Nice Nature (Japanese: ナイスネイチャ, Hepburn: Naisu Neicha; April 16, 1988 – May 30, 2023) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. From his debut in 1990 to his retirement in 1996, Nice Nature had a record of 41 starts and 7 wins, including 4 major wins. With a long GI racing career and often placing third, Nice Nature gained popularity as the "Bronze Collector". Nice Nature consecutively placed third in the 1991, 1992, and 1993 Arima Kinen. Before his death, Nice Nature was the oldest living stallion to have a JRA major win.
Background Nice Nature was born in 1988 at the Watanabe Ranch in Urakawa, Hokkaido. His sire, Nice Dancer, had six major wins in Canada, and his dam, Urakawa Miyuki, had three wins, including the 1984 open of what would become the Tulip Sho. Nice Nature's to-be owner Toyoshima Masao made a deposit at Watanabe Ranch.『優駿』2003年8月号、p.57 According to the owner of the ranch Watanabe Kazuma, Nice Nature was average as a foal, nor did he stand out in the training ranch. However, Watanabe vaguely alluded that he felt that Nice Nature might be just as good as Nice Nice Nice, also out of Nice Dancer and the winner of the 1989 Kisaragi Sho and 1990 Kyōto Kinen. Nice Nature's to-be trainer Matsunaga Yoshiharu quickly embraced the impression of a "good horse", saying that he felt that things were moving in a "good direction" as he looked at Nice Nature's growth.『優駿』1999年9月号、p.94
After reaching the racing age of three years in 1990, Nice Nature transferred to the Rittō Training Center in Rittō, Shiga under Matsunaga. After Nice Nature's older sister suffered a career ending injury, Nice Nature was trained cautiously and debuted relatively late in December.
Racing career Nice Nature won 4 major races, the Kokura Kinen, the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, and Naruo Kinen, all in 1991, as well as the Takamatsunomiya Hai in 1994. Nice Nature also started in a total of 34 group races throughout his career, including 16 GI races, which was a record at the time.
Racing statistics Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search and netkeiba.com.
DateTrackRaceGradeDistance(Condition)EntryHNOdds(Favored)FinishTimeMarginsJockeyWinner(Runner-up)1990 – two-year-old seasonDec 2, 1990Kyoto2yo Newcomer1,200m (Firm)1133.9 (3rd)2nd1:11.90.0M. MatsunagaKoei RoyalDec 15, 1990Kyoto2yo Newcomer1,400m (Standard)941.7 (1st)1st1:26.1 -0.1M. Matsunaga(Prairie Love)1991 – three-year-old seasonJan 5, 1991KyotoFukujoso TokubetsuALW2,000m (Firm)1526.3 (3rd)6th2:04.21.2M. MatsunagaSister ToshoJan 19, 1991KyotoWakagoma StakesOP2,000m (Firm)9718.2 (5th)3rd2:02.51.1M. MatsunagaTokai TeioJul 6, 1991ChukyoNadeshiko ShoALW1,800m (Good)1035.6 (3rd)2nd1:50.40.0M. MatsunagaShirokita TeioJul 28, 1991KokuraShiranui TokubetsuALW1,800m (Firm)1221.7 (1st)1st1:49.8 -0.4M. Matsunaga(Pierre Marie)Aug 10, 1991KokuraHazuki ShoALW1,800m (Soft)942.0 (1st)1st1:49.6 -0.2M. Matsunaga(Second Caesar)Aug 25, 1991KokuraKokura KinenG32,000m (Firm)1072.5 (1st)1st2:02.7 -0.3M. Matsunaga(Nuevo Tosho)Oct 13, 1991KyotoKyoto Shimbun HaiG22,200m (Firm)14113.3 (2nd)1st2:15.6 -0.1M. Matsunaga(Ibuki Maikagura, Shako Grade)Nov 3, 1991KyotoKikuka ShoG13,000m (Firm)1855.2 (2nd)4th3:09.80.3M. MatsunagaLeo DurbanDec 8, 1991HanshinNaruo KinenG22,500m (Firm)1181.9 (1st)1st2:36.3 -0.1M. Matsunaga(Mr. Cyclennon)Dec 22, 1991NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)1558.7 (2nd)3rd2:31.10.5M. MatsunagaDai Yusaku1992 – four-year-old seasonOct 11, 1992TokyoMainichi OkanG21,800m (Firm)1123.4 (1st)3rd1:45.90.3M. MatsunagaDaitaku HeliosNov 1, 1992TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)18113.9 (2nd)4th1:59.00.4M. MatsunagaLet's Go TarquinNov 22, 1992KyotoMile ChampionshipG11,600m (Firm)1886.9 (4th)3rd1:33.70.4M. MatsunagaDaitaku HeliosDec 27, 1992NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)16111.1 (4th)3rd2:33.70.2M. MatsunagaMejiro Palmer1993 – five-year-old seasonJan 24, 1993KyotoNikkei Shinshun HaiG22,200m (Firm)1272.7 (1st)2nd2:14.10.1M. MatsunagaEl Casa RiverMar 14, 1993HanshinHanshin DaishotenG23,000m (Firm)1171.9 (1st)3rd3:09.40.2K. MinaiMejiro PalmerApr 4, 1993HanshinSankei Osaka HaiG22,000m (Firm)1652.4 (2nd)2nd2:04.10.8M. MatsunagaMejiro McQueenOct 10, 1993TokyoMainichi OkanG21,800m (Firm)13127.6 (4th)3rd1:45.90.4M. MatsunagaShinko LovelyOct 31, 1993TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)1775.6 (2nd)15th2:01.52.6M. MatsunagaYamanin ZephyrNov 28, 1993TokyoJapan CupG12,400m (Firm)161139.2 (15th)7th2:25.10.7M. MatsunagaLegacy WorldDec 26, 1993NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)141226.6 (10th)3rd2:31.60.7M. MatsunagaTokai Teio1994 – six-year-old seasonJan 23, 1994NakayamaAmerican Jockey CCG22,200m (Firm)1473.9 (2nd)7th2:14.70.6M. MatsunagaMatikanetannhauserApr 3, 1994HanshinSankei Osaka HaiG22,000m (Firm)14114.6 (3rd)2nd2:01.80.6M. MatsunagaNehai CaesarApr 24, 1994HanshinTenno Sho (Spring)G13,200m (Good)11423.3 (7th)4th3:23.30.7M. MatsunagaBiwa HayahideJun 12, 1994HanshinTakarazuka KinenG12,200m (Firm)14212.0 (3rd)4th2:12.41.2M. MatsunagaBiwa HayahideJul 10, 1994ChukyoTakamatsunomiya HaiG22,000m (Firm)13128.5 (5th)1st2:00.7 -0.1M. Matsunaga(Star Ballerina)Oct 9, 1994TokyoMainichi OkanG21,800m (Firm)1144.5 (2nd)6th1:45.10.5M. MatsunagaNehai CaesarOct 30, 1994TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)13530.4 (6th)7th1:59.10.5M. MatsunagaNehai CaesarNov 27, 1994TokyoJapan CupG12,400m (Firm)141123.3 (11th)8th2:24.40.8M. MatsunagaMarvelous CrownDec 15, 1994NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)13946.0 (11th)5th2:33.31.1M. MatsunagaNarita Brian1995 – seven-year-old seasonFeb 12, 1995KyotoKyoto KinenG22,200m (Firm)867.7 (4th)2nd2:12.00.2M. MatsunagaWako ChikakoOct 8, 1995KyotoKyoto DaishotenG22,400m (Firm)13113.0 (5th)8th2:26.00.7M. MatsunagaHishi AmazonNov 26, 1995TokyoJapan CupG12,400m (Firm)141546.9 (13th)13th2:26.21.6M. MatsunagaLandoDec 24, 1995NakayamaArima KinenG12,500m (Firm)12543.1 (10th)9th2:35.41.8M. MatsunagaMayano Top Gun1996 – eight-year-old seasonMar 17, 1996ChukyoChukyo KinenG32,000m (Good)16169.8 (7th)4th2:02.60.4M. MatsunagaInazuma TakaoApr 6, 1996NakayamaLord Derby ChallengeG31,600m (Firm)161630.3 (10th)6th1:33.80.4M. MatsunagaFujino Makken OMay 11, 1996KyotoKeihan HaiG32,200m (Firm)16410.8 (5th)8th2:13.60.8M. MatsunagaDance PartnerOct 27, 1996TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12,000m (Firm)17293.6 (14th)10th1:59.71.0M. MatsunagaBubble Gum FellowNov 16, 1996TokyoCopa Republica ArgentinaG22,500m (Firm)18217.5 (10th)15th2:34.02.2M. MatsunagaL-Way Win
Legend:
Retirement & death
Due to problems on his right foreleg, Nice Nature was retired from racing in late 1996 in spite of initial plans to have the horse run in that year's Arima Kinen. The horse was sent to Hidaka Stallion Station to stand at stud, but retired in 2001 after siring a total of 17 registered horses. Alongside standing at stud, Nice Nature also became the poster character announcing the introduction of Quinella Place betting in JRA races in 1999. Nice Nature spent the remainder of his life pensioned at the Watanabe Ranch, the same farm where he was bred. He died on May 30, 2023, at the age of 35.
In popular culture An anthropomorphized version of Nice Nature appears as a character in the Japanese multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Kaori Maeda. She is depicted as being cynical and pessimistic, and often undervalues her own achievements, causing her to intentionally place third during races. However, she learns to embrace the support of her fans and have more confidence in herself during her career mode with the help of the player trainer. In the third season of the anime, she also serves as a close friend and mentor figure to Kitasan Black.
Consequently, Umamusume players have raised tens of millions of yen each year in celebration of Nice Nature's birthday donation. The developers of the Umamusume game and Maeda were among those who sent their condolences upon Nice Nature's passing.
Pedigree
Inbreeding within 5 generations: None
Retrieved from Nice Nature's profile on JBIS (Japan Bloodstock Information Database)
Nice Nature's dam Urakawa Miyuki died on June 2, 2017, at the age of 36, making her the longest lived female thoroughbred in Japan to have been properly documented.ウラカワミユキ死す 36歳 ナイスネイチャの母 スポーツニッポン 2017年6月17日。
Notes
Citations
References
the book on Amazon Note: No authors were listed on Amazon. The authors listed here are taken from the bibliography section of the Japanese Wikipedia and are presumably the authors of sections in the book.