Gentildonna wins the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin April 8, 2012.
Kate Hunter![YUSHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS) [G1] Winner:14. Gentildonna Photo1-Finish ① Date:Sunday,20 May 2012 Racecourse:Tokyo Racecourse Distance:2400m, Turf/about12 furlongs Total Value:\ 202,160,000/about US$ 2,527,000 Prize of Money for the Winner:\ 97,000,000/about US$ 1,212,000 Qualication to Run:3yo Fillies Weight:3yo 55kg Allowance:Southern Hemisphere Bred born in 2009/3kg Course Condition:Turf Firm/Fine Time:2:23.6 1st-14.Gentildonna(JPN) 2:23.6 2nd-9.Verxina(JPN) 5 3rd-3.Ice Follies(JPN) 3/4 4th-1.I'm Yours(JPN) NS Please refer to http://japanracing.jp for more information.](http://cdn-images.bloodhorse.com/i/bloodhorse-images/2015/04/757e877d225245a692420655c34a369f.jpg?width=450&maxheight=297&mode=max)
Gentildonna takes the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) May 20, 2012 at Tokyo Racecourse, defeating Verxina and I'm Yours.
Naoji Inada
The extraordinary filly Gentildonna becomes Japan's 4th filly to win the Filly Triple Crown, narrowly defeating arch rival Verxina in the Shuka Sho Oct. 14, 2012 at Kyoto Racecourse.
Kate Hunter
Gentildonna duels with Japan's Horse of the Year Orfevre in the 32nd Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse Nov. 25, 2012.
Naoji Inada
Gentildonna outfights Horse of the Year Orfevre to win the Japan Cup.
Kate Hunter
In an exhilarating finish Gentildonna nosed out Denim and Ruby in her second Japan Cup.
Masakazu Takahashi
Great Britain's internationally acclaimed Ryan Moore rode the favored Gentildonna for the first time, registering a narrow victory for trainer Sei Ishizaka and owner Sunday Racing, which won its fourth straight Japan Cup. It was the fifth grade I win for 4-year-old Gentildonna, Japan's defending Horse of the Year. She defeated Orfevre also by a nose in last year's Japan Cup with Yasunari Iwata aboard.
Japan Racing Association
Ryan Moore smiles after Gentildonna won the Japan Cup for a second time, defeating Denim and Ruby, Nov. 24, 2013 at Tokyo Racecourse.
Masakazu Takahashi
Checked twice in the final 250 meters, Japan's star mare Gentildonna showed just what she's made of in wearing down Cirrus des Aigles and winning the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines (UAE-I) in a course-record time at Meydan Racecourse.
Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club
Gentildonna shines on the world stage as she wins the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in Dubai.
Masakazu Takahashi
Gentildonna following her Dubai Sheema Classic win in course-record time.
Gentildonna following her Dubai Sheema Classic win.
Masakazu Takahashi
Gentildonna brought a fitting close to her illustrious racing career Dec. 28 in scoring an impressive win in the $3.45 million Arima Kinen (Jpn-I), Japan's season-ending all-star race at Nakayama Racecourse.
Naoji Inada
Gentildonna winning the $3.45 million Arima Kinen (Jpn-I) at Nakayama Racecourse.
Masakazu Takahashi
Sunday Racing Co.'s 5-year-old mare dueled Japan Cup (Jpn-I) winner Epiphaneia just past the 200-meter mark and edged ahead in the final 100 meters to secure the win. Three-year-old To the World came flying between those two to take second while denying 7-2 favorite Gold Ship the runner-up spot by a nose. Just a Way finished a neck back in fourth and Epiphaneia was fifth.
Masakazu Takahashi
Gentildonna, the 8-1 fourth choice, was timed in 2:35.30 for 2,500 meters (about 1 9/16 miles) on firm turf.
Masakazu Takahashi
The race's 16-horse field was set by fan voting to select the 10 most popular runners. The rest of the field is determined in order of earnings. This year's top favorite was 2012 Arima Kinen victor Gold Ship, who came in off a 10th-place finish in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I). Gentildonna, the only two-time winner of the prestigous Japan Cup (Jpn-I), was voted second fan favorite.
Naoji INada
In earning her seventh victory at the group I level, Gentildonna equaled a record only four other horses in Japan Racing Association history have accomplished, including her sire Deep Impact. Her career earnings of ¥1,726,030,400 (about $14.3 million in U.S. funds) rank as the second highest in JRA history behind T.M.Opera O, and is the highest among females.
Naoji Inada
Gentildonna made a clean start from post 4 and settled in third, just off the pace set by Victoria Mile (Jpn-I) winner Verxina and Epiphaneia. Racing three to four lengths behind the two front-runners through the backstretch and advancing thereafter, she entered the lane in second, right behind Epiphaneia, who took charge from the tiring Verxina. She gradually wore down Epiphaneia and pulled clear late.
Naoji Inada
"I'm really glad she was able to show her best performance in the last race of her career," said Keita Tosaki, who was riding for trainer Sei Ishizaka. "When I rode her the last time (Tenno Sho Autumn), she was easy to ride and very clever, so I felt very comfortable riding her this time. I was able to race her just as I had imagined, settling her towards the front and making use of her persistent late charge. She responded well until the end."
Masakazu Takahashi
Gentildonna's retirement ceremony at the conclusion of Sunday's racing saw more than 40,000 of the reported on-track crowd of 115,878 staying on in the chilly evening to pay tribute to the outstanding mare.
Masakazu Takahashi
Gentildonna retires with a 10-4-1 career line from 19 starts that include group I wins in Japan in the 2012 Oka Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas), Yunshun Himba (Japanese Oaks), and Shuka Sho to sweep the Triple Crown for fillies; and unprecedented back-to-back Japan Cup victories in 2012 and 2013. She was crowned Japan's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly in 2012 and champion older mare in 2013. Her record includes a group I win in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan.
Masakazu Takahashi