Cesario (horse)

Cesario[1]
Cesario parading the paddock, Oka Sho 2005
SireSpecial Week[1]
GrandsireSunday Silence[1]
DamKirov Premiere[1]
DamsireSadler's Wells[1]
SexMare[1]
Foaled31 March 2002[1]
Died27 February 2021(2021-02-27) (aged 18)[1]
CountryJapan[1]
ColourBlack[1]
BreederNorthern Farm[1]
OwnerCarrot Farm Co. Ltd.[1]
TrainerKatsuhiko Sumii[1]
Record6: 5–1–0[1]
Earnings274,433,400 JPY[2]
JPN: 228,296,000 JPY[1]
USA: 450,000 USD
Major wins
Yushun Himba (2005)
American Oaks (2005)
Flower Cup (2005)
Awards
JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Filly (2005)
JRA Award for Best Horse By Home-bred Sire
Last updated on February 20, 2024

Cesario (Japanese: シーザリオ, March 31, 2002 – February 27, 2021) was a champion Japanese thoroughbred racehorse who won the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and American Oaks in 2005.[3]

Background

Cesario's sire Special Week was a champion horse who won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in 1998, as well as the Tenno Sho (Spring), Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Japan Cup in 1999.[4] Her dam, Kirov Premiere, a horse bred in Britain and trained in Ireland, also had good performance on turf who won the Group 3 race Rutgers Handicap in 1993.[5][6]

The horse is named after the alias used by the main character of the Shakespeare play Twelfth Night.[3]

Racing career

2004: Two-year-old season

Cesario's racing career started, with Yuichi Fukunaga in saddle, in a maiden race over 1600 meters held at Hanshin Racecourse on December 25.[7]

2005: Three-year-old season

Cesario began her second season with the 2000 meter race Kanchiku Sho, defeating Admire Fuji by a neck.[8] Two months later she moved up in class and set her sights on a graded race debut with the Grade III Flower Cup, an 1800 meter race at Nakayama Racecourse.[9] She won by two and half lengths, breaking the race's record in the process.

After becoming a graded race winner, her next race was the Oka Sho, the first race of Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown (Triple Tiara). As Fukunaga announced he would ride Rhein Kraft in the same race, Cesario's jockey was changed to Minoru Yoshida.[10] The race was close, with Rhein Kraft defeating Cesario by a head.[11][12]

Later, she raced in the second leg of Triple Tiara, which was the Grade I race Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) held at Tokyo Racecourse. As her main rival Rhein Kraft chose to join the NHK Mile Cup, Cesario could once again be ridden by Fukunaga in the race.[13] She finished the last three furlongs in 33.3 seconds, winning her first Grade I crown by a neck.[14][15]

Cesario's trainer Katsuhiko Sumii announced their plan to join the American Oaks. After a one-month break, she arrived at Hollywood Park on 20 June to compete with several strong rivals such as unbeaten horse Melhor Ainda, Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas) winner Silver Cup and Oaks d'Italia runner up Hallowed Dream.[16][17] Cesario won by four lengths and broke the record with a time of 1:59.03, becoming the first Japanese trained three-year-old horse to win an overseas Grade 1 race.[18] Because of her great performance in this race, Cesario was described as a "Japanese Super Star" by a local race commenter.[19]

After returning to Japan, Cesario originally planned to come back to America and participate in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf held at Belmont Park in November.[20] However, she showed symptoms of Suspensory Desmitis, causing the plans to be scrapped.[21]

For her efforts in winning two Oaks titles, Cesario was given the JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Filly and JRA Award for Best Horse By Home-bred Sire.[22]

2006: Four-year-old Season

In the beginning of 2006, as Cesario showed a good recovery, Sumii planned to let her race in the inaugural Grade I race Victoria Mile.[23] However, Cesario developed symptoms of Suspensory Desmitis again. As a result, Carrot Club decided to retire her to become a broodmare in order to avoid any future risk.[24]

Breeding record

Cesario was retired to become a broodmare at Northern Farm.[24] As of 2024, she had produced twelve named foals and ten winners including three Group 1 race champions, who in turn became Group 1 producing sires:[25]

Racing statistics

Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search,[1] netkeiba.com,[40] and Equibase.[41]

Date Track Race Grade Distance
(Condition)
Entry HN Odds
(Favored)
Finish Time Margins Jockey Winner
(Runner-up)
2004 – two-year-old season
Dec 25 Hanshin 2yo Newcomer 1,600 m (Firm) 16 10 4.2 (2) 1st 1:36.7 -0.2 Yuichi Fukunaga (Dantsu Queen Bee)
2005 – three-year-old season
Jan 9 Nakayama Kanchiku Sho ALW 2,000 m (Firm) 16 11 10.3 (4) 1st 2:01.6 -0.0 Yuichi Fukunaga (Admire Fuji)
Mar 19 Nakayama Flower Cup 3 1,800 m (Firm) 14 2 1.4 (1) 1st 1:49.0 -0.4 Yuichi Fukunaga (Slew Rate)
Apr 10 Hanshin Oka Sho 1 1,600 m (Firm) 18 7 3.9 (1) 2nd 1:33.5 0.0 Minoru Yoshida Rhein Kraft
May 22 Tokyo Japan Oaks 1 2,400 m (Firm) 18 4 1.5 (1) 1st 2:28.8 -0.0 Yuichi Fukunaga (Air Messiah)
Jul 3 Hollywood Park American Oaks 1 1+14 mi (Firm)[a] 12 13 5.4 (2) 1st 1:59.03 -- Yuichi Fukunaga (Melhor Ainda)

