Maruzensky

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Maruzensky
マルゼンスキー
BreedThoroughbred
SireNijinsky
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamShill
DamsireBuckpasser
SexStallion
FoaledMay 19, 1974
DiedAugust 21, 1997(1997-08-21) (aged 23)
CountryJapan
ColorBay
BreederHashimoto Bokujou
OwnerZenkichi Hashimoto
TrainerShigehiko Hongo
JockeySeiichi Nakanowatari
Earnings76,601,000 JPY
Awards
Yushun Sho Saiyushu Sansai Boba (1976)
Honors
Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame (1990)
Last updated on May 4, 2024

Maruzensky (Japanese: マルゼンスキー; May 19, 1974 - August 21, 1997)[1] was an undefeated Japanese thoroughbred racehorse.

His racing career was extremely successful, winning all of the races he entered, including the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes which he had won with a massive gap, earning the nickname "Supercar" in the process.[2] However, as horses brought over from abroad at the time were barred from entering any of the Triple Crown races, the horse was unable to enter in such races.

As a stallion, he was also successful, producing Derby winner Sakura Chiyono O, as well as 3 other Grade I winners, among others.

Background[edit]

Maruzensky's dam, Shill, by Buckpasser, was bought at the Keeneland Sales in the Autumn of 1973 by Zenkichi Hashimoto, father of future olympist and Diet member Seiko Hashimoto.[3] Hashimoto, while having owned cows in his ranch, was relatively new to the world of owning racehorses, when he was on a business trip from Japan. There, he also met the horse's future trainer, Shigehiko Hongo.[4][5]

At the auction, Hashimoto was told by his interpretor that, given her mare line, as well as the fact the horse was pregnant with a foal of Nijinsky, it was expected that the horse would bid at a high price. Feeling both insulted by the interpretor for his career involving and a desire to buy Shill for himself, he wound up buying the horse for 30 million US Dollars, which would have amounted to about 90 million Japanese yen at the time.[6]

After being shipped to Japan, Shill foaled a colt on May 19, 1974. Hashimoto planned to give the Maruzen yagō to the horse, and went with "Maruzensky" as the foal was a colt, rather than "Miss Maruzen" had the foal had been a filly.[4]

Two years later, the horse entered Hongo's stable in July 1976.[7]

Racing career[edit]

1976: Two year old season[edit]

Maruzensky's maiden race was on October 9, with Seiichi Nakanowatari [ja] as his jockey. There, the horse handily beat the other horses, finishing the race with more than 2 seconds of gap against the 2nd place.[8] Maruzensky also won his next race, an allowance race, where he finished the race with a 9 length gap between him and the 2nd place.[8]

The horse was then entered to the Fuchu Sansai Stakes, an open race, on November 21. The race was contested by only 5 runners, including Hokkaido Sansai Stakes winner Hishi Speed [ja], who had almost caught up to Maruzensky in the race due to Nakanowatari not anticipating any other horse to catch up to him, and had let the horse run slowly. Maruzensky and Hishi Speed ran neck and neck, resulting in a photo finish which concluded that Maruzensky beat the latter by a nose.[8][9]

On December 12, the horse was entered in to the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes. There, the horse took the lead early on, and ran the front of the pack, finishing the race with a 13 length lead. His time, 1:34.4, was a course record that would not be broken for 14 years until Lindo Shaver [ja] broke it in 1990.[9][10] After the race, Nakanowatari commented that "he couldn't even hear the footsteps of the other horses" past the 3rd corner.[11] Hishi Speed's jockey, Futoshi Kojima [ja], commented "That thing is a monster... To be honest, I'm glad I won't have to deal with [Maruzensky] for a while" regarding the winner of the race.[7][12]

For his performances, he was awarded the Yushun Sho Saiyushu Sansai Boba that year.[13]

1977: Three year old season[edit]

Maruzensky started off the season with an open race held at Chukyo Racecourse with the intention of running in the Kisaragi Sho. However, other trainers feared losing to the undefeated horse, and avoided entering the race.[12] The open race was almost canceled were it not for Masatoshi Hattori [ja] entering two of his horses under his training.[8] Maruzensky ultimately won the race by a 2 and a half length lead. After this win, however, Maruzensky fractured his shin, and was forced to take a three months long break.[14]

Maruzensky returned to racing that May, and won another open race with a 7 length lead, but the horse was unable to enter the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) as horses brought over from abroad, including as fetuses at the time, were barred from running in a Triple Crown race.[12] Nakanowatari reportedly begged to have the horse enter the race, pleading "Let [Maruzensky] enter the Japanese Derby. I don't care if the horse starts from the furthest outside. We won't interfere the other horses. We don't need the prize money. We just want to see how the horse would do".[6][9][12] Hashimoto planned to go to court over this, but ultimately the decision was unchanged.[5] Maruzensky being barred from entering the Derby caused controversy within the horse racing circle of Japan, with the official JRA magazine, Yushun, even holding a discussion panel on its September 1977 issue.[15]

