Wonder Acute
Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wonder Acute (Japanese: ワンダーアキュート, Hepburn: Wandaa Akyuuto; foaled 14 March 2006) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and multiple graded stakes winner. He had an unusually long racing career compared to other horses in Japan, racing from 2009 to the end of 2015. In his final year of racing, at age 9, Wonder Acute won the Group 1 (G1) Kashiwa Kinen, becoming the oldest horse to win a Japanese G1 race.[2][3]
| Wonder Acute ワンダーアキュート | |
|---|---|
 Wonder Acute, ridden by Ryuji Wada, victorious at the 2009 Sirius Stakes | |
| Sire | Charismatic |
| Grandsire | Summer Squall |
| Dam | Wonder Heritage |
| Damsire | Pleasant Tap |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 14 March 2006[1] |
| Country | Japan |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Fukuda Farm |
| Owner | Nobuyuki Yamamoto |
| Racing colours |  |
| Trainer | Masao Sato |
| Jockey | Ryuji Wada Yutaka Take |
| Record | 48: 13-10-8 |
| Earnings | ¥876,630,600 (equivalent to ¥974,000,000 in 2024) |
| Major wins | |
| Sirius Stakes (2009) Musashino Stakes (2009) Tokai Stakes (2011) JBC Classic (2012) Nippon TV Hai (2013) Teio Sho (2014) Kashiwa Kinen (2015) | |
Racing career
2009: three-year-old season
Wonder Acute made his debut at Kyoto Racecourse in a 1,800-meter dirt race for 3-year-old debutants; despite being the 7th favourite, he managed to secure a victory in his very first start. In his fourth start, a 5-million-yen class race at Hanshin Racecourse, Wonder Acute claimed his second victory. After finishing 10th in the Aoba Sho, he went on to record his third victory in the Aogiri Stakes in June, despite being the 9th favourite. After finishing 5th in both the Japan Dirt Derby and the Leopard Stakes, he claimed his fourth victory in the Auckland Racing Cup Trophy in September. Wonder Acute then secured his fifth victory in the Sirius Stakes, marking his first graded stakes win. He went on to win the Musashino Stakes, bringing his total to six wins. Wonder Acute then competed in the Japan Cup Dirt, where he finished sixth despite being the third favourite.[4]
2010: four-year-old season
Wonder Acute made his comeback in his four-year-old season in the Miyako Stakes but finished sixth. He went on to claim his seventh victory in the Betelgeuse Stakes and later finished 10th in the Tokyo Daishoten.[4]
2011: five-year-old season
In his first race of 2011, Wonder Acute competed in the Aldebaran Stakes but finished second. He went on to claim his eighth victory in the following Nigawa Stakes. In the subsequent Nagoya Grand Prix, he finished second behind Espoir City. He also finished second in his next race, the Antares Stakes. He claimed his ninth career victory and third graded stakes win in the Tokai Stakes. After a break, he ran as the second favourite in the Miyako Stakes but finished fourth. He then competed in the Japan Cup Dirt; and despite stumbling badly right after the start, he finished second.[5][6] In the Tokyo Daishoten, he finished second behind Smart Falcon.[4]
2012: six-year-old season
On Monday, 5 November 2012, he won the JBC Classic held at Kawasaki Racecourse, finally securing his first victory in a top-tier race. Although Wonder Acute was rated as the fifth favourite to win, he rounded the outside of three horses, Transcend, Solitary King, and Civil War before pulling off a spectacular late charge down the stretch. Jockey Ryuji Wada expressed his delight at the successful race, saying, “It went exactly according to plan; I moved him out wide and he just powered through. It’s been a while since he ran a race that truly showed his true colors.” Even after securing the victory, Wada expressed his joy at having realized his dream with Wonder Acute, saying, “I’ve always believed this horse has Grade I-level ability,” and “It was a moment when my dream came true." Trainer Masao Sato also praised Wonder Acute, describing the win as “third time’s the charm.”[7]
