Lys Gracieux ( ja, 'リスグラシュー, link=no, foaled 18 January 2014) is a champion Japanese

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she showed top-class form, winning two of her four starts (including the

Artemis Stakes The Artemis Stakes (Japanese アルテミスステークス) is a Grade 3 horse race for two-year-old Thoroughbred fillies run in October over a distance of 1600 metres at Tokyo Racecourse. The race was first run in 2012 and has held Grade 3 sta ...

) and finished second in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. In the following year she failed to win but was placed in several major races including the Oka Sho and the Shuka Sho. As a four-year-old she won the Tokyo Shimbun Hai and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup as well as running second in the

Victoria Mile The Victoria Mile () is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for four-year-old and above thoroughbred fillies and mares run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse in May. Winners See also * Horse ra ...

and the

Hong Kong Vase The Hong Kong Vase is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (about miles or 12 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year ...

and was awarded the

JRA Award for Best Older Filly or Mare The JRA Award for Best Older Filly or Mare is a title awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. Records Most successful horse (2 wins): * Dyna Actress – ''1987, 1988'' * Mejiro D ...

. In 2019 she had her most successful season as she took the Takarazuka Kinen in Japan and the

Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at Moo ...

in Australia before ending her track career with a victory in the

Arima Kinen The Arima Kinen (有馬記念) is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above and the world's largest betting horserace.

. She was the 2019 Japanese Horse of the Year and 2019 Best Older Filly or Mare. Lys Gracieux is one of the three highest earning racehorses in the world among the racehorses born in 2014, along with

Thunder Snow Thunder Snow (foaled 24 March 2014) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, the only two-time winner of the Dubai World Cup (2018, 2019). In 2016 he won a minor race on his track debut but was then beaten in his next four races although he ran ...

and Enable.

Background

Lys Gracieux is a dark bay or brown mare with a white blaze and a white

sock A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the feet and often covering the ankle or some part of the calf. Some types of shoes or boots are typically worn over socks. In ancient times, socks were made from leather or matted animal hair. In the late ...

on her left hind leg bred in Japan by Northern Farm. During her racing career she was trained by

Yoshito Yahagi Yoshito Yahagi(矢作芳人, ''Yahagi Yoshito'') (born March 20, 1961, in Tokyo, Japan) is a trainer of Thoroughbred race horses. He has been a licensed trainer in Japan since 2004 and since 2014 has won the training title three times. He has ...

and raced in the green, white and red colours of the Northern Farm affiliate U Carrot Farm. She was from the seventh crop of foals sired by Heart's Cry a horse whose wins included the

Arima Kinen The Arima Kinen (有馬記念) is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above and the world's largest betting horserace.

and the Dubai Sheema Classic. His other foals have included Admire Rakti,

Just A Way Just A Way (Japanese ジャスタウェイ, foaled 8 March 2009) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing useful, but unexceptional form in his early career he emerged as a major talent with a win in the 2013 Autumn edition of the Te ...

and

Suave Richard Suave Richard ( ja, スワーヴリチャード, link=no, foaled 10 March 2014) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2019 Japan Cup. He showed promising form as a juvenile in 2016 when he won one of his three races and ...

. Lys Gracieux's dam, Liliside showed high-class form on the track in France, winning five of her eleven starts including four Listed races. She was descended from the French broodmare Doublure whose other descendants have included

Greek Money Greek Money (foaled 1959 in Virginia) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes. Background Greek Money was a chestnut horse sired by Greek Song whose wins ...

Shirley Heights Shirley Heights (1 March 1975 – 17 March 1997) was a British Thoroughbred race horse and winner of the Derby in 1978. The colt had previously won the Royal Lodge Stakes and the Dante Stakes, and he went on to win the Irish Derby before his ra ...

Pentire Pentire (12 April 1992 – 20 November 2017) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Background Pentire was bred by Lord Halifax, he was purchased for 54,000 guineas by Mollers Racing, the racing stable Trust of brothers Eric and Budgi ...

and

Divine Proportions Divine Proportions (born 13 March 2002 in Kentucky) is a champion Thoroughbred race horse and winner of two French classics. Background Divine Proportions was bred by the Niarchos family. She was sired by the American-bred stallion Kingmambo. ...