On June 26, Maruzensky was entered in to the Nihon Tampa Sho, where nearly 80,000 people attended to see the horse run.[12] Maruzensky faced off the NHK Hai [ja] and future Kikka Sho winner Press Toko [ja], but by far the most favored to win was Maruzensky, whose parimutuel odds was consistently at 1.0.[16] At the race, Maruzensky quickly took the lead and had already gained a 6 to 7 length lead by the first corner. Howeer, after passing the third corner the horse suddenly lost momentum and was almost passed by Inter Spencer. Maruzensky however, quickly regained the lead and ultimately finished the race with a 7 lengths lead.[16] Nakanowatari later commented that "the track was bad that day, so I tried to run on the outside to keep the horse safe. Then Inter Spencer came up and the horse became aloof".[8]

After this race, Maruzenski is moved to Hokkaido to run in a couple of races at Sapporo and Hakodate before running a race in Autumn before the Arima Kinen.[8] He was subsequently entered in to the Tankyori Stakes at Sapporo. Initially, there were plans of Tosho Boy [ja] running in that race alongside Maruzensky. However, that plan never materialized, and ultimately that race was run with only 5 runners.[8] In the race, a filly named Yoshio Kazan took the lead and made Maruzensky run from the 2nd of the pack, which was a first for the horse. However, the horse gradually took over the lead and ultimately won the race at a record of 1:10.1.[8]

The horse was then moved to Hakodate. However, during training, Maruzensky had developed tendonitis, partly due to hitting the railings there. The horse spent all Autumn trying to cure the symptom, but had symptoms showing again when the horse was training for Arima in December.[7] While the tendonitis itself was relatively light, both Hashimoto and Hongo agreed to retire the horse at that point as the only major races the horse could have entered by that point was either the Arima and Takarazuka.[17]

A retirement ceremony was held at Tokyo Racecourse on January 15, 1978.[17]

Racing form[edit]

The following racing form is based on information available on JBIS and netkeiba.[18][19]

Date Racecourse Race Name Distance (Condition) Runners Horse Number Odds Favored Finished Time Distance Jockey Winner (2nd Place)
1976. 10. 09 Nakayama 3YO Maiden[20] Turf 1200m（Firm） 8 1 1.7 1st 1st 01:11.0 Distance Seiichi Nakanowatari （Oriondahda）
10. 30 Nakayama Icho Tokubetsu Turf 1200m（Firm） 9 1 1.3 1st 1st 01:10.5 9 Seiichi Nakanowatari （Shadai Aisse）
11. 21 Tokyo Fuchu Sansai Stakes Turf 1600m（Good） 5 3 1.4 1st 1st 01:37.9 Nose Seiichi Nakanowatari （Hishi Speed）
12. 12 Nakayama Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes Turf 1600m（Firm） 6 6 1.7 1st 1st R1:34.4 Distance Seiichi Nakanowatari （Hishi Speed）
1977. 01. 22 Chukyo 4YO Open[20] Turf 1600m（Firm） 5 2 1.3 1st 1st 01:36.4 2.5 length Seiichi Nakanowatari （Jo Quickly）
05. 07 Tokyo 4YO Open[20] Turf 1600m（Firm） 5 2 1.6 1st 1st 01:36.3 7 Seiichi Nakanowatari （Long Ichi）
06. 26 Nakayama Nihon Tampa Sho Turf 1800m（Heavy） 7 2 1.2 1st 1st 01:51.4 7 Seiichi Nakanowatari （Press Toko）
07. 24 Sapporo Tankyori Stakes Dirt 1200m (Firm) 5 4 1.6 1st 1st R1:10.1 10 Seiichi Nakanowatari （Hishi Speed）
  • "R" in the chart and the time written in red indicates the horse finished in record time.

