// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the "Admire Moon" say? You're stellar.
| Admire Moon アドマイヤムーン | |
|---|---|
 October 29, 2006 Tokyo Racecourse | |
| Breed | Thoroughbred |
| Sire | End Sweep |
| Grandsire | Forty Niner |
| Dam | My Katies |
| Damsire | Sunday Silence |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | February 23, 2003 |
| Died | September 2026 (aged 23) |
| Country | Japan |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Northern Farm |
| Owner | Riichi Kondo Darley Japan Farm Co Ltd |
| Racing colours |  →  |
| Trainer | Hiroyoshi Matsuda |
| Jockey | Yutaka Take Yasunari Iwata |
| Record | 17: 10–2–2[1] |
| Earnings | 870,462,000 JPY +3,000,000 USD +5,900,000 HKD |
| Major wins | |
| Sapporo Nisai Stakes (2005) Kyodo Tsushin Hai (2006) Yayoi Sho (2006) Sapporo Kinen (2006) Kyoto Kinen (2007) Dubai Duty Free Stakes (2007) Takarazuka Kinen (2007) Japan Cup (2007) | |
| Awards | |
| Japanese Horse of the Year (2007) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2007) | |
Admire Moon (Japanese: アドマイヤムーン, Hepburn: Adomaiya Mūn; February 23, 2003 – September 2026) was a Japanese racehorse and breeding stallion who won the 2007 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, Takarazuka Kinen and Japan Cup.
Background
[edit]Admire Moon was foaled on February 23, 2003, at Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido, Japan. He was bred by Katsumi Yoshida. He was sired by champion sire End Sweep, and his dam was My Katies, a daughter of Sunday Silence. During the 2003 Japan Horse Racing Association Select Sale, Admire Moon was sold to Riichi Kondo for ¥16 million (roughly $135,000). [2] He was trained by Ritto Training Center trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda.
Racing career
[edit]2005: two-year-old season
[edit]In 2005, Admire Moon started four times. He won the Clover Cho and the Sapporo Nisai Stakes, and came second in the Radio Tampa Hai Nisai Stakes.[3][4]
2006: three-year-old season
[edit]At the beginning of his three-year-old season, Admire Moon won the Kyodo Tsushin Hai. He then won the Yayoi Sho, a trial race for the Satsuki Sho. Admire Moon ran in the Satsuki Sho later in 2006, his first Grade I race. He placed 4th to Meisho Samson.[4] He then went to Tokyo for the Japanese Derby, the Tokyo Yushun, where he placed 7th, also to Meisho Samson. That August, Admire Moon ran in the Sapporo Kinen, winning it.[5]
Admire Moon returned to Tokyo in late October for the Tenno Sho, not the Kikuka Sho (the Japanese St. Leger), and finished 3rd to Daiwa Major. In December, he traveled to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Cup, his first-ever race outside Japan. He finished second to Pride by a nose.[6]
2007: four-year-old season
[edit]In 2007, he raced in Kyoto Kinen and won. He then headed to Dubai for the Dubai Duty Free Stakes. He finished first by half a length, winning his first ever Group One race, over Linngari, Daiwa Major, etc.[7] One month later, he raced in Hong Kong again at the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in which he came third behind Viva Pataca and Vengeance of Rain.[8] On June 24, ridden by jockey Yasunari Iwata, he took on the Takarazuka Kinen by a vote of fans and finished first by half a length ahead of Vodka (the 2007 Tokyo Yushun winner), Daiwa Major etc., winning his first Grade I race in Japan.[9]
In the middle of his four-year-old season, Admire Moon was sold by his owner Riichi Kondo to Godolphin for ¥4 billion ($33 million). The sale was confirmed on July 24 of that year.[10]
Admire Moon then ran in the Japan Cup the same year in November and won by a head over Pop Rock. With the Takarazuka Kinen win earlier in the year, Admire Moon earned a ¥130 million bonus in addition to over ¥250 million in prize money. Admire Moon retired after winning the Japan Cup.[11] Overall, he raced 17 times, came first ten times, came second twice, and came third twice. After his retirement, he was named the Japanese Horse of the Year for 2007, as well as top older male.[12]
Death
[edit]Darley Japan announced Admire Moon's death on September 7, 2026. He was 23.[13][14]
Racing form
