Almond Eye
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Almond Eye (
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
: アーモンドアイ, foaled 10 March 2015) is a champion Japanese
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
who won the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown in 2018, and holds a world record over 2,400 meters on turf. She is also a two-time winner of the
Japan Cup The is one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan. It is contested on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters (about miles) run under weight for age conditions with ...
, breaking the record in the 2018 race and defeating two other undefeated Japan Triple Crown winners in the 2020 race. Almond Eye was the 2018
Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given to the most outstanding horse in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This ...
, 2018 Best Three-Year-Old Filly, 2020
Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given to the most outstanding horse in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This ...
, and 2020 Best Older Filly or Mare. She was the World Champion of 2020 in the TRC Global Horses Rankings, and is the highest earning racehorse in the world among the racehorses born in 2015. Her other notable wins include the
Dubai Turf The Dubai Turf is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,800 metres (1 mile 1 furlong) on the turf at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai during the Dubai World Cup Night ...
in 2019, the
Tenno Sho The is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade 1 races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Gr ...
in 2019 and 2020, and the
Victoria Mile The Victoria Mile () is a Graded stakes race, Grade 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for four-year-old and above thoroughbred Filly, fillies and mare (horse), mares. Organized by Japan Racing Association, it is run over a dista ...
in 2020.


Background

Almond Eye is a bay mare bred in Japan by Northern Farm and owned by Silk Racing. She was sent into training with Sakae Kunieda. Almond Eye usually races in a hood and a
shadow roll A shadow roll is a piece of equipment, usually made of sheepskin or a synthetic material, that is attached to the noseband of a horse's bridle. Like blinkers, it partially restricts the horse's vision, and helps them to concentrate on what is in f ...
. Almond Eye is from the first crop of foals sired by
Lord Kanaloa is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist sprinter, he recorded his first important success in 2011 when he won the Grade 3 Keihan Hai at Kyoto Racecourse. In the following year he won once from his first four starts but then ...
, an outstanding sprinter-miler who was the 2013
Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given to the most outstanding horse in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This ...
. Her dam Fusaichi Pandora was a top-class racemare who won the 2006
Queen Elizabeth II Cup The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April over a distance of 2,000 metres (te ...
. She was descendant of the influential American broodmare Best In Show, the ancestor of numerous major winners including
El Gran Senor El Gran Senor (21 April 1981 – 18 October 2006) was an United States, American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred horse racing, race horse. Foaled at Windfields Farm (Maryland), he was the best horse of his generation in Europe at both two and t ...
,
Try My Best Try My Best (1975–1993) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A son of Northern Dancer, he won the Dewhurst Stakes in 1978 and was the top-rated two-year-old in Britain and Ireland that year. Background Try My ...
,
Xaar Xaar (14 March 1995 – 16 May 2021) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire (horse), sire, best known for his performances as a two-year-old in 1997. In his juvenile season, he won four of his five races, including the Prix de Cabou ...
,
Jazil Jazil (February 11, 2003 – October 11, 2014) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse. In 2006, Jazil dead-heated for fourth place in the Kentucky Derby but then won the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown of Tho ...
,
Rags to Riches Rags to riches (also rags-to-riches) refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity—sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype i ...
and
Redoute's Choice Redoute's Choice (15 August 1996 – 26 March 2019) was a multiple Group One-winning Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and also a Leading sire in Australia, champion sire. He is by the phenomenal international sire Danehill (horse), Danehill ( ...
.


Racing career


2017: two-year-old season

Almond Eye made her debut in a newcomers' race over 1400 metres at
Niigata Racecourse is located in Kita-ku Niigata, Niigata in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is used for horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven wit ...
on August 6 and finished second to Nishino Urara. Two month later at
Tokyo Racecourse is located in Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1933 for horse racing, it is considered the "racecourse of racecourses" in Japanese horseracing. It has a capacity of 223,000, with seating for 13,750. Tokyo Racecourse hosts numerous G1 (Grade 1) ...
, she recorded her first success in a 1600 metres
maiden race In horse racing, a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the s ...
, winning by three lengths from Cosmo Feerique.


