JAPAN’S BACK-to-back horse of the year Vodka has been forced to retire after suffering a nose bleed in a warm-up race for this month’s Dubai World Cup.
The Japan Racing Association described the six-year-old mare as a “jewel for Japanese and world horse racing” yesterday after hearing of the decision to end her racing career.
“When we saw she had a nosebleed again after the race the owner (Yuzo Tanimizu) and I decided to retire her,” Vodka’s trainer Katsuhiko Sumii said.
Vodka, who captured public imagination in 2007 by becoming the first filly to win the Japan Derby in 64 years, also bled in winning the Japan Cup last November.
She will now be bred to last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sea the Stars in Ireland and not return to Japan.
“It would be wrong to push her,” Sumii said. “We wanted one final swansong for Vodka but it wasn’t to be unfortunately. Vodka was a true champion. We are deeply grateful to her.”
Vodka was scheduled to end her glittering career on March 27th at the world’s richest race in Dubai.
The record-tying seven-times Grade One winner won 10 of 26 races and earned more than €10 million – the most prize money ever won by a mare in Japan and third all-time.