[edit]Admire Moon won ten races and struck podium four times out of 17 starts. This data is available based on JBIS, netkeiba, Hong Kong Jockey Club and Emirates Racing Authority.[3][1][6][8][7]
| Date | Racecourse | Race | Grade | Distance (Condition) |
Entry | HN | Odds
(Favored) |
Finish | Time | Margins | Jockey | Winner
(Runner-up) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jul 10 | Hakodate | 2yo Newcomer | 1,800 m (Firm) | 16 | 11 | 8.0 (5) | 1st | 1:54.4 | –0.4 | Masaru Honda | (Grass Week) | |
| Aug 27 | Sapporo | Clover Sho | OP | 1,500 m (Firm) | 10 | 10 | 2.4 (1) | 1st | 1:29.5 | 0.0 | Masaru Honda | (Nishino Answer) |
| Oct 1 | Sapporo | Sapporo Nisai Stakes | 3 | 1,800 m (Firm) | 13 | 13 | 2.9 (1) | 1st | 1:50.4 | –0.2 | Masaru Honda | (Deep Air) |
| Dec 24 | Hanshin | Radio Tampa Hai Nisai Stakes | 3 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 12 | 8 | 2.2 (1) | 2nd | 2:01.9 | 0.0 | Masaru Honda | Sakura Mega Wonder |
| 2006 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Feb 5 | Tokyo | Kyodo News Service Hai | 3 | 1,800 m (Firm) | 11 | 1 | 2.8 (2) | 1st | 1:48.4 | –0.1 | Yutaka Take | (Fusaichi Richard) |
| Mar 5 | Nakayama | Yayoi Sho | 2 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 10 | 2 | 1.6 (1) | 1st | 2:01.5 | –0.1 | Yutaka Take | (Glorious Week) |
| Apr 16 | Nakayama | Satsuki Sho | 1 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 18 | 15 | 2.2 (1) | 4th | 2:00.4 | 0.5 | Yutaka Take | Meisho Samson |
| May 28 | Tokyo | Tokyo Yushun | 1 | 2,400 m (Good) | 18 | 10 | 5.9 (3) | 7th | 2:28.8 | 0.9 | Yutaka Take | Meisho Samson |
| Aug 20 | Sapporo | Sapporo Kinen | 2 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 15 | 11 | 3.2 (1) | 1st | 2:00.3 | –0.2 | Yutaka Take | (Les Clefs d'Or) |
| Oct 29 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | 1 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 16 | 15 | 6.0 (2) | 3rd | 1:59.0 | 0.2 | Yutaka Take | Daiwa Major |
| Dec 10 | Sha Tin | Hong Kong Cup | 1 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 12 | 7 | 11.0 (5) | 2nd | 2:01.6 | 0.0 | Yutaka Take | Pride |
| 2007 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Feb 17 | Kyoto | Kyoto Kinen | 2 | 2,200 m (Good) | 14 | 9 | 4.0 (2) | 1st | 2:17.2 | 0.0 | Yutaka Take | (Pop Rock) |
| Mar 31 | Nad Al Sheba | Dubai Duty Free Stakes | 1 | 1,777 m (Good) | 16 | 10 | 11/2 (1) | 1st | 1:47.9 | 0.1 | Yutaka Take | (Linngari) |
| Apr 29 | Sha Tin | Queen Elizabeth II Cup | 1 | 2,000 m (Firm) | 10 | 1 | 1.6 (1) | 3rd | 1:47.9 | 0.1 | Yutaka Take | Viva Pataca |
| Jun 24 | Hanshin | Takarazuka Kinen | 1 | 2,200 m (Good) | 18 | 6 | 6.7 (3) | 1st | 2:12.4 | –0.1 | Yasunari Iwata | (Meisho Samson) |
| Oct 28 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | 1 | 2,000 m (Good) | 16 | 12 | 3.8 (2) | 6th | 1:59.1 | 0.7 | Yasunari Iwata | Meisho Samson |
| Nov 25 | Tokyo | Japan Cup | 1 | 2,400 m (Firm) | 18 | 4 | 10.9 (5) | 1st | 2:24.7 | 0.0 | Yasunari Iwata | (Pop Rock) |
Legend:
Turf
Stud record
[edit]At the end of his racing career, Admire Moon was retired to become a breeding stallion at Darley Stud. The best of his offspring have included the sprinters Fine Needle and Seiun Kosei, both of whom won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.[15]
Admire Moon retired from stud duty and was pensioned after the 2024 season.[16]
Major winners
[edit]c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
bold = grade 1 stakes
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Archimedes | c | Asahi Challenge Cup |
| 2009 | Fine Choice | f | Hakodate Nisai Stakes |
| 2009 | Hakusan Moon | c | Keihan Hai, Ibis Summer Dash, Centaur Stakes |
| 2009 | Leo Active | c | Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap, Keio Hai Nisai Stakes |
| 2009 | Osumi Moon | c | Kokura Summer Jump, Hanshin Jump Stakes (2x), Kyoto Jump Stakes, Tokyo Jump Stakes, Tokyo High Jump |
| 2012 | Black Moon | c | Kyoto Kimpai |
| 2013 | Fine Needle | c | Silk Road Stakes, Centaur Stakes (2x), Takamatsunomiya Kinen, Sprinters Stakes |
| 2013 | Love and Pop | c | Tokyo Jump Stakes, Tokyo High Jump |
| 2013 | Moonquake | g | Keio Hai Spring Cup |
| 2013 | Seiun Kosei | c | Hakodate Sprint Stakes, Takamatsunomiya Kinen |
