Hishi Akebono
American-bred Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse
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Hishi Akebono (Japanese: ヒシアケボノ, Hepburn: Hishi Akebono; 27 February 1992 – 19 November 2008) was an American-bred, Japanese-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Best known for his exceptional power and weight-carrying ability, he won the 1995 Sprinters Stakes and Swan Stakes.[1]
| Hishi Akebono ヒシアケボノ | |
|---|---|
Hishi Akebono at Kyoto Racecourse in November 1996 | |
| Sire | Woodman |
| Grandsire | Mr. Prospector |
| Dam | Mysteries |
| Damsire | Seattle Slew |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 27 February 1992 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Black |
| Breeder | Swettenham Stud et al. |
| Owner | Masaichiro Abe |
| Racing colours |  |
| Trainer | Masaru Sato |
| Jockey | Koichi Tsunoda Hiroshi Kawachi |
| Record | 30: 6-1-6 |
| Earnings | ¥324,262,000 |
| Major wins | |
| Swan Stakes (1995) Sprinters Stakes (1995) | |
| Awards | |
| JRA Award for Best Sprinter or Miler (1995) | |
Weighing 560 kg during his Sprinters Stakes victory, Hishi Akebono set the record as the heaviest horse to ever win a JRA Grade 1 race on turf.[a] He was a half-brother to the champion sprinter Agnes World and an uncle to the European Group 1 winner Dubai Destination.[2]
Background
Hishi Akebono was a black stallion bred in the United States by Swettenham Stud and partners. He was sired by Woodman, a son of the legendary Mr. Prospector, and out of the Seattle Slew mare Mysteries.[3] His dam Mysteries was also the mother of Agnes World, who won the July Cup (GI) in England and the Prix de l'Abbaye (GI) in France, making Hishi Akebono a member of one of the most accomplished international sprinting families of the era.[2]
He was purchased by Masaichiro Abe and imported to Japan, where he was trained by Masaru Sato at the Ritto Training Center. Throughout his career, he was primarily ridden by Koichi Tsunoda, who expertly managed the colt's massive frame and powerful closing kick.[1]
Racing career
1994–1995: Early career and breakthrough
Hishi Akebono made his debut in November 1994 at Tokyo Racecourse, finishing fourth and second in two maiden starts. After a brief stint on dirt where he struggled, he returned to the turf and broke his maiden in July 1995 at Chukyo. He then reeled off four consecutive victories, including the Swan Stakes (GII) in a Japanese record time of 1:19.8 for 1400 meters.[1][4]
On December 17, 1995, he entered the Sprinters Stakes (GI) at Nakayama as the favorite. Carrying a race weight of 560 kg, he delivered a dominant performance to win Japan's premier sprint championship, setting the JRA record for the heaviest G1 turf winner in history. He was subsequently named the 1995 JRA Best Sprinter or Miler.[1][4]
1996–1997: Weight struggles and retirement
Hishi Akebono continued racing through 1996 and 1997 but struggled with extreme weight fluctuations. In the 1996 Swan Stakes, he arrived at the track weighing 580 kg (a 30 kg increase) and finished 11th. He followed with a 582 kg effort in the Mile Championship (15th). Though he dropped to 566 kg for the Sprinters Stakes, he finished fourth.[1]
In 1997, he carried 61 kg in the Baden-Baden Cup Open and finished fifth, but failed to place in any subsequent graded stakes. He was retired after finishing ninth in the December 1997 Sprinters Stakes.[1]
Stud career and death
Following his retirement, Hishi Akebono stood at the JBBA Shimofusa Stallion Station in Chiba Prefecture before moving to the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Agriculture farm in Ibaraki Prefecture in August 2007. He did not produce any major stakes winners as a sire, though his daughter Crown Rose (out of Hishi Asuka) won the 2013 Fairy Stakes (GIII).[5]
Hishi Akebono fell ill in October 2008 and was transferred to the JRA Equine Research Institute for examination on November 17. He died two days later on November 19, 2008, at the age of 16. The specific cause of death was not publicly disclosed.[5]
In popular culture
An anthropomorphized version of Hishi Akebono appears as a character in the Japanese multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Rei Matsuzaki. She is depicted as a jovial, kindhearted girl with a passion for cooking as well as a strong sense of justice. She holds the distinction of being the largest playable trainee in the game at 180 centimeters tall, reflecting Hishi Akebono's real-life reputation as a powerful, heavy-framed sprinter who excelled despite carrying significant weight. Similar to her real-life counterpart, she is the roommate and rival of Biko Pegasus, and is often depicted enjoying large meals in reference to her real-life counterpart's substantial physique.[6]
Statistics
The following table details all 30 starts of Hishi Akebono's racing career based on official netkeiba and JBIS race charts.
