was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In 1991, she won both the Yasuda Kinen and the Sprinters Stakes, both G1 graded races. That same year, she would be awarded the JRA Award for Best Older Filly or Mare, and the JRA Award for Best Sprinter or Miler.In 1991, the short distance awards had not yet been separated into different categories. Commonly, though, people refer to Ruby having won "Best sprinter" specifically. Background Owned by Haruo Tsujimoto, she was given the company's crown name "Daiichi".The horses are named after his company, Daiichi Seiconcrete. Horses owned by him in the mid 80s would often be given names based on gemstones, such as Diamond or Sapphire. Due to this, she was named "Ruby".
Her dam was Hagino Top Lady, a Double Tiara winner who won the 1980 Oka Shō and Queen Elizabeth II Cup. She was the granddaughter of , who was a descendant of British-bred ,Mairie's grand-dam, Blue Star, won the Prix de la Forêt and the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte France in 1937. Miley is also a descendant of Tragedy, who won the Irish Derby in 1883. a renowned speedster and originator of the ""; a line of successful mares brought to Japan shortly after the ban on the import of horses from foreign countries was lifted in the postwar period, having produced many G1 winners and award recipients. Daiichi Ruby's sire was Tosho Boy, a successful racehorse also known for his speed, and a winner of the Arima Kinen. The pairing of these top-class speed horses was described as a "dream cross," contributing to Daiichi Ruby's unprecedented selling price of 100 million yen."Yushun" September 2008 issue. p.79
Racing career
Four year old season Daiichi Ruby made her debut on February 25, 1990, at Hanshin Racecourse, ridden by Yutaka Take, the previous year's leading jockey. Due to her strong pedigree, she was voted the favorite. She took the lead from the start without being threatened, winning her first race by five lengths. This performance put the G1-rated Oka Shō within sight, and she was entered into consideration for the trial race, Fillies' Revue (at the time named the Hochi Hai 4‑Year‑Old Filly Special). However, due to the lottery system of the race, she was not selected to participate. She then ran in the Anemone Stakes on March 24, winning by two lengths for her second consecutive victory. As a two‑win horse, she was entered for consideration directly to the Oka Sho, but again she was excluded by the lottery, and could not run. She went on to run the Wasurenagusa Sho (OP) on April 8, a race sometimes called the "Consolation Race for the Oka Sho"; she finished second, two and a half lengths behind Towa Ruby.
Hoping to win the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), Daiichi Ruby was sent to the Kantō region. On April 29, at the Tokyo Racecourse, she ran as the favorite in the trial race, the Sankei Sports Sho 4‑Year‑Old Filly Special (G2). She finished second by a neck, securing priority entry rights for the Oaks;Yushun Magazine, July 1990 Issue, p.151 there, she raced against Agnes Flora, the favorite, who was running undefeated and had won the Oka Sho. Despite being the second favorite, Daiichi Ruby placed 5th, more than six lengths behind the winner.
On September 1, she returned to the stable at Ritto. The hope was for her to take on the final leg of the , the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. On October 21, she participated in the trial race in the Rose Stakes, where she placed 5th. Her performance earned priority entry rights for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, however, she developed Phlegmon on her right hind leg. Her trainer, Yuji Itō, withdrew her from the race, and she was given the rest of the year off.
Five year old season With the new year, Daiichi Ruby began her campaign on January 7 in the Rakuyo Stakes (OP). From this race onward, her jockey was changed to , known as "Kawachi of the fillies."Likely because he was riding . She had a slow start, but managed to finish second by half a length. Next, on January 27, she participated on the Kyoto Himba Stakes. She was the third favorite, behind (winner of the Hanshin Himba Tokubetsu) and Samantha Tosho (third in the Mile Championship). She broke well but was blocked; on the straight, she maneuvered along the inside, taking the lead, and crossing the line first.Yushun Magazine, February 1991 issue. p.150 She then traveled to the Kanto region for the Nakayama Himba Stakes (G3); despite having been voted the favorite, she placed 3rd, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind front-running .Yushun Magazine, April 1991. p. 150-151.