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 The Shinzan Kinen (), short for the Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen(), is a Japanese Grade III race for three-year-olds in the JRA. Race details The race was named to honor Shinzan, the Japanese racehorse who won the Japanese Triple Crown in ...
over 1600 metres at
Kyoto Racecourse is located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is used for horse racing. It has a capacity of 120,000. The current stand was built in 1999. History Kyoto Racecourse opened at its current location in December 1, 1925. In prepara ...
and won by one and three quarter lengths from Tsuzumimon.
Christophe Lemaire Christophe Patrice Lemaire (Japanese:, born 20 May 1979) is a French-born jockey. He has enjoyed much of his success on the Japanese flat racing circuit, with the most wins at Japan Racing Association racetracks for five consecutive years sin ...
took the ride when Almond Eye returned to the track for the Grade 1
Oka Sho The is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan. The race is restricted to three-year-old Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbre ...
over 1600 metres at
Hanshin Racecourse is located in Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan. It has a capacity of 139,000 and is used for horse racing. The land was originally owned by Kawanishi Aircraft Company, which manufactured combat planes during World War II. After World War II, GHQ orde ...
on 8 April. She started the 2.9/1 second favourite behind the
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (阪神ジュベナイルフィリーズ) is a one-mile turf stakes race for thoroughbred fillies two years old. It is considered the ''de facto'' year-end championship for two-year-old fillies in Japan. Qualifying ra ...
winner
Lucky Lilac Lucky Lilac (, foaled 3 April 2015) is a Japanese retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2017 she was undefeated in three races including the Artemis Stakes and Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and took the JRA Award f ...
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". On 20 May Almond Eye was stepped up in distance to contest the
Yushun Himba The , also known as the is a Japanese Conditions races, Grade 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race for three-year-old thoroughbred Filly, fillies run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately 1 mile 4 furlongs) at the Tokyo Racecours ...
over 2400 metres at Tokyo and started the 0.7/1 favourite ahead of Lucky Lilac, Lily Noble and Satono Walkure (
Flora Stakes The Flora Stakes (Japanese フローラステークス) is a Grade 2 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Tokyo Racecourse every April. The Flora Stakes was first run in 1 ...
). 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".


