War Emblem, the 2002 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner who has had a limited number of foals due to his selectivity in the breeding shed, has been represented by a champion in Japan.
War Emblem-sired Robe Tissage, campaigned by Silk Co., was honored as champion 2-year-old filly for 2012 when the Japan Racing Association held its awards ceremony Jan. 28. The filly, whose victories included the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (Jpn-I), is one of eight stakes winners for War Emblem, who has been represented by 48 winners from 80 starters. In all, War Emblem has sired 89 foals through December 2012.
War Emblem won the 2002 Derby and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) before being shipped to Shadai Stallion Station in Japan to stand at stud. His low number of foals is attributed to his selectivity in which mares he chooses to service, and in 2012, none of the three mares he covered were pronounced in foal.
In other awards, the JRA announced Gentildonna, the first 3-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup (Jpn-I), has also become the first of her age and gender to be voted Horse of the Year honors. In addition to defeating Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner Solemia and runner-up Orfevre in the Japan Cup, Gentildonna swept Japan's Filly Triple Crown. The daughter of Deep Impact received 256 of the 289 votes cast for Horse of the Year.
In addition to the equine and human awards, the JRA also presented the Equine Culture Awards.
2012 Japan Racing Association Awards (all bred in Japan):
2-year-old male: Logotype (Lohengrin—Stereotype, by Sunday Silence), bred by Shadai Farm
2-year-old female: Robe Tissage (War Emblem—Petit Noire, by Singspiel), bred by Northern Racing
3-year-old male: Gold Ship (Stay Gold—Point Flag, by Mejiro McQueen), bred by Eiichi Kobayashi
Horse of the Year/3-year-old filly: Gentildonna (Deep Impact—Donna Blini, by Bertolini)
Older horse: Orfevre (2008 horse, Stay Gold—Oriental Art, by Mejiro McQueen), bred by Shadai Corporation
Sprinter or miler: Lord Kanaloa (2008 horse, King Kamehameha—Lady Blossom, by Storm Cat)
Older female: Curren Chan (2007 mare, Kurofune—Spring Ticket, by Tony Bin), bred by Shadai Farm
Dirt horse: Nihonpiro Ours (2007 horse, White Muzzle—Nihonpillow Lupinus, by Admire Vega)
Steeplechase Horse: Majesty Bio (2007 horse, Opera House—High Grade Bio, by Hector Protector), bred by Bio Co., Ltd.
Trainer (races won): Katsuhiko Sumii
Trainer (money earned): Yasutoshi Ikee
Trainer (winner average, training technique): Naosuke Sugai
Jockey (races won and money earned): Yasunari Iwata
Steeplechase jockey: Shinya Kitazawa