Almond Eye

Almond Eye (Japanese アーモンドアイ, foaled 10 March 2015) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2018 she won the Oka Sho, Yushun Himba and Shuka Sho to complete the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. In November she ended an unbeaten season with a record-breaking win in the Japan Cup. On her first run of 2019 she won the Dubai Turf and went on to take the Tenno Sho in autumn. She holds a world record over 2,400 meters on turf. [2] Almond Eye is the highest earning racehorse in the world among the racehorses born in 2015.[3]

Almond Eye
Almond Eye in the parade ring before the Oka Sho
SireLord Kanaloa
GrandsireKing Kamehameha
DamFusaichi Pandora
DamsireSunday Silence
SexFilly
Foaled10 March 2015[1]
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederNorthern Racing
OwnerSilk Racing Co. Ltd.
TrainerSakae Kunieda
Record12: 9-1-1
Earnings$11,740,048
Major wins
Shinzan Kinen (2018)
Oka Sho (2018)
Yushun Himba (2018)
Shuka Sho (2018)
Japan Cup (2018)
Dubai Turf (2019)
Tenno Sho (autumn) (2019)
Victoria Mile (2020)
Awards
Japanese Horse of the Year (2018)
JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Filly (2018)

Background

Almond Eye is a bay filly bred in Japan by Northern Racing and owned by Silk Racing. She was sent into training with Sakae Kunieda. Almond Eye usually races in a hood and a shadow roll.

Almond Eye was from the first crop of foals sired by Lord Kanaloa, an outstanding sprinter-miler who was voted Japanese Horse of the Year in 2013. Her dam Fusaichi Pandora was a top-class racemare who won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2006.[4] She was descendant of the influential American broodmare Best In Show, the ancestor of numerous major winners including El Gran Senor, Try My Best, Xaar, Jazil, Rags to Riches and Redoute's Choice.[5]

Racing career

2017: two-year-old season

Almond Eye made her racecourse debut in a newcomers' race over 1400 metres at Niigata Racecourse on 6 August and finished second to Nishino Urara. Two month later at Tokyo Racecourse she recorded her first success in a 1600 metres maiden race winning by three lengths from Cosmo Feerique.[6]

2018: three-year-old season

Spring and summer

On 8 January Almond Eye was ridden by Keita Tosaki when she started the 1.9/1 favourite for the Grade 3 Shinzan Kinen over 1600 metres at Kyoto Racecourse and won by one and three quarter lengths from Tsuzumimon.[7] Christophe Lemaire took the ride when Almond Eye returned to the track for the Grade 1 Oka Sho over 1600 metres at Hanshin Racecourse on 8 April. She started the 2.9/1 second favourite behind the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies winner Lucky Lilac with the best fancied of the other fifteen runners being Lily Noble, Mau Lea and Finift. After racing towards the rear of the field the filly produced a strong late run in the straight, took the lead in the last 100 metres and won by one and three quarter length from Lucky Lilac in a race record time of 1:33.1. Lemaire commented "Her response and speed at the stretch was unbelievable and felt great! Her strides kept getting bigger and all I had to do was to keep her straight. A step up in distance shouldn’t be a problem for this talented filly who has great potentials to win the Triple Crown".[8]

On 20 May Almond Eye was stepped up in distance to contest the Yushun Himba over 2400 metres at Tokyo and started the 0.7/1 favourite ahead of Lucky Lilac, Lily Noble and Satono Walkure (Flora Stakes). Lemaire positioned the filly in mid division as the outsider Sayakachan set the pace, but then moved into contention entering the straight. Almond Eye produced a sustained run on the outside, took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and won by two lengths from Lily Noble. After the race Lemaire said "I had every confidence in her and race went perfectly for us. She was a little hyped up but we had a good start and in a good position. From there she settled in well and her turn of foot in the home straight was terrific. The stretch in distance was absolutely no problem for her. She is one special filly with great potentials and fit to face international competition if she has the chance".[9]

