Buena Vista named Japan's Horse of the Year

The Japan Racing Association named BUENA VISTA (Special Week) Horse of the

Year Friday. The recently turned five-year-old, who previously earned champion

two-year-old filly and champion three-year-old filly honors, is owned by Sunday

Racing Co., Ltd. and conditioned by Hiroyoshi Matsuda.

Bred by Northern Farm, Buena Vista posted a 7-3-4-0 record this past term

with earnings exceeding $7 million. She took the Kyoto Kinen (Jpn-G2) to kick

off 2010 before finishing second in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) at Meydan

in March. The dark bay returned to her homeland to annex the Victoria Mile

(Jpn-G1) and Tenno Sho Autumn (Jpn-G1) before a controversial and disappointing

end to her season.

Despite a decisive 1 3/4-length victory in the prestigious Japan Cup (Jpn-G1)

at Tokyo Racecourse November 28, the heavy favorite was demoted to second behind

Rose Kingdom (King Kamehameha), also owned by Sunday Racing Co. Ltd., for minor

interference in the stretch. Buena Vista finished the year with another

runner-up effort, losing by a desperate nose in the December 26 Arima Kinen

(Jpn-G1). She also earned champion older female honors and, according to

Racing Post, is being pointed to Dubai again.