Sakura Chitose O

Sakura Chitose O
サクラチトセオー
Sakura Chitose O at the 1995 Takarazuka Kinen.
BreedThoroughbred
SireTony Bin
GrandsireKampala
DamSakura Clear
DamsireNorthern Taste
SexStallion
Foaled11 May 1990
Died30 January 2014 (aged 23)
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederTanioka Bokujo
OwnerSakura Commerce Co.
Racing colours
TrainerKatsutaro Sakai
JockeyFutoshi Kojima
Hitoshi Matoba
Record21: 9-3-3
Earnings¥520,979,000
Major wins
Nakayama Kinen (1994)
Keio Hai Autumn Handicap (1994)
American JCC (1995)
Tenno Sho (Autumn) (1995)
Awards
JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (1995)

Sakura Chitose O (Japanese: サクラチトセオー, Hepburn: Sakura Chitose Ō; 11 May 1990 – 30 January 2014) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He competed from 1992 to 1995, recording nine wins in twenty-one starts, including the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in 1995. He received the JRA Award for Best Older Colt or Horse for his performances that year.

Background

Sakura Chitose O was a bay horse bred in Shizunai, Hokkaido, by Tanioka Bokujo. He was sired by Tony Bin, an Irish-bred stallion who won the 1988 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before standing in Japan. His dam, Sakura Clear, was a daughter of the influential sire Northern Taste.

He was owned by Sakura Commerce Co. and trained by Katsutaro Sakai at the JRA's Miho Training Center. Throughout his racing career, he was primarily ridden by jockey Futoshi Kojima.

Racing career

1992–1993: Early career

Sakura Chitose O debuted on October 11, 1992, at Tokyo Racecourse, winning his maiden race on the turf. He won a subsequent allowance race at Nakayama Racecourse in December.

In the spring of 1993, he contested the NHK Hai (GII), finishing third behind My Shinzan. He subsequently entered the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, GI) in May, where he finished eleventh behind Winning Ticket.

1994: Four-year-old season

Returning in 1994, Sakura Chitose O won the Nakayama Kinen (GII) in March, securing his first graded stakes victory. In September, he contested the Keio Hai Autumn Handicap (GIII). Ridden by Hitoshi Matoba, he won the race and set a new Japanese record for 1600 meters on turf with a time of 1:32.1.

He finished sixth in his first attempt at the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October, and sixth in the Arima Kinen (GI) in December.

1995: Five-year-old season

Sakura Chitose O began his 1995 campaign by winning the American JCC (GII) in January. In May, he contested the Yasuda Kinen (GI). Starting as the favorite, he finished second, losing by a nose to the UAE-trained horse Heart Lake.

In June, he ran in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI). During the race, he was positioned near Rice Shower when the latter suffered a catastrophic injury and fell. Sakura Chitose O avoided physical contact but was visibly affected by the incident, losing his momentum and finishing seventh behind Dantsu Seattle.

On October 29, 1995, Sakura Chitose O entered the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (GI) at Tokyo Racecourse. Ridden by Kojima, he was positioned near the rear of the field for the majority of the race. In the final straight, he accelerated on the outside, overtaking the leader Genuine in the final strides to win by a nose. This victory marked his first GI win and made him and his half-sister Sakura Candle (who won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup that same year) the seventh pair of siblings to win GI races in Japan since the grading system was introduced in 1984.

He made his final start in the Arima Kinen (GI) on December 24, 1995, finishing third behind Mayano Top Gun. He was officially retired following this race.

Statistics

The following table details all 21 starts of Sakura Chitose O's racing career based on official netkeiba and JBIS records.