2013: seven-year-old season
Wonder Acute began the 2013 season by competing in the Kawasaki Kinen, but finished second behind Hatano Vainqueur. In the subsequent February Stakes, he was defeated and finished third behind Grape Brandy.[4] In the Teio Sho, with Yutaka Take taking over as jockey, he led from the front but finished third.[8] In the Nippon TV Hai, he edged out Solitary King, who had led from the front by a neck to win .[9] However, in the subsequent JBC Classic, he was unable to shake off the tenacious Hokko Tarumae and finished second; in the Japan Cup Dirt, he was defeated by Belshazzar, finishing second once again. Furthermore, in his final race of the season, the Tokyo Daishoten, he suffered a decisive defeat, finishing second behind Hokko Tarumae.[4]
2014: eight-year-old season
Wonder Acute won the Teio Sho marking his second victory at the highest grade level since the 2012 JBC Classic and his 12th career victory . Although Copano Rickey was the favourite at odds of 1.9 to 1, Wonder Acute pulled away to win by two lengths. Jockey Yutaka Take praised Wonder Acute’s dedication to racing, saying, “No matter the racetrack, the circumstances, or the track conditions, he always runs his heart out.” Trainer Sato, while concerned that Wonder Acute had already reached the age of 8, expressed his delight at the horse’s strong performance, stating, “It was a victory that seemed to wash away all the frustrations of the past.”[10]
2015: nine-year-old season
On 5 May 2015, in his 44th career start, Wonder Acute won the Kashiwa Kinen,[11] securing his 13th victory. This marked the first time in Japanese horse racing history that a 9-year-old horse had won a G1 race.[11][12] Wada, who was riding Wonder Acute for the first time in two years and three months, admitted he was sceptical about how well the horse could perform given its recent results. However, once he mounted Wonder Acute, he found the horse to be in excellent condition and said he had high hopes for victory.[11] In the home stretch, he easily overtook Happy Sprint and Best Warrior, showing such ease that it looked like he was playing. “To be honest, I’m surprised he’s still running as well as he did in his prime. I didn’t sense any signs of his age,” said Wada, delighted that Wonder Acute’s speed had not diminished.[11] Shinichi Fukuda of Fukuda Farm, the breeder of Wonder Acute, watched the race on his home television with the mindset that “after all, he’s a 9-year-old horse, so before the race, my hope was more for him to run safely than to win or lose.” He was surprised by the result—the first-ever victory by a 9-year-old horse in the race’s history but congratulated Wonder Acute nonetheless.[12] He retired after finishing third in the Tokyo Daishoten that same year,[13] and his registration as a racehorse was revoked effective on 6 January 2016.[14]
Racing form
The following racing form is based on information available on JBIS Search[15] and netkeiba.com.[16]
| Date | Racecourse | Race | Grade | Ground (Distance) |
Odds | Fin. | Time | Margin | Jockey | Winner (Runner-Up) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||
| 24 Jan 2009 | Kyoto | Three-Year-Old Newcomer | Maiden | D 1800m | 13.1 | 1st | 1:55.2 | -0.1 | Tetsuya Kobayashi | (Full Body) |