On April 21, again traveling to Kanto, she contested the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2); her first racing against top‑class colts and older males, including Daitaku Helios. She was the third favorite, behind Bamboo Memory (a two‑time G1 winner) and (winner of the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes). Daiichi Ruby crossed the line first, beating Yukino Sunrise by one length and-three-quarters, earning her second stakes victory.
Yasuda Kinen
On May 12, Daiichi Ruby contested the Yasuda Kinen (G1). Since the introduction of the graded stakes system, no filly or mare had ever won the race, yet she was voted as the second favorite.Yushun Magazine, August 1998 Issue. p.89 The favorite was Bamboo Memory, who had already ran the race twice before, and won it in 1989.
Breaking from gate 4 in the second stall, Daiichi Ruby started slightly behind the others and raced at the rear. Bamboo Memory was alongside her for a time, racing in parallel, but gradually Bamboo Memory moved forward to sit three or four lengths ahead. Up front, Symboli Galluda had won the early battle for the lead and set the pace; the first 1000 meters were covered in 57.6 seconds, a scenario that favored end of the pack runners such as Daiichi Ruby and Bamboo Memory.Yushun Magazine. September 1991 Issue, p. 148. Approaching the final turn, the front‑running horses began to tire out, allowing the 10th favorite, Daitaku Helios, racing just off the pace on the outside, to move to the front. The two still‑lagging favorites each chose a path: Bamboo Memory angled to the inside, while Daiichi Ruby swung wide to the outside, and both set off after Daitaku Helios. Bamboo Memory struggled to find a clear path on the inside, whereas Daiichi Ruby ran clear with her full power far outside. She passed Daitaku Helios almost immediately, reaching the finish line first. She won by 1 and a forth lengths.
Kawachi commented, "I had intended to go forward if our start was strong, but since I was slow out of the gate, we ended up racing from the back of the field [...] Given the stalemate, I decided not to force the issue [...] I considered making my move alongside Bamboo Memory, when he went, but to save her [Ruby's] energy, I chose to wait patiently until the fourth corner [...] In the end, she stretched out and finished very strongly."Yushun Magazine, July 1991 Issue, p.146
Continuation of her five year old season After her victory in the Yasuda Kinen, Daiichi Ruby was signed on to the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (a G2 at the time). Although her trainers had originally decided to not race her over 2000m the Takamatsunomiya Kinen was a had special weight in the eyes of her owner, Tsujimoto, as it had been won not only by Ruby's sire Tosho Boy, but also by her dam, Hagino Top Lady, and her granddamn. The prospect of three generations of mares winning the same graded race would bring more attention and higher earnings. She raced as the favorite, resulting was in a photo finish. In the end, the judges declared Daitaku Helios the winner by a nose.
On October 26, she was once again the favorite at the Swan Stakes. She nearly took the lead, but the fifth favorite, , came through on the inside and overtook her, winning by a neck. Next, on November 17, in her target race, the Mile Championship (G1), She again faced K. S. Miracle, Bamboo Memory, and Daitaku Helios. Breaking from gate 5 in the third stall, she broke slowly and immediately battled Bamboo Memory for a good position, which forced her to race from the rear; on the straight, she swung wide, but Daitaku Helios, who had had set a strong pace, and did not falter. Daiichi Ruby finished second, two and a half lengths behind Daitaku Helios.
Sprinters Stakes
On December 15, Daiichi Ruby contested the Sprinters Stakes (G1). Bamboo Memory had been retired, and Daitaku Helios was aiming for the Arima Kinen, leaving the race to appear as a match between Daiichi Ruby and K.S. Miracle. Once again, Ruby started off slowly and raced at the back. The favorite, K.S. Miracle, was positioned prominently; on the final corner, he drew close and challenged for the lead, while Daiichi Ruby could not swing wide, as she was stuck in the middle of the pack. However, with 200 meters remaining, K.S. Miracle suffered an injury and fell behind; having lost her main rival, Daiichi Ruby then raced alone to the finish. She crossed the line first, four lengths ahead of . K.S. Miracle a had suffered comminuted fracture of the left first phalanx. He was immediately euthanized.