Racing career

2016: two-year-old season

Lys Gracieux began her racing career by finishing second to the colt Root Directory in a contest for previously unraced juveniles over 1600 metres at

Niigata Racecourse is located in Kita-ku Niigata, Niigata. It is used for horse racing. It was built in 1965. The capacity of the stadium is 75,000. Physical attributes Niigata Race Course has a turf course with two distinct ovals, and a dirt course. Jump race ...

on 27 August. Two weeks later at Hanshin Racecourse she recorded her first success when she won a

maiden race In horse racing a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the se ...

over an 1800 metres in a record time of 1:46.2. On 29 October she was stepped up in class for the Grade 3 Artemis Stakes over 1600 metres at Tokyo Racecourse and started the 7/5 against seventeen opponents. Ridden by the veteran Yutaka Take she won by half a

length Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with dimension distance. In most systems of measurement a base unit for length is chosen, from which all other units are derived. In the Interna ...

from Flawless Magic. She was then moved up to the highest level for the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on 11 December. After racing towards the rear of the eighteen-runner field she produced a strong late charge but was unable to reel in the favourite

Soul Stirring Soul Stirring ( ja, ソウルスターリング, link=no, foaled 13 February 2014) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she won the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Filly after winning all three of her races including t ...

and finished second, beaten one and a quarter lengths by the winner. In the official Japanese ratings for 2016, Lys Gracieux was rated the second-best two-year-old filly, three pounds behind Soul Stirring.

2017: three-year-old season

On her first appearance as a three-year-old Lys Gracieux ran third behind Soul Stirring and Miss Panthere in the

Tulip Sho The Tulip Sho Japanese チューリップ賞} is a Japanese Grade 2 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies run over a distance of 1,600 metres at Hanshin Racecourse, Takarazuka, Hyogo. The race is run in March and serve ...

over 1600 metres at Hanshin on 4 March. In the Grade 1 Oka Sho over the same course and distance five weeks later she produced a sustained challenge in the straight and finished second, beaten half a length by the 40/1 outsider Reine Minoru with Soul Stirring in third place. When moved up in trip for the

Yushun Himba The , also known as the is a Japanese Grade 1 flat horse race for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately 1 mile 4 furlongs) at the Tokyo Racecourse, Fuchū, Tokyo in May. History It was first run i ...

at Tokyo on 21 May she came from well off the pace to come home fifth of the eighteen runners behind Soul Stirring. After a break of almost four months Lys Gracieux returned to the track in September and finished third to Rabbit Run in the Grade 2

Rose Stakes The Rose Stakes (Japanese language, Japanese ローズステークス) is a Japanese Group races, Grade 2 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Hyōgo Prefecture for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1800 m ...

over 1800 metres at Hanshin. In the Grade 1 Shuka Sho a month later the filly produced her customary late charge, caught the leader Mozu Katchan 50 metres from the finish but was overtaken by the fast-finishing Deirdre in the final strides. On her final run of the year Lys Gracieux came home eighth behind Mozu Katchan in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at

Kyoto Racecourse is located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is used for horse racing. It has a capacity of 120,000. It was built in 1999. History Kyoto Race Course opened on December 1, 1925. In preparation for the track's 100th anniversary ...

on 12 November.

2018: four-year-old season

Lys Gracieux began her third campaign in the Grade 3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai over 1600 metres on 4 February in which she started the 4.5/1 third choice in the betting behind Daiwa Cagney and Greater London. Ridden by Take she recorded her first win in sixteen months as she won by a length from the four-year-old colt Satono Ares (

Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes The Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (朝日杯フューチュリティステークス) is a one mile turf stakes race for thoroughbred colts two years old. It is considered the ''de facto'' year-end championship for Japanese thoroughbred racing in the t ...

). In April she started favourite for the Grade 2

Hanshin Himba Stakes The Hanshin Himba Stakes Japanese 阪神牝馬ステークス} is a Japanese Grade 2 flat horse race in Japan for Thoroughbreds fillies and mares of at least four years of age. It is run over a distance of 1400 metres at Hanshin Racecourse in A ...

but in a closely contested finish she ran third place, beaten a head and a neck by Miss Panthere and Red Avancer. In the Grade 1

at Tokyo on 13 May the filly went off the 3.3/1 favourite but despite making rapid progress in the straight she failed by a nose to catch the outsider Jour Polaire. In the Yasuda Kinen over the same course and distance on 3 June she made little impact and came home eighth of the sixteen runners behind

Mozu Ascot Mozu Ascot ( ja, モズアスコット, link=no, foaled 31 March 2014) is an American-bred Japanese-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who won Grade 1 races on turf and dirt. He did not race as a two-year-old in 2016 but in the following year he won ...

