was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1998 he won two of his three races including the Grade III Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Stakes. In the following spring he was beaten in his first two starts before recording his greatest success in defeating a strong field in the Tokyo Yushun. In the autumn he added a win in the Grade II Kyoto Shimbun Hai before being retired in 2000. He had some success in a brief stud career before dying at the age of eight.

Background Admire Vega was a bay horse with a white blaze and a white sock on his left hind leg bred in Japan by the Yoshida family's Northern Farm. He was smaller than average for a male Thoroughbred, with a maximum racing weight of 464 kg. He was sired by Sunday Silence, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, before retiring to stud in Japan where he was champion sire on thirteen consecutive occasions. His other major winners included Deep Impact, Stay Gold, Heart's Cry, Manhattan Cafe, Zenno Rob Roy and Neo Universe. Admire Vega's dam Vega was an outstanding racemare who won the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba in 1993. As a broodmare Vega also produced the multiple Grade I winner Admire Don and Historic Star, the dam of Harp Star. Vega was a descendant of the American mare Nellie Morse, making him a distant relative of Bold Forbes and Bet Twice. The colt was acquired by Riichi Kondo and was sent into training with Mitsuru Hashida.

Racing career

1998: two-year-old season Admire Vega began his racing career by finishing fourth to Mayano Matador in a 1600-metre maiden race at Kyoto Racecourse on 7 November and recorded his first win four weeks later when he won the Erica Sho over 2000 metres at Hanshin Racecourse. On 26 December the colt was moved up in class for the Grade III Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Stakes over the same course and distance as the Erica Sho. He gained his first major success as he won from Matikane Kinnohosi and Osumi Bright.

1999: three-year-old season On his three-year-old debut Admire Vega contested the Grade II Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho over 2000 metres at Nakayama Racecourse on 7 March and finished second to Narita Top Road. In the Grade I Satsuki Sho over the same course and distance on 18 April he finished sixth, three lengths behind T. M. Opera O, who won from Osumi Bright and Narita Top Road. On 6 June Admire Vega was moved up in distance to contest the sixty-sixth running of the Tokyo Yushun over 2400 metres at Tokyo Racecourse. Ridden by Yutaka Take he faced seventeen opponents including T. M. Opera O, Narita Top Road and Osumi Bright. He won by a neck from Narita Top Road, with T. M. Opera O a length and a quarter back in third place.

After a break of more than four months Admire Vega returned in the Group Two Kyoto Shimbun Hai at Kyoto on 17 October and won from Narita Top Road. For his final race the colt was moved up in distance for the Grade I Kikuka Sho over 3000 metres at Kyoto on 7 November. He finished sixth of the fifteen runners, four lengths behind Narita Top Road, who won by a neck from T. M. Opera O.

He remained in training as a four-year-old but suffered from ligament problems and did not race again.

Racing form The following form is based on information available on JBIS Search and netkeiba. DateTrackRaceGradeDistance (condition)EntryHNOdds (favored)FinishTimeMarginJockeyWinner (2nd Place)1998 – two-year-old seasonNov 7Kyoto3yo Newcomer1600m (firm)1411.7 (1st)4th1:35.1Yutaka TakeMayano MatadorDec 5HanshinErica Sho1 win2000m (good)861.2 (1st)2:06.10.0Yutaka Take(Thrilling Sunday)Dec 26NakayamaRadio Tampa Hai Sansai StakesGIII2000m (firm)1142.1 (1st)2:04.1 -0.1Yutaka Take(Matikane Kinnohosi)1999 – three-year-old seasonMar 7NakayamaYayoi ShoGII2000m (good)1561.5 (1st)2:03.70.2Yutaka TakeNarita Top RoadApr 18NakayamaSatsuki ShoGI2000m (firm)1722.7 (1st)6th2:01.30.6Yutaka TakeT. M. Opera OJune 6TokyoTokyo YushunGI2400m (firm)1823.9 (2nd)2:25.30.0Yutaka Take(Narita Top Road)Oct 17KyotoKyoto Shimbun HaiGII2200m (firm)18113.0 (2nd)2:12.30.0Yutaka Take(Narita Top Road)Nov 7KyotoKikuka-shōGI3000m (firm)15142.3 (1st)6th3:08.20.6Yutaka TakeNarita Top Road

* Finished first but disqualified after running interference with another horse

Stud record Admire Vega was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion at Shadai Stallion Station. He had some success in four seasons at stud, siring the Grade I winners Kiss to Heaven (Oka Sho) and Blumenblatt (Mile Championship). He died suddenly on 29 October 2004 at the age of eight. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was an accidental stomach rupture.