Legend:
  Turf

  1. ^ The distance of American Oaks is approximately 2,000 meters

An anthropomorphized version of Cesario appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Haruka Sato.[42]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Cesario (JPN), black mare 2002[43][44]
Sire
Special Week (JPN)
1995
Sunday Silence (USA)
1987
Halo Hail to Reason
Cosmah
Wishing Well Understanding
Mountain Flower
Campaign Girl (JPN)
1987
Maruzensky Nijinsky
Shell
Lady Shiraoki Saint Crespin
Miss Ashiyagawa
Dam
Kirov Premiere (GB)
1990
Sadler's Wells (USA)
1981
Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason
Special
Querida (IRE)
1975
Habitat Sir Gaylord
Little Hut
Principia Le Fabuleux
Pia

Death

On 27 February 2021, Cesario died of hemorrhagic shock caused by arterial rupture in uterus during pregnancy.[45][46][47]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Cesario(JPN)". JBIS Search. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  2. ^ "シーザリオCesario(JPN)". JRA. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  3. ^ a b "父)シーザリオ". Carrot Club. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  4. ^ "Special Week(JPN)". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  5. ^ "Kirov Premiere". www.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  6. ^ "Kirov Premiere (GB)". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  7. ^ "シーザリオ、差し切り". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2004-12-25. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  8. ^ "【寒竹賞】(中山)〜シーザリオ デビュー2連勝". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2005-01-09. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  9. ^ "フラワーC、シーザリオ無傷の3連勝". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2005-03-19. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  10. ^ 優駿 (in Japanese). Chuo Keiba PR Center. May 2020. p. 120.
  11. ^ "第65回 桜花賞". Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  12. ^ "桜花賞、ラインクラフトが制す". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2005-04-10. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  13. ^ Hiramatsu, Satoshi (2015). 世界を制した日本の名馬たち : 誰も書かなかった名勝負の舞台裏. 欧米・オセアニア編 (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: KADOKAWA. p. 111. ISBN 9784046012289. OCLC 925463831.
  14. ^ "第66回 オークス". Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  15. ^ "オークス G1 | 重賞ウィナーレポート". uma-furusato.com. 2005-05-22. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  16. ^ "【アメリカンオークス】(3日・米国)〜シーザリオが無事到着". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2005-06-21. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  17. ^ Hiramatsu, Satoshi (2020-06-26). "宝塚記念の有力馬サートゥルナーリアの母シーザリオ、アメリカでのエピソード". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  18. ^ "【アメリカンオークス】シーザリオ4馬身差の圧勝、日米オークス制覇". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2005-07-04. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  19. ^ 優駿 (in Japanese). Chuo Keiba PR Center. April 2021. p. 71.
  20. ^ 優駿 (in Japanese). Chuo Keiba PR Center. August 2005. p. 4.
  21. ^ "シーザリオ、右前繋靭帯炎を発症". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2005-07-22. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  22. ^ 優駿 (in Japanese). Chuo Keiba PR Center. February 2006. pp. 10–11.
  23. ^ 優駿 (in Japanese). Chuo Keiba PR Center. April 2006. pp. 32–33.
  24. ^ a b "日米オークス馬・シーザリオ引退". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  25. ^ "Family | Cesario(JPN) | JBIS-Search". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  26. ^ "Twelfth Night(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  27. ^ "Viola(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  28. ^ "Epiphaneia(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  29. ^ "Rosalind(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  30. ^ "Claudio(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  31. ^ "Leontes(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  32. ^ "Globe Theatre(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  33. ^ "Celia(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  34. ^ "Saturnalia(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  35. ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2025-12-21). "【朝日杯FS】カヴァレリッツォが中団から差し切り2歳マイル王!サートゥルナーリア産駒はGI初制覇". サンスポZBAT! (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  36. ^ "First Folio(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  37. ^ "Lupercalia(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  38. ^ 木南友輔 (2025-12-25). "名牝シーザリオを母に持つ4頭目の種牡馬ルペルカーリアの種付け料は50万円!レックスが発表 - 競馬 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  39. ^ "Tempest(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  40. ^ "シーザリオ (Cesario) 競走馬データ - netkeiba". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  41. ^ "Horse Profile for Cesario (JPN)". Equibase. Equibase Company LLC. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  42. ^ "シーザリオ|ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト|Cygames". ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  43. ^ "Five-generation Pedigree Table". JBIS Search. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  44. ^ "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba.com. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  45. ^ Takahashi, Masakazu (2021-02-18). "Japanese Blue Hen Cesario Dies at 19". Blood Horse.
  46. ^ "シーザリオが死ぬ 05年に日米オークス制覇". Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  47. ^ "シーザリオ死亡 2005年オークス&アメリカンオークス招待S勝ち馬". SanSpo (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-26.

See also