacific family, Dai-4 Propontis family, |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Ascot, Ines Fujin, Haku Taisei, Toho Emperor (Knit Eight, Sakura Iwai, Legacy World, Higashi Will Win) in Pacific family, Grand Marchs in Dai-4 Propontis family |
| JBIS |
- Famous horses in the Propontis family are Grand Marchs, Ines Fujin, Haku Taisei and Legacy World.
Although the number of successful horses in the Propontis family since 2000 seems to be rather small, Higashi Will Win and his relatives have been quite active in dirt races. - Grand Marchs was very successful in steeplechase racing and is the only steeplechase horse to be inducted into the Japanese Hall of Fame.
- Ascot won 17 races as a racehorse and competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics after his retirement.
He finished 12th out of 50, which is pretty good.
| Family Name | Frustrate / フラストレート |
| Background | Born in GB in 1900 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Morel family / F-No.1-b |
| To | (Manna family – Tokitsukaze family) |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Robin O (Manna’s racehorse days), Miharu O, Hoyo Boy, Trot Thunder, Adjudi Mitsuo, Naran Huleg, (Tokitsukaze, Kumono Hana, Tomei, Minagawa Manna, Yamakatsu Suzuran) in Manna family, (Otokitsu, Onward There, Umeno Fiber) in Tokitsukaze family |
| JBIS |
- Tokitsukaze, a Hall of Famer, Tomei, the first mare to win Horse of the Year, and Hoyo Boy, who won Horse of the Year two years in a row, are the most famous members of the Frustrate family.
- Tokitsukaze won the Satsuki Sho and the Oaks and finished second in the Derby.
She produced the brothers Otokitsu and Onward There as broodmares.
She was inducted into the Hall of Fame not for her success as a racehorse, but as a broodmare, and as of 2023 she is the only mare in the Hall of Fame for the reason. - Today, the Frustrate family line is still active, mainly led by descendants of Umeno Fiber.
| Family Name | Helen Serf / ヘレンサーフ |
| Background | Born in GB in 1903 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Little Agnes family / F-No.16-c |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Houshiyuu Kuin, Tokino Kiroku, Akane Tenryu, Osaichi George, Hishi Miracle, Meiner Ho O |
| JBIS |
- There is no absolute leading horse from the Helen Serf family line.
The most successful horse was probably Hishi Miracle, who won three G1 races. - In the Japanese horse racing world, there is a term called ” 夏の上り馬 (Rising Horse of the Summer)”, which refers to a horse that rapidly grows and becomes stronger during the summer of its third year.
One of the characteristics of horses in the Helen Serf family is that they are the “Rising Horse of the Summer.
Akane Tenryu was named “the best Rising Horse of the postwar (WWⅡ).
Hishi Miracle grew during the summer and won the Kikuka Sho.
Osaichi George also grew in the summer and lost the Kikuka Sho miserably but won the Takarazuka Kinen the following year. - In recent years, the Helen Serf family line has been less active, except for Meiner Ho O, who won a G1 race.
The following family lines are Koiwai Farm’s 20 mares family lines, but they are family lines with few successful horses.
| Family Name | Enamoured / エナモールド |
| Background | Born in GB in 1897 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Martha Lynn family / F-No.2-h |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Koiwai, Meiner David |
| JBIS |
- Koiwai is by Enamoured and was a successful stallion.
- Meiner David is the longest lived of the grade race (stakes race) winners in Japan.
He surpassed the previous record of 35 years and 102 days held by Shinzan on August 15, 2019.
He finally died on January 30, 2021 at the age of 36 years and 272 days.
| Family Name | Keendragh / キーンドラー |
| Background | Born in GB in 1898 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Wire family / F-No.1-o |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Cyma, Tesco Gaby, Yaeno Muteki |
| JBIS |
- Among the Keendragh family, the most famous is Tesco Gaby, the strongest mare at the time.
- Yaeno Muteki had a long and consistent career, winning two G1 races.
| Family Name | Wet Sail / ウエツトセール (ウェットセール) |
| Background | Born in GB in 1898 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Sweepstakes Mare family / F-No.9-b |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Bamboo Begin, Kura Kinko, Kura Guo |
| JBIS |
- Kura Kinko is a Triple Crown-winning mare in Hokkaido Keiba of NAR.
She is the first mare ever to win the Triple Crown at the Hokkaido Keiba.
Kura Guo, Kura Kinko’s brother, is the only remaining stallion in the Maruzensky sire line as of 2023.
| Family Name | Rhine / ライン |
| Background | Born in GB in 1900 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Belvoirina family / F-No.5-e |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Swee Sue, Gourmet Frontier |
| JBIS |
- Swee Sue was the first Double Crown filly in history to win the Oka Sho and the Oaks.
(Kurifuji won the Triple Crown but did not win the Oka Sho.)
| Family Name | Fair Peggy / フエアペギー (フェアペギー) |
| Background | Born in GB in 1902 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Childers Mare family / F-No.6 |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
Toyoume, Ohime, Hishi Masaru, State Jaguar |
| JBIS |
- Hishi Masaru was the Best Sprinter in 1958.
However, over time, he has become famous as the first “Hishi Masaru”.
The name “Hishi Masaru” became special to the Abe family, famous for the horse name “Hishi”.
The first, “Hishi Masaru,” was born in 1955 and was owned by Masanobu Abe.
The second “Hishi Masaru” (Hishi Masartu II) was born in 1989 and was owned by Masaichiro Abe, son of Masanobu Abe.
Hishi Masaru II came to Japan after registering in USA under the name Hishi Masaru, as he could not register under the name Hishi Masaru in Japan.
(Hishi Masaru II is also famous for having bred with Hishi Amazon.)
The third “Hishi Masaru” was born in 2014 and was owned by Masahide Abe, the son of Masaichiro Abe.
| Family Name | Bonny Nancy / ボニーナンシー |
| Background | Born in GB in 1903 and moved to Japan in 1907 |
| From / Family Number | Bonny Bell family / F-No.10-b |
| To | |
| Famous Horses (Excerpts) |
High Record, Calstone Light O |
| JBIS |
- The Bonny Nancy family has few very successful or famous horses, but there are quite a few that are reasonably good.
- The most famous horse at present is Calstone Light O.
The Japanese record for 1,000 meters on turf, which he set in 2002, has not been broken as of April 2023.
Many people remember him every year when the Ibis Summer Dash (G3) is held.
The following mares are the Koiwai Farm’s 20 mares, but the family line has been severed due to their early deaths in Japan or the very small number of successful horses.
Countess Kendal, La Valerie, Hampton cherry, Palm Beach, Irritant, Miss Morgan, Good Faith, Clonfert