Stud career[edit]

Upon retirement, Maruzensky was sent to the Toyosato Stallion Center in Monbetsu, Hokkaido to stand stud there.[12] As a stallion, Maruzensky was a successful sire, producing Kikka Sho winner Horisky [ja] as one of his first crops, as well as Derby winner Sakura Chiyono O [ja], Takarazuka winner Suzuka Koban [ja], and Kikka Sho winner Leo Durban [ja].[6]

Maruzensky was also successful as a broodmare sire, giving birth to dams of two Derby winners, Winning Ticket [ja] and Special Week, as well as Rice Shower, Mejiro Bright [ja], and Primo Ordine [ja] among other Grade I winners.[21]

Maruzensky passed away on August 21, 1997, after sufering a heart attack.[22] A funeral was held three days later on August 24, attended by many people as well as his dam, who was still alive at the time, before being buried inside the Hashimoto Bokujou property.[22]

Notable progeny[edit]

Below data is based on JBIS Stallion Reports.[23] c = colt, f = filly

bold = grade 1 stakes

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
1979 Horisky c Kikka Sho
1980 Nishinosky c Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes
1980 Suzuka Koban c Takarazuka Kinen, Kobe Shimbun Hai, Kyoto Daishoten (twice)
1981 Sakura Toko c Hakodate Sansai Stakes, Tanabata Sho
1985 Sakura Chiyono O c Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes, Tokyo Yushun
1986 Carib Song c February Handicap, Meguro Kinen, Kimpai (East), Breeders' Gold Cup
1988 Leo Durban c Kikka Sho
1991 Sakura Eiko O c Yayoi Sho, Tanabata Sho

Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Maruzensky[24][25]
Sire
Nijinsky
1967 b. 		Northern Dancer
1961 b. 		Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Flaming Page
1959 b. 		Bull Page Bull Lea
Our Page
Flaring Top Menow
Flaming Top
Dam
Shill
1970 b, 		Buckpasser
1963 b. 		Tom Fool Menow
Gaga
Busanda War Admiral
Businesslike
Quill
1956 ch. 		Princequillo Prince Rose
Cosquilla
Quick Touch Count Fleet
Alms
  • Maruzensky was inbred 4x4 to Menow, and 5x5 to both Bull Dog and Blue Larkspur, meaning that these horses will appear in the 4th or 5th generations reslectively.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "公益財団法人　ジャパン・スタッドブック・インターナショナル". www.studbook.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  2. ^ "Yushun". Yushun (in Japanese). No. March 2015. 2015-02-25. p. 57.
  3. ^ "橋本善吉さん死去 橋本聖子五輪相の父". 東京新聞 TOKYO Web (in Japanese). Tokyo Shimbun. 2020-10-24. Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  4. ^ a b "Yushun". Yushun (in Japanese). No. November 1997. 1997-10-25. pp. 111–114.
  5. ^ a b 競馬名馬&名勝負読本 : ファンのファンによるファンのための年度代表馬 '98 (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. 1998. pp. 40–45. ISBN 4796693696.
  6. ^ a b c Jouji, Yoshizawa (1994). "もうひとつの最強馬伝説。無冠の名馬マルゼンスキーとその時代。". Sports Graphic Number (in Japanese). No. 340. Bungeishunjū. pp. 58–64.
  7. ^ a b c "Yushun". Yushun (in Japanese). No. December 1997. 1997-11-25. pp. 111–114.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Yushun". Yushun (in Japanese). No. August 1995. 1995-07-25. pp. 88–91.
  9. ^ a b c Koichiro, Fujino (1990). 名馬物語 (in Japanese). Tokyo: Chuo Keiba PR Center. pp. 61–65. ISBN 9784924426276. OCLC 673787378.
  10. ^ "Yushun". Yushun. No. February 1991. 1991-01-25. pp. 146–147.
  11. ^ "Yushun". Yushun (in Japanese). No. February 1977. 1977-01-25. p. 96.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Ezura, Kouya (December 2000). "名馬物語45 ～マルゼンスキー～". Sarabure. No. December 2000. Enterbrain. pp. 135–141.
  13. ^ "Yushun". Yushun (in Japanese). No. February 1977. 1977-01-25. p. 74.
  14. ^ 調教師の本　II (in Japanese). Chuo Keiba PR Center. 1991. pp. 332–337.
  15. ^ "座談会・正論とミーハー論と". Yushun. No. September 1977. 1977-08-25.
  16. ^ a b "Yushun". Yushun. No. August 1977. 1977-07-25. pp. 85–86.
  17. ^ a b "Yushun". Yushun (in Japanese). No. September 1994. 1994-08-25. pp. 77–81.
  18. ^ "Maruzensky(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  19. ^ "マルゼンスキー (Maruzensky)". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  20. ^ a b c The age counting for horses in Japan was based on the East Asian age reckoning until it was changed to international standards in 2001.
  21. ^ "Best Progeny". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  22. ^ a b Keijiro, Okawa (1997). サラブレッド101頭の死に方. 2 (in Japanese). Tokyo: Aspect. pp. 129–140. ISBN 9784893668752. OCLC 674784597.
  23. ^ "Best Progeny". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  24. ^ "Five-generation Pedigree Table". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  25. ^ "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba.com. Retrieved 2024-05-04.

See also[edit]

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