Gran Alegria bids Her fans Farewell in Nakayama
Retirement ceremony for Japan’s six-time primary-prize winning mare Gran Alegria was held at Nakayama Racecourse on December 18. At sunset, she entered the race where she won the 2020 Sprinters Stakes (G1) with a superb foot swing at the hands of Christophe Lemaire. She may have misunderstood that she won’t have to race from now on, and it looks like her switch has been turned on, as she is a bit concerned about appearing in front of a limited crowd of approx. 4,000 people.
Gran Alegria is a daughter of Deep Impact in Tapit mare Tapitsfly , who in 2012 won First Lady Stakes (G1T) and Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) in the United States. She has captured 9 of her 15 starts, including Oka Sho in 2019 (One Thousand Japanese Guineas, G1), Yasuda Kinen (G1), Sprinters Stakes and Mile Championship (G1) in 2020 and into 2021 is the Victoria Mile (G1) and a second Miles championship. She beat Japan’s best mare Almond eyes in 2020 Yasuda Kinen under the leadership of Kenichi Ikezoe. This year’s Mile Championship on November 21 in Hanshin is her last race.
Her coach, Kazuo Fujisawa, who will retire in February, said: “Although this is my last year, being able to coach her is a good study. I want to tell her. her, ‘Good job, good job, and thank you.'”
Lemaire said: “Gran Alegria is a special horse to me so I am very reassured that she will be back on the ranch. Her life is amazing. I have a good feeling every time I ride her. Her way of running is different from others.”
“Whenever I ride her, she’s a woman so I can ride (her) very (easily) and she can run to her ability,” Ikezoe said, adding with a laugh: She was very strong in Yasuda Kinen and I prayed after that Christophe would ride the other horses.”
Gran Alegria will return to her home at the North Farm to be a mother hen and be mated with Epiphaneia next year.
Gran Alegria was bred by Northern Farm, CEO Katsumi Yoshida purchased Tapitsfly for $1.85 million from Romans Racing & Sales at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s flagship livestock share sale, on year 2012.
Yoshida said of Gran Alegria: “It was difficult to find such a fast horse in the first place. “I think she might be the fastest horse in the world. I hope that her ponies inherit her speed. If they were mares, they would be good mares. and I thought it would be great if a boy could make a good stallion.”
Shunsuke Yoshida of Sunday Racing, the campaign company Gran Alegria, said: “Her first child will be out as early as three and a half years. It’s a pity that I can’t debut as a member of the team. Fujisawa Stable, but I would be grateful if her children were supported to return to the field.”
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/255652/gran-alegria-bids-her-fans-farewell-at-nakayama Gran Alegria bids Her fans Farewell in Nakayama
