Maurice (horse)
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Maurice, ( ja, モーリス, link=no, foaled 2 March 2011) is a 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. After showing promise as a two-year-old he disappointed in 2014, being well-beaten in all four of his races. In 2015 he emerged as one of the best milers in the world with an unbeaten record of six wins from six races. After two minor wins early in the year he recorded his first important success in the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy before taking the Grade I
Yasuda Kinen The Yasuda Kinen (English: Yasuda Memorial, Japanese and Chinese language: 安田記念) is a Japanese International Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at the Tokyo Racecourse in Tokyo. Raced annually each June, the Yasuda Kinen is run at a di ...
. He returned in autumn to win the
Mile Championship The Mile Championship is an Graded stakes race, International Grade I Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) on the turf at Kyoto Ra ...
and then defeated a strong international field in the
Hong Kong Mile The Hong Kong Mile 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 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December ...
. His performances in 2015 saw him named Best Japanese Sprinter or Miler and
Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This award originally started as pa ...
. In the following year he won the Champions Mile before moving up i distance in the autumn to win the
Tenno Sho The is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade I races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Gra ...
and the
Hong Kong Cup The Hong Kong Cup 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 2000 metres (about miles or 10 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year ...
.


Background

Maurice is a bay horse with a white
star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...
and four white
socks 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 ...
bred in Japan by the Togawa Bokujo. He is from the first crop of foals sired by
Screen Hero Screen Hero ( ja, スクリーンヒーロー, link=no, foaled 18 April 2004) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire (horse), sire best known for winning the 2008 Japan Cup. In his first two seasons he showed above-average racing ability, ...
, the winner of the 2008
Japan Cup The is one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan. It is contested on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters (about miles) run under weight for age conditions with ...
: others from the same crop have included the Arima Kinen winner Gold Actor. Maurice's dam Mejiro Frances showed no ability on the track, failing to win or place in eight starts, but has produced three minor winners. She was a great-granddaughter of Mejiro Bosatsu whose other descendants have included 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 ...
winner Mejiro Dober. In 2013, the two-year-old colt was put up for auction at the Hokkaido Breeders' Association sale and was bought for ¥10,500,000 by Kazumi Yoshida of Northern Farm. The colt was sent into training with Naohiro Yoshida.


Racing career


2013: two-year-old season

Maurice made his racecourse debut in a contest for previously unraced horses over 1400 metres 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 6 October and won in a record time of 1:20.6. He was then moved up in class for the Grade II Keio Hei Nisan Stakes at
Tokyo Racecourse is located in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1933 for horse racing, it is considered the "racecourse of racecourses" in Japanese horseracing. It has a capacity of 223,000, with seating for 13,750. Tokyo Racecourse hosts numerous G1 (Grade 1) r ...
in November. Ridden by the British jockey Ryan Moore he started the 1/2 favourite but finished sixth of the fourteen runners behind Karada Legend. He ended the season by winning a race over 1400 metres at
Hanshin Racecourse is located in Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan. It has a capacity of 139,000 and it is used for horse racing. The land was originally owned by Kawanishi Aircraft Company, which manufactured combat planes during World War II World War I ...
on 23 December.


2014: three-year-old season

Maurice began his second season by finishing behind Mikki Isle in the Grade III Nikkan Sports Sho
Shinzan Kinen The Shinzan Kinen (in Japanese: シンザン記念), short for Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen, is a Grade III race for three-year-olds in the JRA. Race Details The race was named to honor Shinzan Shinzan (シンザン; 2 April 1961 – ...
over 1600 metres at Kyoto in January and then ran fourth behind Rosa Gigantea in the Grade II Fuji TV Sho Spring Stakes (a trial race for the
Satsuki Sho Satsuki is a traditional Japanese name for the month of . It is commonly used as a feminine given name and, more rarely, as a surname or a masculine name. Possible spellings Satsuki can be spelled using different ''kanji'' characters and can mean: ...
) at
Nakayama Racecourse is located in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. It is used for horse racing. It has a capacity of 165,676. It was built in 1990. Physical attributes Nakayama Race Course has two grass courses, a dirt course, and a jump course. The turf's measures 184 ...
in March. He ran twice in May finishing seventh in the Grade II Kyoto Shimbun Hai at Kyoto and third in the Shirayuri Stakes at the same track. He was later transferred to the stable of Noriyuki Hori and did not race again in 2014.


