Narita Top Road (, Hepburn: Narita Toppu Rōdo; April 4, 1996 - November 7, 2005) was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse that competed from 1998 to 2002. Considered one of Top Three of his era alongside T.M. Opera O and Admire Vega, he frequently took second or third place. He won Kikuka-shō in 1999.

Racing career

1998: Two year old season Narita Top Road ran his maiden race at the Hanshin Racecourse in December 5, where he finished second behind Meiner Success. Later that month, he won his first race at another maiden race at Hanshin.

1999: Three year old season

Narita Top Road won his first graded race when he won that year's Kisaragi Sho. The horse then went on to the Yayoi Sho, where he beat Admire Vega. He was then entered in to the Satsuki Sho, where he finished third behind T. M. Opera O and . The horse also ran in the Tokyo Yushun, where he finished second behind Admire Vega.

After taking the summer off, the horse once again finished second behind Admire Vega at the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. Later, at the Kikuka-shō, the horse took the fourth position in the pack before taking the lead at the fourth corner. Narita Top Road held on to the lead from there and won the race, even as T. M. Opera O closed the gap. After winning the Kikuka-shō, he was entered in to that year's Arima Kinen but finished 7th.

2000: Four year old season Narita Top Road started the season off with the Kyoto Kinen, where he finished second behind T. M. Opera O; and later to the Hanshin Daishoten and Tenno Sho (Spring), both of which the horse finished third behind T. M. Opera O and . After a summer break, the horse was entered in to the Kyoto Daishoten, where he finished second behind T. M. Opera O and finished 5th at the Tenno Sho (Autumn). After finishing 4th at the Stayers Stakes, , who had been the horse's jockey up to this point, resigned from the position, and the role went to . However, the horse could not win the Arima Kinen, which was the horse's next race.

2001: Five year old season Narita Top Road started the season with the Kyoto Kinen, but finished third behind Maquereau. As Matoba retired around this time, Watanabe returned to jockey duty for the Hanshin Daishoten. Narita Top Road won the race with a course record of 3:02.5.

Later that year, the horse ran in the Kyoto Daishoten. However, the horse did not finish the race as Stay Gold made physical contact with the horse, causing Watanabe to fall off and injuring both the horse and jockey. Subsequently, Stay Gold was disqualified as a result of this incident.

2002: Six year old season Narita Top Road once again started the season with the Kyoto Kinen, where he managed to win the race after being nearly beaten by . He was then entered in to the Hanshin Daishoten, where he easily beat Jungle Pocket. However, he finished third behind Manhattan Cafe and Jungle Pocket later at the Tenno Sho (Spring).

Following this race, the horse spent the summer off, returning victoriously at the Kyoto Daishoten, but was unable to secure a single victory until his retirement at the Arima Kinen that year.

Stud career Following his retirement, Narita Top Road stood stud at the Shadai Stallion Station. His most successful progeny was , who won the Flora Stakes and finished second in the Yushun Himba in 2007.

Narita Top Road died on November 7, 2005, 6 years to the day after his Kikuka-shō win after suffering a heart failure. He had been recovering from a bladder stone surgery at the time.

