Vodka repeats as Japanese Horse of the Year

Vodka, the highest earning mare, has always been a record-breaking female

since her debut in 2006. After scoring many resounding victories including

becoming the first filly to win Japanese Derby in 64 years, Vodka currently has

seven Grade 1 titles under her belt, which is the highest number for a female.

Among her seven Grade 1 victories, six were scored at Tokyo Racecourse,

including two consecutive Yasuda Kinen titles (2008-09) and a thrilling

photo-finish nod in the Japan Cup last out.

Vodka is expected to retire and join the broodmare ranks after making her

swan song in the March 27 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).

The Special Award this year was given to COMPANY (Miracle Admire), who became

the first-ever in JRA history to score a Grade 1 victory at the age of eight,

and he did so twice. In the Tenno Sho Autumn (Jpn-G1), Company beat the

defending champion Vodka and upset a field of top-caliber horses. He concluded

his career next time out with a score in the Mile Championship (Jpn-G1). The

Special Award is only given in years when there are candidates, who displayed

outstanding performance beyond existing categories. Company was a unanimous

choice by the committee.

The winners of all 10 awards were won by vote totals exceeding 220. Vodka and

APAPANE (King Kamehameha) were unanimous choices in their categories, securing

all 287 votes cast for the Best Older Mare and the Best Two-Year-Old Filly,

respectively. Apapane wrapped up her title with a victory in the Hanshin

Juvenile Fillies (Jpn-G1).

BUENA VISTA (Special Week) -- a sensational filly who won two legs of the

filly's Triple Crown races, the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas) (Jpn-G1)

and Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (Jpn-G1) -- obtained 286 votes for the Best

Three-Year-Old Filly.

The other divisional champions are ROSE KINGDOM (King Kamehameha), who sealed

Best Two-Year-Old Colt honors after taking the Asahi Hai Futurity (Jpn-G1) and

Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai (Jpn-G3); Best Three-Year-Old Colt LOGI UNIVERSE (Neo

Universe), hero of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Jpn-G1); Best Sprinter or

Miler LAUREL GUERREIRO (King Halo), winner of the Sprinters S. (Jpn-G1) and

Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Jpn-G1); Best Dirt Horse ESPOIR CITY (Gold Allure), who

capped a breakout season with a 3 1/2-length decision in the Japan Cup Dirt

(Jpn-G1); and KING JOY (Marvelous Sunday), honored as Best Steeplechase Horse.

Trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, the 12-time winner of the JRA Award for most wins,

added another title in two years to his growing list. In September, he became

the 13th trainer to reach the milestone of 1,000 wins, making him the fastest

and youngest to claim that record in JRA history. Vodka's trainer, Katsuhiko

Sumii, also won the Best Trainer Award for training technique. Hidetaka Otonashi,

Company's trainer, was the winner of Best Trainer Award for money earned.

Hiroyuki Uchida, the winner of Best Jockey Award for most wins, broke the

record of Yasunari Iwata for most mounts earned in a single season and recorded

955 mounts as of December 20. Kohei Matsuyama, who debuted in March 2009,

received the Best Newcomer award.

The Equine Culture Award, which recognizes noteworthy achievements and

contributions to Japanese equine culture, was presented to "A Social History of

Horse Racing 1: The Birth of Japanese Race Tracks and the Flutter of Betting

Tickets in the Age of 'Civilization and Enlightenment'" by Kenji Tachikawa.

The Equine Culture Award of Merit went to Hisae Imai, a well-known horse

photographer, who has passed away last February, to honor her devotions and

contributions to the equine culture.