2015: four-year-old season

After a break of almost eight months, Maurice returned to win the Wakashio Sho at Nakayama in January and added a victory in the Spica Stakes at the same track in March. The colt was then moved up in class for the Grade III Lord Derby Challenge Trophy, a handicap race over 1600 metres at Nakayama on 5 April. Ridden by Keita Tosaki he produced a strong finish to win by three and a half lengths from Clarity Sky, covering the last 200 metres in 10.9 seconds. On 7 June at Tokyo, Maurice was one of seventeen horses to contest the Grade I Yasuda Kinen and started the 2.7/1 favourite. His opponents included the Grade I winners Danon Shark (
Mile Championship The Mile Championship is an Graded stakes race, International Grade I Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) on the turf at Kyoto Ra ...
), Curren Black Hill (
NHK Mile Cup The NHK Mile Cup () is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately one mile) on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse in May. The NHK Mile Cup is sponsored b ...
), Mikki Isle, Meisho Mambo (
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 ...
,
Shuka Sho Shuka ( sa, शुक , also Shukadeva ) is a rishi (sage) in Hinduism. He is the son of the sage Vyasa and the main narrator of the scripture ''Bhagavata Purana''. Most of the ''Bhagavata Purana'' consists of Shuka reciting the story to the k ...
,
Queen Elizabeth II Cup The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres (ten ...
) and Real Impact (2011 Yasuda Kinen,
George Ryder Stakes The George Ryder Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in March or April. It i ...
). Ridden by Yuga Kawada he was settled in fifth place as Real Impact and Keiai Elegant disputed the lead before moving into third on the final turn. He took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and held off the late challenge of Vincennes to win by a neck. After the race Kawada said "He was a bit eager to go but I was able to keep him under control. He ran a really smooth race. I thought that we would be able to win easily but when Vincennes closed in behind us, I urged him to go, hoping that the colt will manage to fend him off. He has matured a lot since I last rode him over a year ago and so I was able to ride him with confidence". After a break of five months which was partly due to a back injury, Maurice returned for the Grade I Mile Championship at Kyoto on 22 November. He was made the 4.7/1 third favourite behind
Isla Bonita Isla Bonita ( ja, イスラボニータ, link=no, foaled 21 May 2011) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a juvenile in 2013 he showed very promising form as he won three of his four races including the Icho Stakes and the Tokyo ...
(
Satsuki Sho Satsuki is a traditional Japanese name for the month of . It is commonly used as a feminine given name and, more rarely, as a surname or a masculine name. Possible spellings Satsuki can be spelled using different ''kanji'' characters and can mean: ...
), Fiero and Satono Aladdin whilst the other fourteen runners included Danon Shark, Curren Black Hill, Real Impact, Vincennes, Let's Go Donki (
Oka Sho The is a Japanese Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan. The race is restricted to three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies and is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) at the Hanshin Racecourse, Takarazuka, Hyōgo in April. It was ...
), Clarity Sky (NHK Mile Cup), Logotype (
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 ...
, Satsuki Sho), Keiai Elegant and Red Reveur (
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (阪神ジュベナイルフィリーズ) is a one-mile turf stakes race for thoroughbred fillies two years old. It is considered the ''de facto'' year-end championship for Japanese thoroughbred racing in the two-year- ...
). Ridden by Ryan Moore he raced on the wide outside throughout the race as Let's Go Donki set the pace and was still well back in the field on the final turn. He accelerated in the straight as the leaders tired, took the lead 1000 metres from the finish and won by one and a quarter lengths and a neck from Fiero and Isla Bonita. Ryan Moore commented "I knew that he was probably going to be the best miler in the race and it was just a question of getting a clean trip and hopefully if we kept things straight forward, he would be able to show that he's the best horse, and he did. He showed a really good turn of foot in the last 400 meters. I rode him when he was a two-year-old but he's developed into a fast strong horse". He became the tenth horse, and the first since
Daiwa Major Daiwa Major ( ja, ダイワメジャー, link=no) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. A horse who excelled at distances of , he won the Satsuki Shō, the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown in 2004. His greatest succ ...
, to complete the Yasuda Kinen- Mile Championship double. For his final appearance of the season, Maurice was sent to contest the
Hong Kong Mile The Hong Kong Mile 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 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December ...
at
Sha Tin Racecourse Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin District, Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club. Penfold Park is encircled by the track, and the Hon ...
on 13 December and started second favourite behind the outstanding local miler
Able Friend Able Friend ( zh, 步步友:, link=no foaled 19 September 2009) is an Australian-bred, Hong Kong-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing some promise when winning one of his two races in his native country, the gelding was transferred to r ...
with Fiero and Danon Platina (Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes) accompanying him on the trip from Japan. Europe was represented by
Esoterique Esoterique (foaled 4 April 2010) is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old she won the Prix Vanteaux and finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches but then missed the second half of the season. At fo ...
,
Toormore Toormore (19 March 2011 – 22 February 2018) was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the champion two-year-old in Europe in 2013 when he was undefeated in all his races including the Vintage Stakes and Vincent O'Brien ...
, the
Premio Vittorio di Capua The Premio Vittorio di Capua is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Milan over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September or Oct ...
winner Red Dubawi and the
Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's incepti ...
runner-up Mondialiste. Ryan Moore again restrained the colt on the outside for most of the way before making a forward move in the straight. Able Friend briefly gained the advantage from the local outsider Giant Treasure, but Maurice accelerated past the two Hong Kong horses in the last 100 metres to win by three quarters of a length from the rallying Giant Treasure, with Able Friend a neck away in third. After the race, Moore said "It went very smoothly, he was probably not quite at his best but he fought really well".