Autumn

After an absence of well over four months, Almond Eye returned for the
Shuka Sho Shuka ( , also Shukadeva ) is a rishi (sage) in Hinduism. He is the son of the sage Vyasa and the main narrator of the scripture ''Bhagavata Purana''. Most of the ''Bhagavata Purana'' consists of Shuka reciting the story to the king Parikshit ...
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". 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 The Rose Stakes (Japanese ローズステークス) is a Japanese Grade 2 flat horse race in Hyōgo Prefecture for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1800 metres at Hanshin Racecourse in September, having been run ...
) 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". 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". Her thirteen opponents included Cheval Grand (winner of the race in 2018),
Satono Diamond Satono Diamond (, foaled 30 January 2013) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed promise as a juvenile in 2015 when he won both of his races. In the following year he developed into a top-class performer winning the Kisaragi Sho finishi ...
,
Satono Crown Satono Crown (, foaled 10 March 2012) is a Japanese retired Thoroughbred racehorse and breeding stallion. He showed promising form as a two-year-old in 2014, winning both of his races including the Grade 3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes. As a th ...
,
Capri Capri ( , ; ) is an island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples in the Campania region of Italy. A popular resort destination since the time of the Roman Republic, its natural beauty ...
,
Suave Richard Suave Richard (, foaled 10 March 2014) is a Japanese retired Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2019 Japan Cup. He showed promising form as a juvenile in 2016 when he won one of his three races and finished second in the Tokyo Spo ...
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. 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". The winning time of 2:20.6 is a world record over 2,400 meters on turf. In January 2019, Almond Eye was unanimously voted
Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given to the most outstanding horse in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This ...
and Best Three-Year-Old Filly at the
JRA Award The is given annually since 1987 by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) to the outstanding horses and people in Japanese Thoroughbred horse racing. The awards originally started as the in 1954 and since 1972 the {{Nihongo, Yūshun Awards, 優駿 ...
s for 2018. In the
2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings The 2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, sponsored by Longines was the 2018 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings. It was an assessment of Thoroughbred racehorses issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) on ...
Almond Eye was rated the best three-year-old filly in the world (level with
Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri (, α Cen, or Alpha Cen) is a star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus (constellation), Centaurus. It consists of three stars: Rigil Kentaurus (), Toliman (), and Proxima Centauri (). Proxima 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 Meydan Racecourse is a racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The grandstand is a half mile in length, and can accommodate over 60,000 spectators. Meydan opened on 27 March 2010, replacing Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which formerly occu ...
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 The Jebel Hatta is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 2000 at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Raced on turf, it is open to horses four-years-old and up who were bred in the Northern Hemisphere and to horses three-ye ...
), Vivlos,
Without Parole Without Parole, (foaled 20 March 2015) is a retired British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and breeding stallion. After showing promise when winning his only start as a two-year-old he progressed in the following spring, following a win in a minor ...
and
Deirdre Deirdre ( , ; ) is a tragic heroine in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She is also known by the epithet "Deirdre of the Sorrows" (). Deirdre is a prominent figure in Irish legend. American scholar James MacKillop (author), James MacKil ...
. 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 A gelding (Help:IPA/English, /ˈɡɛldɪŋ/) is a castration, castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. The term is also used with certain other animals and livestock, such as domesticated Camelidae, camels. By compa ...
Lord Glitters half a length away in third. 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". The filly was then brought back in distance for the 1600 metre
Yasuda Kinen The Yasuda Kinen (English: Yasuda Memorial, Japanese and Chinese language: 安田記念) is a Japanese Graded stakes race, International Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at the Tokyo Racecourse in Tokyo. Raced annually each June, the Yasuda Ki ...
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. Almond Eye had been expected to travel to France for the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...
, but the plan was cancelled. Almond Eye was suffering
hyperthermia Hyperthermia, also known as overheating, is a condition in which an individual's body temperature is elevated beyond normal due to failed thermoregulation. The person's body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates. When extreme te ...
after Shuka Sho, Japan Cup and Dubai Turf. The filly returned on 27 October when she contested the autumn edition of the
Tenno Sho The is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade 1 races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Gr ...
over 2000 metres at Tokyo and went off the 6/10 favourite against fifteen opponents including Danon Premium,
Saturnalia Saturnalia is an Roman festivals, ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the List of Roman deities, god Saturn (mythology), Saturn, held on 17 December in the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities until 19 December. By t ...
,
Al Ain Al Ain () is a city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and the seat of the administrative division of the Al Ain Region. The city is Oman–United Arab Emirates border, bordered to the east by the Omani town of Al-Buraimi. Al A ...
,
Wagnerian Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most ...
, Aerolithe,
Win Bright Win Bright (, foaled 12 May 2014) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in Hong Kong. He showed good early form, winning once as a juvenile and taking the Spring Stakes and Fukushima Kinen in the following year. ...
, Suave Richard and
Makahiki The Makahiki season is the ancient Hawaiian New Year festival, in honor of the god Lono of the Hawaiian religion. It lasts four consecutive lunar months, approximately from October/November through February/March. It is a time for men, women ...
. 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." On her final run of the year Almond Eye started odds on favourite for the
Arima Kinen The Arima Kinen (有馬記念) is a Conditions races, Grade I Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds three-years-old and above and the world's largest betting horserace. It is run in late December each year, over ...
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 Lys Gracieux (, foaled 18 January 2014) is a champion Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she showed top-class form, winning two of her four starts (including the Artemis Stakes) and finished second in the Hanshin Juvenile ...
. 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".