| 21 Feb 2009 | Kyoto | Three-Year-Old Pre-OP | Pre-OP | D 1800m | 17.9 | 7th | 1:52.4 | 1.3 | Tetsuya Kobayashi | Silk Dandy |
| 8 Apr 2009 | Hanshin | Three-Year-Old Pre-OP | Pre-OP | D 1800m | 16.9 | 6th | 1:54.1 | 0.9 | Tetsuya Kobayashi | Admire Shuttle |
| 22 Apr 2009 | Hanshin | Three-Year-Old Pre-OP | Pre-OP | D 1800m | 11.4 | 1st | 1:52.6 | 0.0 | Futoshi Komaki | (Narita Carbine) |
| 2 May 2009 | Tokyo | Aoba Sho | G2 | T 2400m | 144.2 | 10th | 2:27.8 | 1.6 | Hiroki Goto | Apres un Reve |
| 14 Jun 2009 | Chukyo | Aogiri Stakes | Pre-OP | D 1700m | 32.4 | 1st | 1:45.1 | 0.0 | Ryuji Wada | (Stade Gerland) |
| 8 Jul 2009 | Ooi | Japan Dirt Derby | Jpn1 | D 2000m | 18.0 | 5th | 2:06.1 | 1.6 | Futoshi Komaki | Testa Matta |
| 23 Aug 2009 | Niigata | Leopard Stakes | Listed | D 1800m | 32.5 | 5th | 1:51.9 | 2.4 | Futoshi Komaki | Transcend |
| 13 Sep 2009 | Hanshin | Auckland Racing Club Trophy | Pre-OP | D 1800m | 7.2 | 1st | 1:51.6 | -0.9 | Ryuji Wada | (New Ichitoku) |
| 3 Oct 2009 | Hanshin | Sirius Stakes | G3 | D 2000m | 5.7 | 1st | 2:04.5 | -0.5 | Ryuji Wada | (Dark Message) |
| 7 Nov 2009 | Tokyo | Musashino Stakes | G3 | D 1600m | 10.4 | 1st | 1:35.5 | -0.3 | Katsumi Ando | (Daisho Jet) |
| 6 Dec 2009 | Hanshin | Japan Cup Dirt | G1 | D 1800m | 8.2 | 6th | 1:51.1 | 1.2 | Ryuji Wada | Espoir City |
| 2010 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||
| 7 Nov 2010 | Kyoto | Miyako Stakes | G3 | D 1800m | 22.1 | 6th | 1:50.5 | 0.7 | Ryuji Wada | Transcend |
| 11 Dec 2010 | Hanshin | Betelgeuse Stakes | OP | D 2000m | 2.8 | 1st | 2:03.3 | -0.1 | Ryuji Wada | (Machikanenihombare) |
| 9 Dec 2010 | Ooi | Tokyo Daishoten | Jpn1 | D 2000m | 9.8 | 10th | 2:03.8 | 3.4 | Ryuji Wada | Smart Falcon |
| 2011 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||
| 12 Feb 2011 | Kyoto | Aldebaran Stakes | OP | D 1900m | 3.4 | 2nd | 1:58.0 | 0.2 | Ryuji Wada | Piilani Highway |
| 6 Mar 2011 | Hanshin | Nigawa Stakes | OP | D 2000m | 2.0 | 1st | 2:03.7 | -0.3 | Ryuji Wada | (Tagano Zingaro) |
| 21 Mar 2011 | Nagoya | Nagoya Daishoten | Jpn3 | D 1900m | 4.2 | 2nd | 1:58.8 | 0.4 | Ryuji Wada | Espoir City |
| 24 Apr 2011 | Kyoto | Antares Stakes | G3 | D 1800m | 2.4 | 2nd | 1:48.4 | 0.3 | Ryuji Wada | Gold Blitz |
| 22 May 2011 | Kyoto | Tokai Stakes | G2 | D 1900m | 4.8 | 1st | R1:53.7 | -0.1 | Ryuji Wada | (Renforcer) |
| 6 Nov 2011 | Kyoto | Miyako Stakes | G3 | D 1800m | 6.3 | 4th | 1:49.2 | 0.8 | Ryuji Wada | Espoir City |
| 4 Dec 2011 | Hanshin | Japan Cup Dirt | G1 | D 1800m | 19.0 | 2nd | 1:50.9 | 0.3 | Ryuji Wada | Transcend |
| 29 Dec 2011 | Ooi | Tokyo Daishoten | G1 | D 2000m | 10.4 | 2nd | 2:01.8 | 0.0 | Ryuji Wada | Smart Falcon |
| 2012 – six-year-old season | ||||||||||
| 19 Feb 2012 | Tokyo | February Stakes | G1 | D 1600m | 5.7 | 3rd | 1:35.8 | 0.4 | Ryuji Wada | Testa Matta |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Funabashi | Diolite Kinen | Jpn2 | D 2400m | 1.9 | 4th | 2:35.0 | 0.3 | Ryuji Wada | Renforcer |
| 19 May 2012 | Kyoto | Tokai Stakes | G2 | D 1900m | 3.0 | 10th | 1:57.3 | 0.9 | Ryuji Wada | Solitary King |
| 5 Nov 2012 | Kawasaki | JBC Classic | Jpn1 | D 2100m | 10.5 | 1st | 2:12.5 | -1.0 | Ryuji Wada | (Civil War) |
| 2 Dec 2012 | Hanshin | Japan Cup Dirt | G1 | D 1800m | 6.2 | 2nd | 1:49.4 | 0.6 | Ryuji Wada | Nihonpiro Ours |
| 29 Dec 2012 | Ooi | Tokyo Daishoten | G1 | D 2000m | 1.8 | 3rd | 2:06.0 | 0.1 | Ryuji Wada | Roman Legend |
| 2013 – seven-year-old season | ||||||||||
| 30 Jan 2013 | Kawasaki | Kawasaki Kinen | Jpn1 | D 2100m | 1.3 | 2nd | 2:15.5 | 0.1 | Ryuji Wada | Hatano Vainqueur |