, beaten five and a half lengths by the winner. On her return from a five-month break Lys Gracieux finished second by a neck to Deirdre in the Fuchu Himba Stakes over 1800 metres at Tokyo on 13 October. Four weeks after her defeat in Tokyo the filly was partnered by João Moreira when she made her second attempt to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and started the 2.7/1 third choice in the betting behind Mozu Katchan and Normcore ( Shion Stakes) while the other fourteen entrants included Cantabile (

), Miss Panthere and Admire Lead (2017 Victoria Mile). Lys Gracieux race in mid-division before switching to the outside in the final turn and produced a sustained run in the straight to run down the front-running Crocosmia and win by a neck. Moreira commented "Today was her day. We were in a good position, two off the fence, and she had plenty left in the tank after angling out at the last turn. Under pressure, she responded very well and I had every confidence from the 300 meter point that we were going to win. She's a real champion." Lys Gracieux ended her season with a trip to Hong Kong to contest the

over 2400 metres at Sha Tin Racecourse on 9 December. With Moreira in the saddle she raced towards the rear of the field before launching a strong run on the outside in the straight. She gained the advantage in the last 200 metres but was overtaken in the final strides and beaten a neck by the locally trained Exultant. In January 2019 Lys Gracieux was named Best Older Filly or Mare at the

JRA Award The is given annually since 1987 by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) to the outstanding horses and people in Japanese Thoroughbred horse racing. The awards originally started as the in 1954 and since 1972 the {{Nihongo, Yūshun Awards, 優駿賞 ...

s for 2018 taking 265 of the 276 votes.

2019: five-year-old season

On her first run as a five-year-old in the Grade 2

Kinko Sho The Kinko Sho (Japanese 金鯱賞) is a Grade 2 horse race for Thoroughbreds aged four and over run in March over a distance of 2000 metres at Chukyo Racecourse. It was first run in 1965 and was promoted to Grade 3 in 1984 before becoming a Grade ...

over 2000 metres at Chukyo Racecourse on 10 March she started at odds of 7.7/1 in a thirteen-runner field and finished second to the four-year-old colt

Danon Premium Danon Premium, ( ja, ダノンプレミアム, link=no, foaled 3 April 2015) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the top-rated juvenile in Japan in 2017 when he was undefeated in three races including the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup and the A ...

. For her next run the mare was sent to Hong Kong for the second time to contest the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2000 metres at Sha Tin. Ridden by

Oisin Murphy Oisin Murphy (born 6 September 1995) is an Irish jockey based in the United Kingdom who competes in flat racing. He has won a British Classic and a number of Group 1 races. He was British Champion Jockey in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Early li ...

she was restrained in mid-division before making progress in the straight and came home third behind Win Bright and Exultant, beaten a length by the winner. On her return to Japan she was one of twelve horses to contest the 60th running of the Takarazuka Kinen over 2200 metres at Hanshin on 23 June. She was partnered by

Damian Lane Damian Lane (born 6 February 1994) is an Australian jockey based in Victoria. Lane was born in Bunbury in Western Australia to Michael Lane, a horse trainer, and Vickey Lane, who was also a horse trainer. He grew up around horses because of ...

and went off the 4.4/1 third choice in the betting behind Kiseki (2017 Kikuka Sho) and

Rey de Oro Rey de Oro ( ja, レイデオロ, link=no foaled 5 February 2014) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. As a juvenile in 2016 he was undefeated in three races including the Grade 2 Hopeful Stakes and was rated one of the best two-year-old colts ...

, while the other contenders included

Al Ain Al Ain ( ar, ٱلْعَيْن, , ) is a city in the western side of Tawam (region), Tuwwam region and the seat of the administrative division of its namesake, Al-Ain Region, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ...

and

Makahiki The Makahiki season is the ancient Hawaiian New Year festival, in honor of the god Lono of the Hawaiian religion. It is a holiday covering four consecutive lunar months, approximately from October or November through February or March. The focu ...