Autumn
Almond Eye wins the Shuka Sho

After an absence of well over four months, Almond Eye returned for the Shuka Sho over 2000 metres at Kyoto as she attempted to become the fifth horse to complete the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies. Before the race Kunieda explained "She has improved a lot and she’s tracking very well. Her hind hooves are hitting her front hooves a bit but much less than they were. She went all out in the Oaks and she was a bit tired after that. Over the summer, she matured physically and mentally and has returned to work looking good. She gained more than 10kg over the summer but you can see that she has added muscle".[10] She was made the 0.3/1 favourite ahead of her old rival Lucky Lilac (6.3/1) with the only others in the seventeen-runner field to start at less than 20/1 being Cantabile (Rose Stakes) and Mikki Charm. Lemaire positioned the favourite towards the rear as Mikki Charm set the pace, but then switched to the wide outside exiting the final turn. Almond Eye produced her customary late charge, caught Mikki Charm in the final strides and won by one and a half length. Lemaire commented "I was a bit worried today because Almond Eye was rather nervous and highly strung than usual, so the start wasn’t that good, then our path was blocked and we had to go wide, but from there she just showed just how exceptional she was. She’s such a fantastic filly".[11]

On 25 November the filly was matched against male opposition to contest the 38th running of the Japan Cup over 2400 metres at Tokyo in which he was partnered Lemaire and started the odds-on favourite. In the build-up to the race Kunieda said "She did seem a bit lightheaded after the [Shuka Sho] and she ran a temperature for a bit but quickly recovered. She looks leaner than she did before her last race, but she’s relaxed and her responses are good".[12] Her thirteen opponents included Cheval Grand (winner of the race in 2018), Satono Diamond, Satono Crown, Capri, Suave Richard and Kiseki (Kikuka Sho). After tracking the front-runners the filly turned into the straight in second place behind Kiseki, who had set a very strong pace. She moved up alongside Kiseki 200 metres from the finish and drew away in the closing stages to win by one and three quarter lengths with a gap of three and a half lengths back to Suave Richard in third.[13] The winning time of 2:20.6 broke the existing race record by 1.5 seconds. Lemaire commented "Today I was a little bit anxious, but I think we saw the best Almond Eye in the race and it was a great show... This is a very special filly as I keep telling the press in Japan that she is “Perfect” –her ability, temperament, she can adapt and race from any position".[14] The winning time of 2:20.6 is a world record over 2,400 meters on turf.[2]

In January 2019 Almond Eye was unanimously voted Japanese Horse of the Year and Best Three-Year-Old Filly at the JRA Awards for 2018.[15] In the 2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Almond Eye was rated the best three-year-old filly in the world (level with Alpha Centauri) and the eleventh best horse of any age or sex.

2019: four-year-old season

For her first race as a four-year-old, Almond Eye was sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Dubai Turf over 1800 metres at Meydan Racecourse on 30 March. With Lemaire in the saddle she started the 6/5 favourite in a thirteen-runner field which included Dream Castle (Jebel Hatta), Vivlos, Without Parole and Deirdre. After racing in mid-division, Almond Eye made rapid progress in the straight, took the lead 200 metres from the finish and won by one and a quarter lengths from Vivlos, with the British gelding Lord Glitters half a length away in third.[16] Lemaire commented "Down the stretch when I pulled her out, she used her powerful stride as usual. She was very relaxed but the thing was, we took the lead a little bit soon and so I think she relaxed a little bit in the last few yards... We did a good job today, it was beautiful, I think everyone enjoyed seeing such a good horse on the track".[17] The filly was then brought back in distance for the 1600 metre Yasuda Kinen over 1600 metres on 2 June and was made the 7/10 favourite. After failing to obtain a good racing position from a wide draw Almond Eye was repeatedly denied a clear run until the last 300 metres and despite launching a powerful late run she failed by a head and a nose to catch Indy Champ and Aerolithe.[18]