2016: five-year-old season

Maurice was expected to begin his 2016 campaign in the
Dubai Turf The Dubai Turf, known as Dubai Duty Free 1996 to 2014. is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,800 metres (1 mile 1 furlong) on the turf at Meydan Racecourse in D ...
at
Meydan Racecourse Meydan Racecourse is a racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The grandstand is over a mile in length, and can accommodate over 60,000 spectators. Meydan opened on 27 March 2010, replacing Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which formerly occupi ...
in March but was withdrawn from the race after a training setback. He made his seasonal debut with a return to Hong Kong for the Champions Mile on 1 May. He was ridden by the local jockey João Moreira and started favourite ahead of the local runners Contentment ( Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup), Giant Treasure ( Stewards' Cup) and Beauty Only (
Chairman's Trophy The Chairman's Trophy is a Group 2 set weights Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin over a distance of 1600 metres, and takes place in early April. Horses three years old and older are qualified to enter this race ...
). Maurice raced in mid-division before accelerating in the straight and won by two lengths from Contentment. Moreira commented "When I gave him the daylight, he went on his own... The feeling he gave me today, very few horses could give to their jockeys." Maurice returned to Japan and started favourite to repeat his 2015 success in the Yasuda Kinen in which he was ridden by Tommy Berry. He sustained his first defeat for more than two years as he fought against Berry's attempts to restrain him in the early stages and was beaten one and a quarter lengths by the six-year-old Logotype. Berry explained "The pace was slower than I expected and I couldn't get cover behind horses so he couldn't be patient". After a two and a half month break, Maurice returned to the track and was moved up in distance for the Grade II
Sapporo Kinen The Sapporo Kinen (Japanese 札幌記念) is a Grade 2 Handicap horse race for Thoroughbreds aged three and over run in August over a distance of 2,000 metres at Sapporo Racecourse. It was first run in 1965 and was promoted to Grade 3 in 1984. ...
over 2000 metres at
Sapporo Racecourse is located in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. It was built in 1907 for horse racing use. It has 12,000 seats, with a capacity of 30,000. Sapporo Racecourse hosts one GII (Grade 2) race, the Sapporo Kinen. Physical attributes Main turf c ...
on 21 August. He started odds-on favourite but was beaten into second by his stablemate Neorealism. He was then given another break before being trained for the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho over 2000 metres at Tokyo on 30 October. Before the race Hori commented "His right and left foreleg action is unbalanced, so it's been important to work on this, but he's clearly better cornering to the left, and given the long straight at Tokyo, he should be fine. As for the distance, on his breeding it's not a worry." Ridden by Ryan Moore he started favourite against fourteen opponents including
A Shin Hikari A Shin Hikari (Japanese エイシンヒカリ, foaled 3 May 2011) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He began his racing career as a three-year-old in 2014 when he won his first five races including the Listed Ireland Trophy. In the following ...
, Lovely Day, Real Steel (
Dubai Turf The Dubai Turf, known as Dubai Duty Free 1996 to 2014. is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,800 metres (1 mile 1 furlong) on the turf at Meydan Racecourse in D ...
) and Logotype. The favourite raced in sixth place behind A Shin Hikari but then moved out to deliver his challenge down the centre of the course in the straight. He joined the leaders 300 metres out and drew ahead to win by one and a half lengths from the fast-finishing Real Steel with Staphanos taking third place. Ryan Moore said after the race "He's a very good horse, he's strong at a mile and very hard to beat. Today I thought 2,000 meters was probably his best performance. He's very strong, he's got a good turn of foot and he was dominant today. He couldn’t have been more impressive." Maurice and Moore where reunited when the horse made what was expected to be his final racecourse appearance in the
Hong Kong Cup The Hong Kong Cup 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 2000 metres (about miles or 10 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year ...
over 2000 metres at Sha Tin on 11 December. He was made odds-on favourite ahead of
Designs On Rome Designs On Rome (foaled 17 March 2010) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for his performances in Hong Kong where he was named Horse of the Year in 2014. Background Designs On Rome is a bay gelding bred in Ireland by th ...
and A Shin Hikari in a twelve-runner field. The other runners included Lovely Day, Staphanos and Queens Ring (
Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (''Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup'' until 2012) is an Graded stakes race, International Grade 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbred Filly, fillies and mar ...
) from Japan, Elliptique ( Bayerisches Zuchtrennen) from France and five other runners from Hong Kong headed by Secret Weapon
Jockey Club Cup A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
and Blazing Speed (
Queen Elizabeth II Cup The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres (ten ...
,
Champions & Chater Cup Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late May or early June at Sha Tin Racecourse. A Group One race that offers a purse of HK$12,000,000, it is run on turf over a distance of 2400 meters (prior ...
). The favourite started slowly and was restrained towards the rear of the field as A Shin Hikari set the pace and opened up a clear lead. Maurice began to make progress in the last quarter mile, overtook A Shin Hikari inside the final furlong and quickened away to win by three lengths. Ryan Moore explained that the poor start had made things more difficult but added "When we found room to run, he just let down... He's improved every time I rode him. He's a big, strong horse and he's got better with racing". When asked if the horse would now be retired to stud, Noriyuki Hori said "That's what they're writing in the newspapers".