2020: five-year-old season

Almond Eye was sent to Dubai in early 2020 to attempt to repeat her success of the previous year in the Dubai Turf but returned to Japan when the meeting was cancelled owing to the
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
pandemic. The mare made a belated seasonal debut in the Group 1
Victoria Mile The Victoria Mile () is a Graded stakes race, Grade 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for four-year-old and above thoroughbred Filly, fillies and mare (horse), mares. Organized by Japan Racing Association, it is run over a dista ...
over 1600 metres at Tokyo on 17 May and started the 0.4/1 favourite in a sixteen-runner field which also included
Loves Only You Loves Only You (, foaled 26 March 2016) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed promise as a two-year-old when she won both her races. In the following spring she took the Wasurenagusa Sho before extending her unbeaten run to four by wi ...
,
Normcore Normcore is a unisex fashion trend characterized by unpretentious, average-looking clothing. Normcore fashion includes jeans, T-shirts, sweats, button-downs, and sneakers. History The word "normcore" first appeared in a 2008 guest strip by Rya ...
and
Danon Fantasy Danon Fantasy (, foaled 30 January 2016) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After finishing second in her first appearance as a two-year-old in 2018 she won her three remaining races including the Fantasy Stakes (Japan), Fantasy ...
. After tracking the leaders in fourth place, she took the lead 200 metres from the finish and drew away in the closing stages to win by four lengths from Sound Chiara. Lemaire commented "I think she's matured well, as she was relaxed from the paddock to the start of the race. I was able to position her in good position behind Sound Chiara and race her in her own rhythm without getting any pressure from the outside. She felt good during the race and displayed her powerful strides at the end. She's a legend horse." On 7 June at Tokyo Almond Eye started the 0.3/1 favourite as she made her second attempt to win the Yasuda Kinen. She started slowly before making up ground rapidly in the straight but never looked likely to threaten the winner Gran Alegria and was beaten two and a half lengths into second place. After the race Lemaire said "We had a poor break but I think we recovered well and made a smooth and strong bid turning for home with Gran Alegria in aim. She showed her good turn of foot but she could have done better. The winner was just so strong, it wasn’t our day." After the summer break Almond Eye returned to the track for the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho at Tokyo on 1 November and started the 0.4/1 favourite ahead of
Chrono Genesis Chrono Genesis (, foaled 6 March 2016) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies in Japan when she won her first two races including the Ivy Stakes and then ran a close second in the Hanshin Juvenile Fill ...
in a twelve-runner field which also included Fierement,
Win Bright Win Bright (, foaled 12 May 2014) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in Hong Kong. He showed good early form, winning once as a juvenile and taking the Spring Stakes and Fukushima Kinen in the following year. ...
,
Blast Onepiece Blast Onepiece, (, foaled 2 April 2015) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only start as a two-year-old, he improved to become the best colt of his generation in Japan the following year. He recorded Grade 3 victories in the ...
, Danon Premium, Kiseki and the
Nakayama Kinen The Nakayama Kinen (中山記念, ''Nakayama Kinen'') is a Grade 2 flat horse race in Japan for Thoroughbreds aged four and older run over a distance of 1,800 metres at the Nakayama Racecourse, Funabashi, Chiba. The race is run in late February ...
winner Danon Kingly. Almond Eye settled in fourth place as Danon Premium set the pace from Daiwa Cagney and Kiseki. She moved into second place in the straight, overhauled Danon Premium inside the last 200 meters and held off the late challenges of Fierement and Chrono Genesis to win by half a length and a neck. Her victory made her the first horse to win eight Grade 1 races in Japan. A "slightly teary" Lemaire commented: "Today, the mare was relaxed before the start and we were able to break well. She showed a great turn of foot in the straight but ran out of steam a bit climbing the hill. The others were gaining on us but she didn't give up. I have to admit, to win the eighth Grade 1 title was a big pressure, but she didn't let us down—her performance was awesome." Four weeks after her win in the Tenno Sho, Almond Eye ended her track career with an attempt to win a second Japan Cup in a race which saw her matched against the outstanding undefeated three-year-olds
