Narita Brian
Template:Short description Template:Expand Japanese Template:Infobox racehorse
Narita Brian (Template:Langx, Hepburn: Template:Transliteration; May 3, 1991 – September 27, 1998) was a Japanese racehorse. Until Special Week surpassed him in 1999, Narita Brian was Japan's top money earner. He was the fifth horse to win the classic Triple Crown (the Satsuki Sho, Japanese Derby, and Kikuka Sho), and also won the Arima Kinen in 1994.<ref name="Netkeiba">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Narita Brian was nicknamed the "shadow roll monster" because he wore a shadow roll while racing.
Background
Narita Brian was born on May 3, 1991 at Hayata Ranch in Niikappu Town, Hokkaido. His father, Brian's Time, was a stallion imported from the United States and centred on Hayata Ranch. He was the fifth foal from Pacificus, a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Northern Dancer. A year before his birth, Pacificus had foaled Narita Brian's half-brother Biwa Hayahide.<ref>Kimura 1998b, p. 145</ref>
According to Hayata Ranch manager Ota Mie, Narita Brian did not stand out at first as a foal.<ref>Hashimoto 1997, pp. 13-14.</ref> However, his physical abilities were gradually appreciated by the staff who trained him. The staff member in charge of training at Hayata Ranch, Miyoshi Kiura, said he believed Narita Brian had a quality that surpassed his half-brother Biwa Hayahide in terms of suppleness and agility.<ref>Hashimoto 1997, p. 34.</ref> Despite his potential, it was shown that he had a timid temperament. For example, during a training session, he was startled by a puddle and threw his rider off of his back.<ref>Hashimoto 1997, pp. 35-36</ref>
Narita Brian was purchased by Yamaji Hidenori through a "yard deal" (the process of purchasing a horse without going through the auction process). After the horse was purchased, it was decided by Hidenori that Narita Brian would be trained by Masahiro Okubo of Central Horse Racing. The merchant of the horse was introduced to Okubo through livestock trader Kiyomasa Kudo, and Okudo approached Yamaji and expressed an interest in the horse. Okubo later recalled, "If Biwa Hayahide's performance had been early, Narita Brian would not have come to me."<ref>Hashimoto 1997, pp. 27–32.</ref>
Racing career
Racing as a two-year-old in 1993, Narita Brian won the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. In the following year he completed the Japanese Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing by winning the Satsuki Shō, Tokyo Yūshun and Kikuka Shō<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> before defeating older horses at the Arima Kinen.
He stayed in training for a further two years, winning the Hanshin Daishōten in 1995 and 1996. In the latter year, he defeated the 1995 Japanese Horse of the Year Mayano Top Gun.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Racing Form
Narita Brian ran in 21 races in which he won 12 races (including 6 Group 1 wins), finished runner-up in three races, and a single third place. This data available is based on JBIS search,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and netkeiba.com.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The races are considered all weather.
| Date | Racecourse | Race | Grade | Distance (condition) |
Entry | HN | Odds (Favored) |
Finish | Time | Margins | Jockey | Winner (Runner-up) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Aug 15 | Hakodate | 2YO Debut | 1,200 m (Soft) | 8 | 8 | 2.9 (2) | 2nd | 1:13.7 | 0.2 | Katsumi Minai | Long Unicorn | |
| Aug 29 | Hakodate | 2YO Debut | 1,200 m (Soft) | 9 | 6 | 2.0 (1) | 1st | 1:12.8 | –1.4 | Katsumi Minai | (Jinrai) | |
| Sep 26 | Hakodate | Hakodate Nisai Stakes | 3 | 1,200 m (Soft) | 9 | 5 | 3.8 (2) | 6th | 1:14.9 | 0.8 | Katsumi Minai | Marry God |
| Oct 24 | Fukushima | Kimmokusei Tokubetsu | ALW (1W) | 1,700 m (Firm) | 8 | 3 | 1.7 (1) | 1st | 1:43.1 | –0.5 | Eiji Shimizu | (Lancet) |
| Nov 6 | Kyoto | Daily Hai Nisai Stakes | 2 | 1,400 m (Firm) | 15 | 6 | 4.2 (2) | 3rd | 1:22.7 | 0.7 | Katsumi Minai | Bodyguard |
| Nov 21 | Kyoto | Kyoto Nisai Stakes | OP | 1,800 m (Firm) | 8 | 6 | 2.0 (1) | 1st | Template:Ifsubst style="color:darkred">R1:47.8 | –0.5 | Katsumi Minai | (T M Inazuma) |
| Dec 12 | Nakayama | Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes | 1 | 1,600 m (Firm) | 14 | 8 | 3.9 (1) | 1st | 1:34.4 | –0.6 | Katsumi Minai | (Field Bomber) |
| 1994 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Feb 14 | Tokyo | Kyodo Tsushin Hai | 3 | 1,800 m (Firm) | 10 | 2 | 1.2 (1) | 1st | 1:47.5 | –0.7 | Katsumi Minai | (Ines Souther) |
| Mar 27 | Nakayama | Spring Stakes | 2 | 1,800 m (Firm) | 10 | 2 | 1.2 (1) | 1st | 1:49.1 | –0.6 | Katsumi Minai | (Fujino Makken O) |