Almond Eye wins the Tenno Sho

Almond Eye had been expected to travel to France for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but the plan was cancelled. Almond Eye was suffering hyperthermia after Shuka Sho, Japan Cup and Dubai Turf.[19] The filly returned on 27 October when she contested the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho over 2000 metres at Tokyo and went off the 6/10 favourite against fifteen opponents including Danon Premium, Saturnalia, Al Ain, Wagnerian, Aerolithe, Win Bright, Suave Richard and Makahiki. After settling in sixth place Almond Eye accelerated up the inside rail in the straight, took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and drew away to win by three lengths from Danon Premium. Lemaire said "She was well rested after a long break and showed her true strength today. We were able to follow Aerolithe and Saturnalia in a good position, found a good opening on the rails and she just stretched beautifully from there."[20]

On her final run of the year Almond Eye started odds on favourite for the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres at Nakayama on 22 December. She raced towards the outside for most of the way and moved up to dispute the lead early in the straight but was soon under pressure and dropped out of contention to finish ninth behind Lys Gracieux. After the race Lemaire said "She was physically fit and in good condition but she couldn’t keep her calm before the crowd in the first lap and lost her rhythm. She was unable to relax and was tired".[21]

Almond Eye is the highest earning racehorse in the world among the racehorses born in 2015.[3]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Almond Eye (JPN), bay filly, 2015[1]
Sire
Lord Kanaloa (JPN)
2008		 King Kamehameha
2001		 Kingmambo (USA) Mr Prospector
Miesque
Manfath (IRE) Last Tycoon
Pilot Bird (GB)
Lady Blossom
1996		 Storm Cat (USA) Storm Bird (CAN)
Terlingua
Saratoga Dew (USA) Cormorant
Super Luna
Dam
Fusaichi Pandora (JPN)
2003		 Sunday Silence (USA)
1986		 Halo Hail To Reason
Cosmah
Wishing Well Undestanding
Mountain Flower
Lotta Lace (USA)
1992		 Nureyev Northern Dancer (CAN)
Special
Sex Appeal Buckpasser
Best in Show (Family: 8-f)[5]
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References
  1. "Almond Eye pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Almond Eye Takes Her Show on the Road". The New York Times. 29 March 2019.
  3. "The world's all-time highest-earning racehorses". Thoroughbred Racing. 26 December 2019.
  4. "Fusaichi Pandora(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  5. "Remembrancer Mare – Family 8-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  6. "Race Records:Lifetime Starts - Almond Eye(JPN) - JBIS". www.jbis.jp. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  7. "Shinzan Kinen result". Racing Post. 8 January 2018.
  8. "Almond Eye's Come-from-Behind Victory Renews Race Record". Horse Racing in Japan. 8 April 2018.
  9. "Race Favorite Almond Eye Eyes Fillies' Triple with Yushun Himba Victory". Horse Racing in Japan. 20 May 2018.
  10. "Shuka Sho (G1) – Comments from runners' connections". Horse Racing in Japan. 12 October 2018.
  11. "Shuka Sho (G1) - Almond Eye Sweeps Three-Year-Old Fillies' Triple". Horse Racing in Japan. 14 October 2018.
  12. "Japan Cup (G1) - Comments from Japanese runners' connections". Horse Racing in Japan. 22 November 2018.
  13. "Japan Cup result". Racing Post. 25 November 2018.
  14. "Triple-Crowned Filly Almond Eye Romps to Victory in Record Time in Japan Cup". Horse Racing in Japan. 25 November 2018.
  15. "2019.01.09 Winners of the 2018 JRA Awards announced". Horse Racing in Japan. 9 January 2019.
  16. "Dubai Turf result". Racing Post. 30 March 2019.
  17. Wood, Greg (30 March 2019). "Almond Eye's silky Dubai Turf win throws down Arc challenge to Enable". The Guardian.
  18. "Indy Champ Beats Heavy Favorite for First G1 Title in the Yasuda Kinen". Horse Racing in Japan. 2 June 2019.
  19. アーモンドアイ「欧州に行かない」国枝師一問一答 Nikkan Sports
  20. "Almond Eye Prevails Over G1 Winners in Tenno Sho". Horse Racing in Japan. 27 October 2019.
  21. "Lys Gracieux Defeats Strong All-Star Field in Her Last Run at Arima Kinen". Horse Racing in Japan. 22 December 2019.
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