Contrail Contrails (; short for "condensation trails") or vapour trails are line-shaped clouds produced by aircraft engine exhaust or changes in air pressure, typically at aircraft cruising altitudes several kilometres/miles above the Earth's surface. ...
and Daring Tact, respectively winners of the Japanese Triple Crown and the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown. The other twelve contenders included
Glory Vase Glory Vase (, foaled 2 March 2015) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed promising form in his first two seasons of racing, winning two minor races and finishing fifth in the Kikuka Sho. As a four-year-old in 2019 he emerged as a world ...
, Curren Bouquetd'or (runner-up in the race in 2019), Kiseki,
World Premiere A premiere, also spelled première, (from , ) is the debut (first public presentation) of a work, i.e. play, film, dance, musical composition, or even a performer in that work. History Raymond F. Betts attributes the introduction of the film ...
, Makahiki and the French challenger Way To Paris (winner of the
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is ...
). Starting the 1.2/1 favourite Almond Eye settled in third place as Kiseki set the pace and built up a huge lead which he maintained into the straight. The mare launched a strong run down the centre of the track, overtook Kiseki approaching the last 100 metres and kept on well to win by one and a quarter lengths from Contrail with Daring Tact, Curren Bouquetd'or and Glory Vase close behind in third, fourth and fifth. After the race Kunieda said "We were worried about the rough going near the rails, but Christophe did a good job in finding a good path... all we wanted was for her to come back safe and sound. The victory is such a bonus, we couldn’t be happier. She has given us so much excitement and joy and it has been fulfilling to be a part of her career" while Lemaire commented "Since this was her final start, it was very special for me and I'm thrilled we were able to win... She was relaxed in the gate, broke smoothly and was able to sit in a good position... The pace was just right for her and she responded well in the stretch. The others closing in on us didn't worry me at all. Almond Eye is a perfect mare and doesn’t have any weak points." On December 19, Almond Eye was honoured in a retirement ceremony at Nakayama Racecourse in which she paraded in front of 2,500 fans who had been awarded tickets in a lottery. In address to the crowd Lemaire said "Today, we are here to celebrate the retirement of the fantastic mare who rewrote the history of Japanese horse racing. Almond Eye has been special from the beginning. With her shape, running form, fighting spirit, and unusual ability, her fame has attracted horse racing fans all over the world, not just in Japan." Kunieda addressed the mare directly saying "Almond Eye, good work. Thank you for making such a great achievement and leaving a pleasant memory. After you will go back to the farm and have a child, I want to train him or her in my yard, so please give birth to good children." In January 2021, Almond Eye was voted
Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given to the most outstanding horse in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This ...
and Best Older Filly or Mare at the
JRA Award The is given annually since 1987 by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) to the outstanding horses and people in Japanese Thoroughbred horse racing. The awards originally started as the in 1954 and since 1972 the {{Nihongo, Yūshun Awards, 優駿 ...
s for 2020. Almond Eye is the World Champion of 2020 in the TRC Global Horses Rankings. In June 2023, Almond Eye was inducted in to the JRA Hall of Fame on her second year of eligibility. This was after failing to be inducted the year prior, which sparked controversy among fans and horse racing journalists over the selection process of the Hall of Fame.


Pedigree


See also

*
List of racehorses This list includes racehorses that exist in the historical record. Racehorses For competition horses, such as show jumping, show jumpers and dressage, dressage horses, see . A * Ace Impact: Undefeated winner of the 2023 Prix de l'Arc de Tri ...


References

{{JRA Hall of Fame Horse 2015 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Japan Racehorses trained in Japan Thoroughbred family 8-f Japan Cup winners Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing winners Japanese Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Oka Sho winners Yushun Himba winners Shūka Sho winners Tenno Sho winners