A funeral was held for Admire Vega on 23 November of the same year at the Shadai Stallion Station, which was attended by 200 people including at least 50 fans, trainer Hashida, and House of Councillors member Seiko Hashimoto.

Major winners c = colt, f = filly

+ Major winners Foaled Name Sex Major Wins 2002 Monroe Blond f 2006 Sasebo Stakes 2002 Black Altair g 2007 Christmas Cup 2002 T M Dragon c 2005 Nakayama Daishogai, 2005 and 2007 Kyoto High Jump, 2006 Hanshin Spring Jump 2002 Stormy Cafe g 2005 Kyodo Tsushin Hai 2002 Silk Worlitz c 2006 Hida Stakes 2002 Silk Trouper c 2005 Tachibana Stakes 2002 Sarara f 2008 Sotobo Tokubetsu 2002 Admire Fuji c 2006 Nikkei Shinshun Hai, 2008-09 Nakayama Kimpai 2002 Admire Title c 2007 Sunshine Stakes 2003 Moere Connection c 2006 Kanchiku Sho 2003 Meiner Polite c 2008 Banshun Stakes 2003 Premium Box c 2008 Ocean Stakes, 2009 CBC Sho, 2009 Keihan Hai 2003 Blumenblatt f 2008 Mile Championship, 2008 Fuchu Himba Stakes 2003 Nihonpillow Regalo c 2010 Kokura Kinen 2003 Tosho Scirocco c 2007 Tokyo Racecource Grand Open Kinen 2003 Stella di Cuore c 2007 Nagaoka Tokubetsu 2003 South Thida f 2007 Hiuchiyama Tokubetsu 2003 Kiss to Heaven f 2006 Oka Sho, 2006 Flower Cup, 2008 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap, 2009 Nakayama Himba Stakes 2004 Nihonpillow Cherie f 2007 Kiyotaki Tokubetsu 2004 Towa Vega c 2010 Hanshin Spring Jump 2004 Sunrise Vega c 2011 Kokura Daishoten 2004 Continent c 2011 Naruto Stakes 2004 Crimson Vega c 2009 Wakashio Sho 2004 Guilty Strike g 2010 Tokyo Jump Stakes 2004 Al Nasrain c 2009 Nikkei Sho 2004 Admire Atom c 2009 Tsubame Tokubetsu 2005 Libiamo f 2010 Oro Cup 2005 Merci Mont Saint c 2010 Nakayama Grand Jump 2005 Miyabi Vega c 2010 Sado Tokubetsu 2005 Boston O c 2009 Shinsaibashi Stakes 2005 Fitz Roy g 2009 Kokurajo Tokubetsu 2005 Street Style f 2010 Uzushio Stakes 2005 Suez g 2012 Hakurei Stakes 2005 Southern Galaxy c 2009 Hayama Tokubetsu 2005 Crystal Wing c 2009 Hidaka Tokubetsu 2005 Osumi Spark c 2010 Kokura Daishoten

In popular culture An anthropomorphized version of Admire Vega appears as a character in the Japanese multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Hitomi Sasaki. She is depicted as a somber and gloomy girl who strives to be the best runner in memory of her identical twin sister, who died when she was young. Her behavior and mannerisms are derived from survivor's guilt over her sister's death, ranging from her ears twitching at the mention of the word "sister" to preparing two birthday cakes every year. The character is featured together with T. M. Opera O and Narita Top Road in the spinoff anime Umamusume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top. The real horse's shorthand nickname of Adobe/AdVe () was changed by developer Cygames to Ayabe () for the Umamusume character, ostensibly to avoid possible trademark infringements with Adobe Inc.

Pedigree

References