| 17 Feb 2013 | Tokyo | February Stakes | G1 | D 1600m | 9.2 | 3rd | 1:35.3 | 0.2 | Ryuji Wada | Grape Brandy |
| 26 Jun 2013 | Ooi | Teio Sho | Jpn1 | D 2000m | 6.6 | 3rd | 2:03.5 | 0.5 | Yutaka Take | Hokko Tarumae |
| 23 Sep 2013 | Funabashi | Nippon TV Hai | Jpn2 | D 1800m | 1.3 | 1st | 1:50.3 | 0.0 | Yutaka Take | (Solitary King) |
| 4 Nov 2013 | Kanazawa | JBC Classic | Jpn1 | D 2100m | 4.1 | 2nd | 2:13.0 | 0.4 | Yutaka Take | Hokko Tarumae |
| 1 Dec 2013 | Hanshin | Japan Cup Dirt | G1 | D 1800m | 15.7 | 2nd | 1:50.4 | 0.0 | Yutaka Take | Belshazzar |
| 12 Dec 2013 | Ooi | Tokyo Daishoten | G1 | D 2000m | 3.7 | 2nd | 2:06.9 | 0.3 | Yutaka Take | Hokko Tarumae |
| 2014 – eight-year-old season | ||||||||||
| 23 Feb 2014 | Tokyo | February Stakes | G1 | D 1600m | 10.0 | 6th | 1:36.5 | 0.5 | Yutaka Take | Copano Rickey |
| 5 May 2014 | Funabashi | Kashiwa Kinen | Jpn1 | D 1600m | 1.8 | 3rd | 1:39.6 | 0.4 | Yutaka Take | Copano Rickey |
| 25 Jun 2014 | Ooi | Teio Sho | Jpn1 | D 2000m | 4.4 | 1st | 2:03.5 | -0.4 | Yutaka Take | (Copano Rickey) |
| 13 Nov 2014 | Morioka | JBC Classic | Jpn1 | D 2000m | 3.5 | 3rd | 2:01.4 | 0.6 | Yutaka Take | Copano Rickey |
| 7 Dec 2014 | Chukyo | Champions Cup | G1 | D 1800m | 10.9 | 5th | 1:51.5 | 0.5 | Yutaka Take | Hokko Tarumae |
| 29 Dec 2014 | Ooi | Tokyo Daishoten | G1 | D 2000m | 6.6 | 7th | 2:04.9 | 1.9 | Yutaka Take | Hokko Tarumae |
| 2015 – nine-year-old season | ||||||||||
| 22 Feb 2015 | Tokyo | February Stakes | G1 | D 1600m | 46.4 | 9th | 1:36.8 | 0.5 | Fran Berry | Copano Rickey |
| 5 May 2015 | Funabashi | Kashiwa Kinen | Jpn1 | D 1600m | 18.4 | 1st | 1:37.4 | -0.2 | Ryuji Wada | (Best Warrior) |
| 24 Jun 2015 | Ooi | Teio Sho | Jpn1 | D 2000m | 6.8 | 8th | 2:05.0 | 2.3 | Ryuji Wada | Hokko Tarumae |
| 12 Oct 2015 | Morioka | Mile Championship Nambu Hai | Jpn1 | D 1600m | 5.5 | 3rd | 1:37.1 | 0.3 | Ryuji Wada | Best Warrior |
| 6 Dec 2015 | Chukyo | Champions Cup | G1 | D 1800m | 117.6 | 6th | 1:50.9 | 0.5 | Ryuji Wada | Sambista |
| 29 Dec 2015 | Ooi | Tokyo Daishoten | G1 | D 2000m | 27.2 | 3rd | 2:04.5 | 1.5 | Ryuji Wada | Sound True |
Legend:
D = Dirt
T = Turf
- R indicated that it was a record time finish
Retirement
Wonder Acute retired from racing in 2016 to become a stud stallion.[17] He retired from stud duties in October 2024, moving to the retirement home Versailles Resort Farm.[18]
Since retirement, Wonder Acute has become known for canvas painting.[19][20] Versailles Resort Farm has sold some of his paintings to the public, the first of which sold for over a million yen.[21]
In popular culture
An anthropomorphic personification of Wonder Acute appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Kanoko Sudo.[22] She is a kind-hearted girl with a grandmotherly disposition, but often struggles with modern technology, being the only character to use a flip phone instead of a smartphone and regularly asking her technologically-minded roommate Transcend for help. She has friendly rivalries with fellow dirt racers Copano Rickey, Hokko Tarumae, and Smart Falcon.
Pedigree
| Sire Charismatic 1996 ch. |
Summer Squall 1987 b. |
Storm Bird | Northern Dancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Ocean | |||
| Weekend Surprise | Secretariat | ||
| Lassie Dear | |||
| Bali Babe 1980 ch. |
Drone | Sir Gaylord | |
| Cap and Bells | |||
| Polynesian Charm | What a Pleasure | ||
| Grass Shack | |||
| Dam Wonder Heritage 1995 dk.b. |
Pleasant Tap 1987 b. |
Pleasant Colony | His Majesty |
| Sun Colony | |||
| Never Knock | Stage Door Johnny | ||
| Never Hula | |||
| Casa Petrone 1984 b. |
Petrone | Prince Taj | |
| Wild Miss | |||
| Grand Tania | Grand Central | ||
| Good Hart |