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Japan's champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa ended his illustrious career on a high note after being voted the Japan Racing Association's 2013 Horse of the Year.
During a year in which his four group I wins included a repeat victory in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I), Lord Kanaloa received 209 of 280 votes as Horse of the Year and was the unanimous pick for best sprinter or miler, which he won in 2012 as well.
The now 6-year-old son of King Kamehameha retired with 13 wins, five seconds, and one third from 19 starts for trainer Takayuki Yasuda.
Japan's 2013 top horses, trainers, jockeys, and Thoroughbred-related individuals and organizations will be honored during the JRA award ceremony in Tokyo on Jan. 27. Among the awards will be a a Special Award to jockey Yutaka Take.
All of the winners were bred in Japan, except Florida-bred Asia Express, a son of Henny Hughes honored as best 2-year-old colt after winning all three of his 2013 starts. Bred by Ocala Stud, Asia Express was purchased by Narvick International for $230,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-year-olds in training sale.
Japan Racing Association Award Winners for 2013:
Horse of the Year
Sprinter or Miler
Lord Kanaloa, by King Kamehameha—Lady Blossom (by Storm Cat); owner, Lord Horse Club; trainer, Takayuki Yasuda; breeder, K. I. Farm (Jpn).
Lord Kanaloa preps for his repeat win in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I):
2-Year-Old Colt
Asia Express, by Henny Hughes—Running Bobcats (by Running Stag); owner, Yukio Baba; trainer, Takahisa Tezuka; breeder, Ocala Stud (Fla.).
2-Year-Old Filly
Red Reveur, by Stay Gold—Desaucered (by Dixieland Band); owner, Tokyo Horse Racing Co.; trainer, Naosuke Sugai; breeder, Shadai Farm (Jpn).
3-Year-Old Colt
Kizuna, by Deep Impact—Catequil (by Storm Cat); owner, Shinji Maeda; trainer Shozo Sasaki; breeder, North Hills Co. (Jpn).
3-Year-Old Filly
Meisho Mambo, by Suzuka Mambo—Meisho Momoka (by Grass Wonder); owner and breeder, Yoshio Matsumoto (Jpn); trainer, Akihiro Iida.
Older Colt or Horse
Orfevre, by Stay Gold—Oriental Art (by Mejiro McQueen); owner, Sunday Racing Co.; trainer , Yasutoshi Ikee; breeder, Shadai Corporation (Jpn).
Older Filly or Mare
Gentildonna, by Deep Impact—Donna Blini (by Bertolini); owner, Sunday Racing Co.; trainer, Sei Ishizaka; breeder, Northern Racing (Jpn).
Dirt Horse
Belshazzar, by King Kamehameha—Maruka Candy (Sunday Silence); owner and breeder: Shadai Farm (Jpn); trainer, Kunihide Matsuda.
Steeplechase Horse
Apollo Maverick, by Apollo Kingdom—Omega Fastar (by Theatrical); owner and breeder, Apollo Thoroughbred Club Jpn); trainer, Masahiro Horii.
Best Trainer Races Won, Money Earned, Training Technique
Katsuhiko Sumii
Best Trainer Winning Average
Hideaki Fujiwara
Best Jockey Races Won, Money Earned, Most Valuable Jockey
Yuichi Fukunaga
Best Jockey Winning Average
Yuga Kawada
Special Award
Yutaka Take
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