Red Desire

3 years old (2009)

Red Desire made her debut in a 1800m race at Kyoto Racecourse on January 4th in which she won the race by a nose.^[7] She went on to compete in Elfin Stakes, where she took over Wide Sapphire just before the finishing line to win by a nose for a second time.^[8]

With two wins in hand, Red Desire aimed straight for the Oka Sho. She started in the rear of the pack and successfully broke away in the straight, but was overtaken by Buena Vista, who was further to the outside, finishing second by half a length.^[9] She went on to compete in the Yushun Himba in May. She ran in the middle of the pack, took the inside at the fourth corner, and broke through the pack in the straight to take the lead, but was in a close race with Buena Vista, who was catching up from behind, and finished in second by a nose.^[10][11]

After having a good rest before the autumn starts, Red Desire ran in the Rose Stakes in September. She came as a favourite and started well mainly positioned at the back. She made a push in third corner but it was too late as Broad Street already capitalized her early escape and took the win.^[12] With three straights second places finish, her luck changed in her next race which is the Shuka Sho. During the race, she took the lead around the fourth corner and held off the fiercely pursuing Buena Vista by a nose to win.^[13] Buena Vista herself was demoted to third due to interference.^[14]

Red Desire withdrew from Queen Elizabeth II Cup due to injury and joined the Japan Cup in November.^[15] Even as a three year old, she managed to keep up with the pace and made a final rush to finish third behind Vodka and Oken Bruce Lee.^[16]

4 years old (2010)

The first race she joined in this year was Al Maktoum Challenge in Dubai. Ridden by Olivier Peslier, she chased from behind and then made a strong move from the outside to catch a Brazilian racehorse, Glória de Campeão, who was trying to break away in the straight and won by a neck.^[17] This win qualified her as a participant on the Dubai World Cup.^[18] In the upcoming Dubai World Cup, she was paired with Christophe Soumillon, but was unable to show the same powerful legs as in his previous race and finished 11th, which won by the one who she beat before (Glória de Campeão).^[19]

After returning to Japan, She raced in Victoria Mile which set up another showdown with her rival, Buena Vista. Started the race well, running on the outside of the middle pack and making a move in the straight, but was overtaken by Buena Vista in the final stretch. She was unable to extend her lead and finished fourth.^[20] Red Desire was voted for Takarazuka Kinen but was forced to rest after a nosebleed during one workout in June.^[21]

In fall, She travelled to the United States and joined the Flower Bowl Stakes as a preparatory race for competing in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.^[22] The Flower Bowl Stakes was held on soft turf due to raining and strong winds, which prevented Red Desire from preparing to her full potential.^[23][24] Despite the extremely slow pace, she ran in third or fourth place on the inside throughout the race. She took the lead from the inside in the final straight, but was overtaken by Ave and finished third.^[24] In the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 5, she held on in a good position, saving her energy, and made an early spurt at the fourth corner, but she struggled to extend her lead in the straight in which Shared Account and Midday surpassed her and she finished fourth.^[25] She returned to Japan and raced in the Arima Kinen in which she finished in 14th place.^[26]

5 years old (2011)

She started the year with the Sapporo Kinen. Red Desire positioned well on third place and started her spurt later on but failed to improve which she ended up with third place.^[27] Red Desire was registered for Tenno Sho (Autumn) but fail to qualify and switched her focus on Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Unfortunately, due to repeatedly suffering from nosebleeds during workouts, her owner decided to retire her from racing and entered her for breeding career.^[28]