| Date | Distance (Condition) | Race | Class | Course | Odds (Favourite) |
Field | Finish | Time | Winning (Losing) Margin |
Winner (2nd Place) |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Nov 5 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | 3-Y-O Newcomer | Maiden | Tokyo | 4.7 (2nd) | 12 | 4th | 1:36.8 | 0.8 | Kokuto Julian | Katsuhiro Tanaka | [1] |
| Nov 20 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | 3-Y-O Newcomer | Maiden | Tokyo | 2.1 (2nd) | 8 | 2nd | 1:35.5 | 0.5 | Taiki Crescent | Katsuhiro Tanaka | [1] |
| 1995 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| May 20 | Dirt 1200 m (Good) | 4-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Tokyo | 2.6 (1st) | 16 | 3rd | 1:13.6 | 0.1 | Long Scorpio | Katsuhiro Tanaka | [1] |
| Jun 3 | Dirt 1200 m (Good) | 4-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Kyoto | 2.0 (1st) | 13 | 4th | 1:13.0 | 0.8 | Yamanin Flight | Katsuhiro Tanaka | [1] |
| Jun 18 | Dirt 1700 m (Good) | 4-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Chukyo | 2.2 (1st) | 16 | 5th | 1:49.9 | 1.2 | Long Haruka | Yutaka Take | [1] |
| Jul 8 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | 4-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Chukyo | 2.2 (1st) | 15 | 1st | 1:09.5 | –2.2 | (Kuroi Dangan) | Hiroshi Kawachi | [1] |
| Jul 22 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Chikushi Tokubetsu | Allowance (1 win) | Kokura | 1.8 (1st) | 15 | 1st | 1:08.6 | –1.0 | (Win Caesar) | Hiroshi Kawachi | [1] |
| Aug 6 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Ariake Tokubetsu | Allowance (2 win) | Kokura | 1.7 (1st) | 15 | 1st | 1:09.1 | –0.1 | (Cosmo Glory) | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Aug 20 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Yamanami Stakes | Allowance (3 win) | Kokura | 2.9 (2nd) | 10 | 1st | 1:09.0 | –0.3 | (Cheers Hope) | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Sep 10 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Keio Hai Autumn Handicap | GIII | Nakayama | 4.2 (2nd) | 12 | 3rd | 1:32.7 | 0.0 | Dojima Muteki | Hiroshi Kawachi | [1] |
| Sep 27 | Dirt 1200 m (Good) | Tokyo Hai | GS | Ohi | 2.8 (1st) | 10 | 6th | 1:12.9 | 0.9 | Sakura High Speed | Hiroshi Kawachi | [1] |
| Oct 28 | Turf 1400 m (Good) | Swan Stakes | GII | Kyoto | 7.3 (4th) | 14 | 1st | R1:19.8 | –0.7 | (Noble Grass) | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Nov 19 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Mile Championship | GI | Kyoto | 3.6 (2nd) | 18 | 3rd | 1:33.9 | 0.2 | Trot Thunder | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Dec 17 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Sprinters Stakes | GI | Nakayama | 2.3 (1st) | 16 | 1st | 1:08.1 | –0.2 | (Biko Pegasus) | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| 1996 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Apr 28 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Silk Road Stakes | GIII | Kyoto | 3.4 (1st) | 13 | 3rd | 1:07.9 | 0.3 | Flower Park | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| May 19 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Takamatsunomiya Hai | GI | Chukyo | 2.3 (1st) | 13 | 3rd | 1:08.0 | 0.6 | Flower Park | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Jun 9 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Yasuda Kinen | GI | Tokyo | 31.0 (12th) | 17 | 3rd | 1:33.2 | 0.1 | Trot Thunder | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Oct 26 | Turf 1400 m (Good) | Swan Stakes | GII | Kyoto | 5.3 (3rd) | 16 | 11th | 1:20.1 | 0.8 | Sugino Hayakaze | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Nov 17 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Mile Championship | GI | Kyoto | 8.0 (4th) | 18 | 15th | 1:35.7 | 1.9 | Genuine | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Dec 15 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Sprinters Stakes | GI | Nakayama | 9.3 (4th) | 11 | 4th | 1:09.7 | 0.9 | Flower Park | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| 1997 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 12 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Rakuyo Stakes | Open | Kyoto | 4.3 (3rd) | 16 | 8th | 1:35.4 | 1.1 | Juno Pentagon | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Apr 20 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Silk Road Stakes | GIII | Kyoto | 9.1 (2nd) | 16 | 15th | 1:09.0 | 2.1 | Eishin Berlin | Hiroshi Kawachi | [1] |
| May 18 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Takamatsunomiya Hai | GI | Chukyo | 20.1 (8th) | 18 | 14th | 1:09.5 | 1.5 | Shinko King | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Jun 8 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Yasuda Kinen | GI | Tokyo | 66.0 (13th) | 18 | 8th | 1:34.6 | 0.8 | Taiki Blizzard | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Jun 15 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Baden-Baden Cup | Open | Fukushima | 4.4 (1st) | 15 | 5th | 1:07.8 | 0.3 | Shadow Creek | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Sep 28 | Turf 1400 m (Good) | Centaur Stakes | GIII | Hanshin | 4.0 (1st) | 14 | 13th | 1:22.2 | 1.2 | Osumi Tycoon | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Oct 25 | Turf 1400 m (Good) | Swan Stakes | GII | Kyoto | 25.0 (10th) | 16 | 11th | 1:22.2 | 1.5 | Taiki Shuttle | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Nov 16 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Mile Championship | GI | Kyoto | 98.1 (16th) | 18 | 14th | 1:35.9 | 2.6 | Taiki Shuttle | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Nov 22 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | CBC Sho | GII | Chukyo | 34.3 (7th) | 15 | 7th | 1:09.5 | 1.6 | Sugino Hayakaze | Koichi Tsunoda | [1] |
| Dec 14 | Turf 1200 m (Good) | Sprinters Stakes | GI | Nakayama | 53.9 (10th) | 16 | 9th | 1:09.4 | 1.6 | Taiki Shuttle | Eiji Nakadate | [1] |
- Note: "R" in the Time column indicates a course record.
Pedigree
| Sire Woodman 1983 |
Mr. Prospector 1970 |
Raise a Native | Native Dancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raise You | |||
| Gold Digger | Nashua | ||
| Sequence | |||
| Playmate 1975 |
Buckpasser | Tom Fool | |
| Busanda | |||
| Intriguing | Swaps | ||
| Glamour | |||
| Dam Mysteries 1986 |
Seattle Slew 1974 |
Bold Reasoning | Boldnesian |
| Reason to Earn | |||
| My Charmer | Poker | ||
| Fair Charmer | |||
| Phydilla 1978 |
Lyphard | Northern Dancer | |
| Goofed | |||
| Godzilla | Gyr | ||
| Gently |