| 2016 | Mani | c | Kyoto High Jump |
| 2019 | Okini | g | Hanshin Jump Stakes |
Pedigree
[edit]| Sire End Sweep |
Forty Niner | Mr. Prospector | Raise a Native |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Digger | |||
| File | Tom Rolfe | ||
| Continue | |||
| Broom Dance | Dance Spell | Northern Dancer | |
| Obeah | |||
| Witching Hour | Thinking Cap | ||
| Enchanted Eye | |||
| Dam My Katies |
Sunday Silence | Halo | Hail to Reason |
| Cosmah | |||
| Wishing Well | Understanding | ||
| Mountain Flower | |||
| Katies First | Kris | Sharpen Up | |
| Doubly Sure | |||
| Katies | Nonoalco | ||
| Mortefontaine F-No. 7-f |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Admire Moon Race Record and Form". netkeiba. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Admire Moon Won Japan Cup and Retired". Japan Racing Horse Association. November 26, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- 1 2 "Admire Moon (JPN) | Race Record". jbis.jp. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Admire Moon". Darley. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ↑ "Admire Moon Race Record and Form | Horse Profile". netkeiba. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- 1 2 "The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup Results - Race 8". racing.hkjc.com. December 10, 2006. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Dubai Duty Free Sponsored By Dubai Duty Free". Emirates Racing Authority. March 31, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "The Audemars Piguet QE II Cup Results - Race 8". racing.hkjc.com. April 29, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Admire Moon charges late to pick up victory". The Japan Times. June 25, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Admire Moon Sold to Godolphin". Bloodhorse. July 24, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ↑ "ジャパンC、アドマイヤムーンが有終V" [Japan Cup: Admire Moon achieves a triumphant final victory.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). November 25, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ "JRA Award Winners Named". Bloodhorse. January 30, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ Darley in Japan [@DarleyinJapan] (September 7, 2026). "2024年に種牡馬を引退した後、ダーレーで余生を過ごしていたアドマイヤムーンが、先日、病気のため永眠いたしました。" (Tweet) (in Japanese) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ "2007年の年度代表馬アドマイヤムーンが死す…23歳 ダーレー・ジャパンがXで発表". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). September 7, 2026. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Record | Stallion Reports | Admire Moon(JPN) | JBIS-Search". JBIS.
- ↑ "07年の年度代表馬アドマイヤムーンが種牡馬引退、２頭の短距離G1馬を送る ホークビルも引退". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 27, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
Dubai Turf winners | |
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| 1990s |
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| 2000s |
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| 2010s |
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| 2020s |
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Legend - ♥ = Filly or Mare | |
Takarazuka Kinen winners | |
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| 1960s |
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| 1970s |
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| 1980s |
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| 1990s |
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| 2000s |
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| 2010s |
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| 2020s |
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Legend - ♥ = Filly or Mare | |
Japan Cup winners | |
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| 1980s |
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| 1990s |
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| 2000s |
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| 2010s |
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| 2020s |
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Note: All horses were bred in Japan unless noted Legend - ₩ = Autumn Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly or Mare | |
