Seeking the Pearl (Japanese: シーキングザパール, Hepburn: Shiikingu Za Paaru; 14 April 1994 - 10 June 2005) was an American-bred, Japanese-trained thoroughbred race horse and broodmare. She won the NHK Mile Cup in 1997 and the Prix Maurice de Gheest in 1998. She is the first ever Japanese-trained horse to win an overseas G1 and also the first to win a French G1.
Background Seeking the Pearl was a bay mare bred by Lazy Lane Stables, founded by American banker, publisher and philanthropist; Joe L. Allbritton in Upperville, Virginia. She was sired by Seeking the Gold, who also sired Dubai Millenium, the 1999 Prix Jacques Le Marois, and 2000 Dubai World Cup winner. Her dam, Page Proof is an American-bred mare by the 1977 American Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
In July 1995, she was entered into the Keeneland July Select Yearling Sale, where she was initially labeled as RNA (Reserve Not Attained), which means she went unsold. Following the auction, she was personally inspected by Masako Uenaka in her stall, where she saw the yearling poking her head outside her stall. Uenaka stated that "While most young horses look anxious, she seemed to be deep in thought. She looked very intelligent." She also described this as a "fateful encounter" which ultimately convinced her to purchase the yearling for $185,000 USD.
Before transporting her to Japan, the filly was sent to Stone Farm in Paris, Kentucky where she spent four months undergoing development. During her time in the farm, her handles noted that she was "a strong and beautiful horse."
In November 1995. she was transported to Japan and trained at Northern Farm in Hayakita, Hokkaido. In May 1996, she entered the stable of Shozo Sasaki at the Ritto Training Center in Shiga Prefecture.
Her name, Seeking the Pearl is a direct reference to her sire Seeking the Gold. The pearl in her name however came from Masako Uenaka's birthstone. Because of that, her daughter Tomoko Uenaka intended a double meaning. She interpreted the name to mean "the horse found you."
Racing statistics Seeking the Pearl won 8 out of 21 entries, including one overseas win. Placed second twice, and placed third thrice. This data is available is netkeiba, JBIS, IrishRacing, and Equibase. +DateRacecourseRaceGradeDistance (Condition)EntryHNOdds (Favoured)FinishTimeWinning (Losing) MarginJockeyWinner (Runner-Up)1996 – two-year-old season20 JulKokura2yo Newcomer1200m (Firm)851.2 (1)1:09.77 lengthsYutaka Take(Tenzan Osuzu)1 SepNakayamaNiigata Sansai Stakes31200m (Firm)12122.3 (2)1:10.8( lengths)Yutaka TakePersonality One19 OctKyotoDaily Hai Sansai Stakes21400m (Firm)1621.5 (1)1:21.35 lengthsYutaka Take(Mejiro Bright)1 DecHanshinHanshin Sansai Himba Stakes11600m (Firm)1011.5 (1)4th1:35.3( lengths)Yutaka TakeMejiro Dober1997 – three-year-old season 15 Jan Kyoto Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen3 1600m (Firm)12 11 2.0 (1) 1:34.6 3 lengths Yutaka Take (Hokko Beauty)15 MarNakayamaFlower Cup31800m (Good)1561.7 (1)1:51.6 lengthsYutaka Take(Hokko Beauty)20 AprTokyoNew Zealand Trophy Yonsai Stakes21400m (Firm)18161.8 (1)1:21.1 lengthsYutaka Take(Brave Tender)11 MayTokyoNHK Mile Cup11600m (Firm)18132.0 (1)1:33.1 lengthsYutaka Take(Brave Tender)21 SepHanshinKansai Telecasting Corp. Sho Rose Stakes22000m (Firm)1171.4 (1)2:01.9(2 lengths)Yutaka TakeKyoei March1998 – four-year-old season 26 Apr Kyoto Silk Road Stakes31200m (Firm) 1216.5 (4) 1:08.6 neck Yutaka Take (Masa Lucky)24 MayChukyoTakamatsunomiya Kinen11200m (Good)1652.6 (1)4th1:09.3( lengths)Yutaka TakeShinko Forest14 JunTokyoYasuda Kinen11600m (Heavy)171414.8 (4)10th1:39.2( lengths)Yutaka TakeTaiki Shuttle9 AugDeauvillePrix Maurice de Gheest11300m (Good to Firm)1239/1 (5) lengthYutaka Take(Jim and Tonic)6 SepLongchampPrix du Moulin de Longchamp11600m (Soft)7112/1 (5)5th1:43.3(12 lengths)Yutaka TakeDesert Prince22 NovKyotoMile Championship11600m (Firm)1346.7 (2)8th1:34.3( lengths)Hiroshi KawachiTaiki Shuttle20 DecNakayamaSprinters Stakes11200m (Firm)15310.5 (2)1:08.6(head)Yutaka TakeMeiner Love1999 – five-year-old season23 JanSanta AnitaSanta Monica Handicap17f (Fast)8711.40/1 (6)4th1:23.25(3 lengths)Yutaka TakeStop Traffic23 MayChukyoTakamatsunomiya Kinen11200m (Firm)1624.5 (1)1:08.2( lengths)Yutaka TakeMasa Lucky13 JunTokyoYasuda Kinen11600m (Firm)14111.4 (3)1:33.7( lengths)Yutaka TakeAir Jihad2 OctBelmont ParkNoble Damsel Stakes31 mile (Good)841.60 (1)4th1:34.5( lengths)John R. VelazquezKhumba Mela17 OctLaurel ParkLaurel Dash Stakes36f (Firm)1092.00 (1)7th1:13.8(5 lengths)Mark T. JohnstonGrapeshot Legend:
indicated that it was a record finish time.
Breeding career and death After retirement, she became a broodmare at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, and on her first season she was covered by Storm Cat and gave birth to , who won 5 graded stakes races and placed second in 9 different grade 1 races in Japan before becoming a successful sire in Chile. She would also go on to foal Dive (by Storm Cat) and Seeknfind (by Giant's Causeway) as a broodmare. Seeknfind would go on to foal , who won the Best Older Horse Award from Kochi Racecourse in 2023.
On June 10, 2005, Seeking the Pearl was found dead in her pasture at Lane's End Farm. The exact cause of her death was unknown but her connections said that she "showed no signs of injury or struggle, indicating her death had been sudden, perhaps caused by lightning." She was pregnant with a foal of Giant's Causeway when she died.
In popular culture An anthropomorphic version of Seeking the Pearl appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby and is voiced by Ayaka Fukuhara.
Pedigree
Seeking The Pearl was an inbred by 5 x 5 to Bold Ruler (Boldnesian's and Irish Castle's sire).
References