SYMBOLI HORSE OF THE YEAR

By Sarah Whitelaw
8 January 2003

The three year old colt, Symboli Kris S, was named Japan’s Horse of the Year. The colt, beaten favourite in the Japan Cup, ended his three year old campaign on a high note when winning the Group 1 Arima Kinen. Further back in the race came this year’s champion three year old Fine Motion (a half sister to Pilsudski) and last year’s Japan Cup hero, Jungle Pocket. The latter has now been retired to stud. Symboli Kris S previously won the Group 1 Tenno Sho, following a second in the Derby. 

The champion two year old colt was Eishin Champ. The son of Mi Cielo, from the family of champions Mark of Esteem and Mashaallah, was a shock winner of the Group 1 Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes over the promising Sunday Silence colt, Sakura President. The champion two year old filly was Peace of World - a daughter of the late great Sunday Silence is out of a full sister to Welsh Muffin (dam of champion Taiki Shuttle). She won the Group 1 Hanshin 2yo Himba Stakes.  

The high class pair of Manhattan Café and Diamond Biko continued the 1989 Kentucky Derby winner’s dominance in Japan by picking champion older male and female respectively. Manhattan Café campaigned in Europe before being injured whilst Diamond Biko won three graded stakes races and was second to Fine Motion in Japan’s biggest distaff race, the QE11 Commemorative Cup. 

Admire Cozzene picked up another award to add to his champion two year award of a few years ago by being named champion short distance runner. Tokai Point was the best horse by a domestic stallion (bred in Japan), and Gold Allure picked up yet another award for Sunday Silence when he was named champion dirt horse. 

Yutaka Take was named champion jockey, yet again, whilst Kazuo Fujisawa was the leading trainer on both prize money won and wins.