Stud career

Maurice travels as a shuttle stallion each year between the
Shadai Stallion Station is a thoroughbred breeding facility located in Abira on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. The farm was begun in the late 1970s to early 1980s by the late Zenya Yoshida, and is now run jointly by his sons (Katsumi, Haruya, and Teruya Yoshida), know ...
in Japan for the northern hemisphere breeding season and the
Arrowfield Stud Arrowfield Stud is a thoroughbred stud farm comprising 2,500 acres in the fertile Segenhoe Valley, near Scone in the Upper Hunter Valley. Established in 1985, Arrowfield Stud is the largest Australian owned thoroughbred stud and currently stands ...
in Australia for the southern hemisphere.


Notable progeny

''c =
colt Colt(s) or COLT may refer to: *Colt (horse), an intact (uncastrated) male horse under four years of age People * Colt (given name) *Colt (surname) Places *Colt, Arkansas, United States *Colt, Louisiana, an unincorporated community, United States ...
, f = filly'', g =
gelding A gelding is a castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male equine to be calmer and better-behaved, makin ...
''


Assessment and awards

In January 2016 Maurice was nominated in three categories of the 2015 JRA Awards. In the poll for
Japanese Horse of the Year The Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Since 1987 the honor has been part of the JRA Awards. This award originally started as pa ...
he received 215 of the 291 votes to take the title ahead of Lovely Day,
Duramente Duramente ( ja, ドゥラメンテ, link=no, 22 March 2012 – 31 August 2021) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2015 he completed the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown by winning the Satsuki Shō and the Tokyo Yūshun before h ...
and Kitasan Black. He was also named Best Sprinter or Miler with 243 votes, ahead of the mare Straight Girl but in the poll for Best Older Male Horse he was beaten 174-114 by Lovely Day. In the JRA Awards for 2016 Maurice finished runner-up in the polling for three separate categories- Horse of the Year, Best Older Male and Best Sprinter or Miler. He did however receive the JRA Special Award. In the 2016 edition of the
World's Best Racehorse Rankings The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (LWBRR), known as World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (WTRR) before 2012, are horseracing's equivalent to World Rankings by other major sporting organizations such as ATP Tennis Rankings, World Golf R ...
Maurice was given a rating of 127 (level with A Shin Hikari), making him the 5th best racehorse in the world and the top-rated horse in Japan.


Pedigree


References

{{Reflist 2011 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Japan Racehorses trained in Japan Thoroughbred family 10-d