Date Distance (Condition) Race Class Course Odds
(Favourite)		 Field Finish Time Winning
(Losing)
Margin		 Winner
(2nd Place)		 Jockey Ref
1992 – two-year-old season
Oct 11 Turf 1600 m (Firm) 3-Y-O Newcomer Maiden Tokyo 3.4 (1st) 15 1st 1:36.3 –0.2 (Hashino Hayato) Futoshi Kojima
Dec 19 Turf 1600 m (Firm) Hiiragi Sho Allowance Nakayama 5.0 (2nd) 15 1st 1:35.0 –0.7 (Hashino Hayato) Futoshi Kojima
1993 – three-year-old season
May 1 Turf 2400 m (Firm) Aoba Sho Open Tokyo – 16 Scratched – – Stage Champ Futoshi Kojima
May 9 Turf 2000 m (Firm) NHK Hai GII Tokyo 8.8 (3rd) 13 3rd 2:01.5 0.8 My Shinzan Futoshi Kojima
May 30 Turf 2400 m (Firm) Tokyo Yushun GI Tokyo 21.1 (6th) 18 11th 2:27.9 2.4 Winning Ticket Futoshi Kojima
1994 – four-year-old season
Feb 5 Dirt 1400 m (Fast) Setsubun Sho Allowance Tokyo 1.5 (1st) 16 3rd 1:26.3 0.1 Royal Harbor Futoshi Kojima
Feb 20 Turf 1600 m (Firm) TV Saitama Hai Allowance Tokyo 4.2 (2nd) 15 1st 1:34.6 –0.4 (Kioi Smart) Futoshi Kojima
Mar 13 Turf 1800 m (Firm) Nakayama Kinen GII Nakayama 6.7 (3rd) 14 1st 1:48.9 –0.2 (Fujiyama Kenzan) Futoshi Kojima
Apr 10 Turf 2000 m (Firm) April Stakes Open Nakayama 1.3 (1st) 10 2nd 2:00.1 0.0 Under King Futoshi Kojima
May 1 Turf 2300 m (Firm) Metropolitan Stakes Open Tokyo 1.4 (1st) 10 1st 2:20.9 –0.3 (Mermaid Tavern) Futoshi Kojima
Jun 12 Turf 2200 m (Firm) Takarazuka Kinen GI Hanshin 21.6 (4th) 14 6th 2:12.6 1.4 Biwa Hayahide Futoshi Kojima
Sep 11 Turf 1600 m (Firm) Keio Hai Autumn Handicap GIII Nakayama 3.8 (2nd) 14 1st R1:32.1 –0.1 (Air Real) Hitoshi Matoba
Oct 30 Turf 2000 m (Firm) Tenno Sho (Autumn) GI Tokyo 11.9 (4th) 13 6th 1:59.1 0.5 Nehai Caesar Futoshi Kojima
Nov 13 Turf 1800 m (Firm) Fuji Stakes Open Tokyo 1.3 (1st) 11 1st 1:46.9 –0.6 (Stabilizer) Futoshi Kojima
Dec 25 Turf 2500 m (Firm) Arima Kinen GI Nakayama 17.9 (5th) 14 6th 2:33.3 1.1 Narita Brian Futoshi Kojima
1995 – five-year-old season
Jan 22 Turf 2200 m (Firm) American JCC GII Nakayama 3.9 (2nd) 10 1st 2:14.4 –0.1 (Hokuto Vega) Futoshi Kojima
Mar 12 Turf 1800 m (Good) Nakayama Kinen GII Nakayama 1.4 (1st) 12 2nd 1:50.4 0.1 Fujiyama Kenzan Futoshi Kojima
May 14 Turf 1600 m (Firm) Yasuda Kinen GI Tokyo 3.3 (1st) 18 2nd 1:33.2 0.0 Heart Lake Futoshi Kojima
Jun 4 Turf 2200 m (Good) Takarazuka Kinen GI Kyoto 4.4 (1st) 17 7th 2:10.9 0.7 Dantsu Seattle Futoshi Kojima
Oct 8 Turf 1800 m (Soft) Mainichi Okan GII Tokyo 4.1 (2nd) 14 4th 1:49.0 0.6 Sugano Oji Futoshi Kojima
Oct 29 Turf 2000 m (Firm) Tenno Sho (Autumn) GI Tokyo 5.3 (2nd) 17 1st 1:58.8 –0.0 (Genuine) Futoshi Kojima
Dec 24 Turf 2500 m (Firm) Arima Kinen GI Nakayama 7.0 (4th) 12 3rd 2:34.0 0.4 Mayano Top Gun Futoshi Kojima

Stud career

Following his retirement, Sakura Chitose O stood at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Hokkaido. He later moved to Rex Stud in Shinhidaka. He sired 5 graded stakes winners during his stud career. He was retired from stud duties in 2011 and spent his remaining years as a pensioner at Shinwa Bokujo. He died of old age on January 30, 2014, at the age of 23.

Sakura Chitose O is depicted as an anthropomorphic character in the multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, developed by Cygames.

Notable progeny

Pedigree

Pedigree of Sakura Chitose O (JPN)
Sire
Tony Bin (IRE)
1983		 Kampala (GB)
1976		 Kalamoun Zeddaan
Khairunissa
State Pension Only For Life
Lorelei
Severn Bridge (GB)
1965		 Hornbeam Hyperion
Thicket
Priddy Fair Preciptic
Campanette
Dam
Sakura Clear (JPN)
1982		 Northern Taste (CAN)
1971		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Lady Victoria Victoria Park
Lady Angela
Clare Bridge (USA)
1967		 Quadrangle Cohoes
Tap Day
Abeyance Lass Ambiorix
Vulcania

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "サクラチトセオー (Sakura Chitose O) - Profile & Race Record". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "【95年JRA賞 決定】年度代表馬はGI2勝のマヤノトップガン". Yushun (in Japanese) (February 1996). Japan Racing Association. 1996.
  3. 1 2 "サクラチトセオー - 5代血統表". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 "サクラチトセオー 競走成績". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "【重賞プレイバック】第39回京王杯オータムハンデ（GIII）サクラチトセオー". Yushun (in Japanese) (November 1994). Japan Racing Association. 1994.
  6. ↑ "【第45回安田記念】UAE勢が前哨戦に続いて優勝! ハートレイク". Yushun (in Japanese) (July 1995). Japan Racing Association. 1995.
  7. ↑ "【今月の記録室】第36回宝塚記念（GI）ダンツシアトル". Yushun (in Japanese) (August 1995). Japan Racing Association. 1995.
  8. ↑ "【第112回天皇賞（秋）】直線大外。Going My Way サクラチトセオー". Yushun (in Japanese) (December 1995). Japan Racing Association. 1995.
  9. ↑ "【今月の記録室】"サクラ"兄妹が揃ってGI制覇". Yushun (in Japanese) (January 1996). Japan Racing Association. 1996.
  10. 1 2 "種牡馬情報：世代・年次別｜サクラチトセオー". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  11. 1 2 "サクラチトセオーを訪ねて～レックススタッド". Uma Furusato (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "サクラチトセオー老衰死 95年の天皇賞・秋など重賞4勝". Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). 31 January 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "サクラチヨノオー". Umamusume: Pretty Derby Official Site (in Japanese). Cygames. Retrieved 22 June 2026.