This was Daiichi Ruby's second G1 victory, making her the first filly or mare to win two G1 races against males.
Racing Record Daiichi Ruby won six races out of 18 starts. This data is available on JBIS and netkeiba.
Date Race Class Distance Racecourse Finish Entry Time Jockey Winner (2nd Place)1990 – four-year-old seasonFebruary 25Four-Year-Old DebutTurf 1600Hanshin81:37.9Yutaka Take(Hidaka Artemis)March 24OPTurf 1600Hanshin101:36.6Yutaka Take(Makihata Glory)April 4OPTurf 2000mHanshin52:05.4Yutaka TakeTowa RubyApril 29Flora StakesG2Turf 2000mTokyo132:01.5Sueo MasuzawaKyoei TapMay 20Yushun HimbaG1Turf 2400mTokyo5th42:27.1 Yutaka TakeEishin SunnyOctober 21Rose StakesG2Turf 2000mKyoto5th42:01.1Yutaka TakeKatsuno Jo O1991 – five-year-old seasonJanuary 7OPTurf 1600mKyoto11:35.2Pretty hatJanuary 27Kyoto Himba StakesG3Turf 1600mKyoto21:34.8Hiroshi Kawachi(Yusei Fairy) February 24Nakayama Himba StakesG3Turf 1800mNakayama71:47.9Hiroshi KawachiYukino Sunrise April 21Keio Hai Spring CupG2Turf 1400mTokyo161:21.5Hiroshi Kawachi(Yukino Sunrise)May 12Yasuda KinenG1Turf 1600mTokyo41:33.8Hiroshi Kawachi(Daitaku Helios)July 7 Takamatsunomiya HaiG2Turf 2000mChukyo81:59.4Hiroshi KawachiDaitaku HeliosOctober 26Swan StakesG1Turf 1400mKyoto121:20.6Hiroshi KawachiK.S. MiracleNovember 17Mile ChampionshipG1Turf 1600mKyoto51:35.2Hiroshi KawachiDaitaku HeliosDecember 15Sprinters StakesG1Turf 1200mChukyo121:07.6Hiroshi Kawachi(Narcisse Noir) 1992 – six-year-old seasonMarch 1Yomiuri Milers CupG2Turf 1600mHanshin6th61:37.6Hiroshi KawachiDaitaku HeliosApril 25Keio Hai Spring CupG2Turf 1400mTokyo5th101:22.1Hiroshi KawachiDynamite DaddyMay 17Yasuda KinenG1Turf 1600mTokyo15th151:35.4Hiroshi KawachiYamanin Zephyr
Retirement In 1992, the now six-year-old Daiichi Ruby remained in training, but she was now quite advanced in age for a racehorse. Her owners, recognizing her diminishing competitiveness, began to discuss the viability of breeding her with a strong stallion to produce high-quality offspring."Yushun" Magazine, August 1998 Issue. p.91. Still, she participated in three races that year. Despite being the favorite in all 3, she placed off podium in all of them; she was retired shortly thereafter and was removed from the JRA racehorse register on May 27.A Reader's Guide to Legendary Racehorses 3, p.75. One of her goals for the year had been to win the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, which would have made her a third-generation winner, but she retired before that opportunity.
Broodmare career and death After her retirement from racing, Daiichi Ruby became a broodmare at Daiichi Farm, established for her in Mitsuishi, Hokkaido. For a time, she was also boarded at the famous Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido. She foaled seven fillies and colts, often with very strong stallions such as Sunday Silence, but none had much success.
On April 26, 2007, she died at Daiichi Farm at the age of 20 due to Laminitis.