Racing form The following form is based on information available on JBIS Search and netkeiba. DateTrackRaceGradeDistance (condition)EntryHNOdds (favored)FinishTimeMarginJockeyWinner (Runner-up)1998 – two-year-old seasonDec 5Hanshin3yo Newcomer2000m (good)1192.6 (1st)2:06.20.0Kunihiko WatanabeMeiner SuccessDec 27Hanshin3yo Newcomer2000m (firm)13121.9 (1st)2:04.0 -0.2Kunihiko Watanabe(Miracle Gift)1999 – three-year-old seasonJan 10KyotoFukujuso Tokubetsu1 Win2000m (firm)1584.5 (3rd)2:02.30.4Kunihiko WatanabeThrilling SundayFeb 7KyotoKisaragi ShoGIII1800m (firm)1554.6 (2nd)1:49.10.0Kunihiko Watanabe(Eishin Cameron)Mar 7NakayamaYayoi ShoGII2000m (good)15124.0 (2nd)2:03.5 -0.2Kunihiko Watanabe(Admire Vega)Apr 18NakayamaSatsuki ShoGI2000m (firm)1783.3 (2nd)2:00.70.0Kunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera OJune 6TokyoTokyo YushunGI2400m (firm)18113.9 (1st)2:25.40.1Kunihiko WatanabeAdmire VegaOct 17KyotoKyoto Shimbun HaiGII2200m (firm)1882.8 (1st)2:12.30.0Kunihiko WatanabeAdmire VegaNov 7KyotoKikuka-shōGI3000m (firm)1514.1 (3rd)3:07.6 -0.1Kunihiko Watanabe(T. M. Opera O)Dec 26NakayamaArima KinenGI2500m (firm)1416.8 (4th)7th2:37.80.6Kunihiko WatanabeGrass Wonder2000 – four-year-old seasonFeb 20KyotoKyoto KinenGII2200m (firm)1192.6 (2nd)2:13.80.0Kunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera OMar 19HanshinHanshin DaishotenGII3000m (good)952.9 (3rd)3:09.80.4Kunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera OApr 30KyotoTenno Sho (Spring)GI3200m (firm)12113.5 (2nd)3:17.80.2Kunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera OOct 8KyotoKyoto DaishotenGII2400m (firm)12102.6 (2nd)2:26.00.0Kunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera OOct 29TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)GI2000m (soft)1634.9 (3rd)5th2:00.50.9Kunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera ODec 2NakayamaStayers StakesGII3600m (firm)1131.3 (1st)4th3:45.90.3Kunihiko WatanabeHot SecretDec 24NakayamaArima KinenGI2500m (firm)1647.6 (3rd)9th2:35.11.0Hitoshi MatobaT. M. Opera O2001 – five-year-old seasonFeb 17KyotoKyoto KinenGII2200m (firm)14112.3 (1st)2:12.50.2Hitoshi MatobaMaquereauMar 18HanshinHanshin DaishotenGII3000m (good)1232.5 (1st) -1.3Kunihiko Watanabe(Erimo Brian)Apr 29KyotoTenno Sho (Spring)GI3200m (firm)12123.4 (2nd)3:16.40.2Kunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera OOct 8KyotoKyoto DaishotenGII2400m (firm)742.4 (2nd)DNFKunihiko WatanabeT. M. Opera ONov 25TokyoJapan CupGI2400m (firm)151014.4 (5th)2:24.40.6Kunihiko WatanabeJungle PocketDec 23NakayamaArima KinenGI2500m (firm)1347.5 (4th)10th2:33.90.8Kunihiko WatanabeManhattan Cafe2002 – six-year-old seasonFeb 16KyotoKyoto KinenGII2200m (firm)995.1 (3rd)2:11.80.0Kunihiko Watanabe(Matikane Kinnohosi)Mar 17HanshinHanshin DaishotenGII3000m (good)941.9 (1st)3:07.9 -0.3Kunihiko Watanabe(Jungle Pocket)Apr 28KyotoTenno Sho (Spring)GI3200m (firm)1152.7 (1st)3:19.60.1Kunihiko WatanabeManhattan CafeOct 6KyotoKyoto DaishotenGII2400m (firm)811.7 (1st)2:23.6 -0.4Hirofumi Shii(Tsurumaru Boy)Oct 27NakayamaTenno Sho (Autumn)GI2000m (firm)1814.9 (2nd)1:58.60.1Hirofumi ShiiSymboli Kris SNov 24NakayamaJapan CupGI2200m (firm)16133.9 (2nd)10th2:13.10.9Hirofumi ShiiFalbravDec 22NakayamaArima KinenGI2500m (good)141110.6 (4th)4th2:33.40.8Kunihiko WatanabeSymboli Kris S

Legend:

Pedigree

In popular culture An anthropomorphized version of the horse makes an appearance in Uma Musume Pretty Derby, voiced by Kanna Nakamura, with the horse being the featured character in the anime Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top. In the game, she is a Mob Umamusume in the scenario Trackblazer: Start Of The Climax.

See also Narita Brian, another racehorse owned by Hidenori Yamaji

References