. After racing in second place behind the front-running Kiseki, Lys Gracieux challenged the favourite in the straight, gained the advantage 200 metres from the finish and drew away in the closing stages to win by three lengths. Lane commented "She broke well and I thought I might as well use that to my advantage. I was very confident turning in that she had plenty left in the tank and I was worried that there were a lot of good horses chasing and I thought that they would challenge but she was just too strong". In the autumn of 2019 Lys Gracieux was sent to Australia to contest the

over 2,040 metres at Moonee Valley on 26 October. She was given a special exemption to compete as horses who had raced in Hong Kong were banned from entering Australia unless they had spent at least 180 days in a third country in the interim, after the Australian Government raised concerns over China's biosecurity regulations. With Lane again in the saddle she was made the 6/4 favourite against thirteen opponents including Mystic Journey, Castelvecchio (

Champagne Stakes (ATC) The Champagne Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 horse race for two-year-old Thoroughbreds at set weights run at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia over a distance of 1,600 metres during the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Prize money is A$50 ...

), Magic Wand (runner-up in the Irish Champion Stakes), Avilius, Danceteria (

Bayerisches Zuchtrennen The Bayerisches Zuchtrennen is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Munich over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year on the last Sun ...

Verry Elleegant Verry Elleegant (foaled 12 October 2015) is a New Zealand-bred Australian-trained Thoroughbred racehorse that has won 11 Group One races. She was crowned the 2020/2021 Australian Racehorse of the Year, and was the winner of the 2021 Melbourne ...

, Cape of Good Hope (

Caulfield Stakes The Might and Power, registered as the Caulfield Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group One, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Caulfield R ...

) and Kings Will Dream (

Turnbull Stakes The Turnbull Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, for horses four years old and older, run under set weights with penalties conditions over a distance of 2,000 metres. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse, Melb ...

). Lys Gracieux raced towards the rear before beginning to make rapid progress on the outside approaching the final turn. She overhauled the three-year-old Castelvecchio 70 metres from the finish and kept on well to win by one and a half lengths. After the race Yoshito Yahagi said "I was confident beforehand as she has thrived since she arrived in Australia and was in even better form than when she was in Japan. I've been wanting to win this race for many years, ever since I saw Kingston Town win in 1982... I thought she was not going to make it, but Damian is a top jockey and Lys Gracieux is a very good horse. We will aim her at the

Arima Kinen The Arima Kinen (有馬記念) is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above and the world's largest betting horserace.

". As Yahagi had suggested, Lys Gracieux ended her season in the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres at Nakayama on 22 December. Ridden by Lane she went off the 5.7/1 second favourite behind

Almond Eye Almond Eye (Japanese アーモンドアイ, foaled 10 March 2015) is a champion Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown in 2018, and holds a world record over 2,400 meters on turf. She is also a two-time winn ...

in a sixteen-runner field which also included

Saturnalia Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple ...

, World Premiere, Suave Richard,

Fierement Fierement, ( ja, フィエールマン, link=no, foaled 20 January 2015) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a juvenile he won his first two starts as a three-year-old before running second in the Radio Nikkei Sho and the winning the ...

, Kiseki, Rey de Oro,

Cheval Grand Cheval Grand (in Japanese: シュヴァルグラン) (foaled March 14, 2012) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2016 Copa Republica Argentina and the 2017 Japan Cup Career Cheval Grand's first race was on September 21, 2014, wher ...

and Al Ain. Lane settled the mare on the inside rail towards the rear of the field as Aerolithe set a fast pace, and then switched to the outside in the straight. Lys Gracieux accelerated into the lead just inside the last 200 metres and drew right away from her opponents to win easily by five lengths. Lane said "I just had so much confidence in this horse... I just knew she was going to run a big race. It was a really good pace and I found a lovely spot back in the rail... a space opened up and she did the rest". In January 2020 Lys Gracieux was awarded the title of Japanese Horse of the Year, receiving 271 of the 274 votes as well as winning the

for the second time. In the

2019 World's Best Racehorse Rankings The 2019 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, sponsored by Longines was the 2019 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings. It was an assessment of Thoroughbred racehorses issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) on ...

Lys Gracieux was given a rating of 126, making her the fifth best racehorse in the world. Lys Gracieux is one of the three highest earning racehorses in the world among the racehorses born in 2014, along with

and Enable.

Pedigree

*Lys Gracieux was inbred 4 × 4 to Lyphard, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.

References

{{Reflist 2014 racehorse births Cox Plate winners Racehorses bred in Japan Racehorses trained in Japan Thoroughbred family 1-l