| Apr 17 | Nakayama | Satsuki Sho | 1 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 18 | 1 | 1.6 (1) | 1st | Template:Ifsubst style="color:darkred">R1:59.0 | –0.6 | Katsumi Minai | (Sakura Super O) |
| May 29 | Tokyo | Tokyo Yushun | 1 | 2,400 m (Firm) | 18 | 17 | 1.2 (1) | 1st | 2:25.7 | –0.9 | Katsumi Minai | (Air Dublin) |
| Oct 16 | Kyoto | Kyoto Shimbun Hai | 2 | 2,200 m (Firm) | 10 | 6 | 1.0 (1) | 2nd | 2:12.2 | 0.1 | Katsumi Minai | Star Man |
| Nov 6 | Kyoto | Kikuka Sho | 1 | 3,000 m (Good) | 15 | 4 | 1.7 (1) | 1st | Template:Ifsubst style="color:darkred">R3:04.6 | –1.1 | Katsumi Minai | (Yashima Sovereign) |
| Dec 25 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | 1 | 2,500 m (Firm) | 13 | 11 | 1.2 (1) | 1st | 2:32.2 | –0.5 | Katsumi Minai | (Hishi Amazon) |
| 1995 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 12 | Hanshin | Hanshin Daishoten | 2 | 3,000 m (Firm) | 11 | 1 | 1.0 (1) | 1st | 3:08.2 | –1.1 | Katsumi Minai | (Hagino Real King) |
| Oct 29 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | 1 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 17 | 7 | 2.4 (1) | 12th | 1:59.4 | 0.6 | Hitoshi Matoba | Sakura Chitose O |
| Nov 26 | Tokyo | Japan Cup | 1 | 2,400 m (Firm) | 14 | 3 | 3.7 (1) | 6th | 2:25.3 | 0.7 | Yutaka Take | Lando |
| Dec 24 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | 1 | 2,500 m (Firm) | 12 | 8 | 3.8 (2) | 4th | 2:34.1 | 0.5 | Yutaka Take | Mayano Top Gun |
| 1996 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 9 | Hanshin | Hanshin Daishoten | 2 | 3,000 m (Firm) | 10 | 2 | 2.1 (2) | 1st | 3:04.9 | 0.0 | Yutaka Take | (Mayano Top Gun) |
| Apr 21 | Kyoto | Tenno Sho (Spring) | 1 | 3,200 m (Firm) | 16 | 4 | 1.7 (1) | 2nd | 3:18.2 | 0.4 | Yutaka Take | Sakura Laurel |
| May 19 | Chukyo | Takamatsunomiya Kinen | 1 | 1,200 m (Firm) | 13 | 5 | 4.3 (2) | 4th | 1:08.2 | 0.8 | Yutaka Take | (Flower Park) |
- Template:Ifsubst style="color:darkred">R on the time indicates that this was a record time
Awards and honours
Narita Brian received the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt in 1993. In 1994 he was voted the Best Three-year-old Colt and Japanese Horse of the Year in 1994. He was declared "Horse of the 20th century" in Japan. In 1998 he was elected to the JRA Hall of Fame.
A museum dedicated to Narita Brian named the Template:Ill was opened on his death anniversary in 2000, but was closed in 2008. The structure is now the Yushun Memorial Hall, with the exhibits' focus being more oriented around those of Oguri Cap.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stud career
Narita Brian's most successful offspring was Daitaku Flag who was 4th in the Japanese 2000 Guineas.
Death and memorials
On 17 June 1998, it was discovered that Narita Brian had developed colic, and as a result of a medical examination at the Miishi Livestock Medical Center, it was revealed that he had developed a bowel obstruction. Emergency open surgery was performed, and Narita Brian had almost recovered only to develop colic again.<ref name="Farewell">"Farewell to Narita Bryan", Sarabre, December 1998, Enterbrain, 1998, pp. –17.</ref> The area where he was being kept at CB Stud was around 50 minutes away from the medical center and he had already developed a gastric rupture. Open surgery was again performed; however, it was too late.<ref name="Farewell"></ref><ref name="Emen">Emen 1998 (Sports Graphic Number, No. 456, p. 62.)</ref> Narita Brian was euthanised on September 27, 1998.<ref>Declaration of Spring Horse Racing in Full Bloom!, pp. 168 and 170</ref><ref name="Emen"></ref><ref>Extraordinary supplement issue Gallop '94, p. 4</ref> He was buried on the grounds of CB Stud.<ref>"The strongest Triple Crown horse", forever... ("Yushun" November 1998 issue, p. 5.) </ref>
In September 1999, a horse statue was erected in Ritto Training Center in Narita Brian's honour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was also revealed by CB Stud manager Isao Sasaki that the stable used by Narita Brian would be "permanently retired".<ref>Emen 1998 ("Sports Graphic Number" No. 456, p. 67.) </ref> In October 2004, 10 years after Narita Brian had achieved the Classic Triple Crown, as part of the JRA Golden Jubilee Campaign's "Famous Horse Memorial Race", the "Narita Brian Memorial" was implemented at Kyoto Racecourse.
In popular culture
An anthropomorphized version of Narita Brian appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby.
Pedigree
See also
References
Template:JRA Hall of Fame Horse Template:JRA Horse of the Year
- Pages with broken file links
- 1991 racehorse births
- 1998 racehorse deaths
- Racehorses bred in Japan
- Racehorses trained in Japan
- Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing winners
- Japanese Thoroughbred Horse of the Year
- Thoroughbred family 13-a
- Satsuki Shō winners
- Tokyo Yūshun winners
- Kikuka-shō winners
- Arima Kinen winners