Another Japanese star, 7-year-old Wing Arrow, will be off to Shizunai Stallion Station following his scheduled farewell appearance in the February Stakes (Jpn-I) on Feb. 17. Seven- year-old Wing Arrow (Assatis -- Sanyo Arrow, by Mr C B) has won 11 of 29 races and earned $6,273,733. His big wins came in the 2000 February Stakes and Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) the year he was champion older horse.
Japanese grade I winners T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto have been retired from racing and are scheduled to enter stud at East Stud. The two horses, both 6-year-olds, competed against each other on numerous occasions, including the 2000 Japan Cup (Jpn-I), in which T.M. Opera O won in a blanket finish over Meisho Doto and European star Fantastic Light.T.M. Opera O, who missed winning the 2001 Japan Cup by a neck in a runner-up effort, retires with 14 wins from 26 starts and earnings of $16,200,337. Bred in Japan by Kineusu Bokujo and owned by Masatsuga Takezono, T.M. Opera O (Opera House -- Once Wed, by Blushing Groom) was both Horse of the Year and champion older horse in 2000 as well as champion 3-year-old colt the previous year. Seven of his 12 graded stakes wins came in grade I events.Irish-bred Meisho Doto (Bigstone -- Princess Reema, by Affirmed) won 10 of 27 races and earned $8,088,202. Owned by Yoshio Matsumoto, Meisho Doto captured five graded stakes and placed in eight others.