// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Urban Chic say to the city? "You're a 'concrete' example.
| Urban Chic アーバンシック[1] | |
|---|---|
 Urban Chic after winning the 2024 Kikka Sho | |
| Breed | Thoroughbred[1] |
| Sire | Suave Richard[1] |
| Grandsire | Heart's Cry[1] |
| Dam | Edgy Style[1] |
| Damsire | Harbinger[1] |
| Sex | Colt[1] |
| Foaled | March 16, 2021[1] |
| Color | Chestnut[1] |
| Breeder | Northern Farm[1] |
| Owner | Silk Racing[1] |
| Racing colours |  |
| Trainer | Ryo Takei[1] |
| Jockey | Christophe Lemaire[2] |
| Record | 14: 4-1-1[1] |
| Earnings | 401,912,000 JPY[1] |
| Major wins | |
| St Lite Kinen (2024) Japanese Classic Race wins: Kikuka-shō (2024) | |
| Last updated on August 30, 2026 | |
Urban Chic (Japanese: アーバンシック, Hepburn: Āban Shikku; foaled March 16, 2021) is a Japanese racehorse.[1] His major wins include the 2024 Kikka Sho and St Lite Kinen.
The horse's name, meaning "sophisticated", is a reference to her dam's name.[3]
Racing career
[edit]2023: two-year-old season
[edit]Urban Chic debuted in a race held over a course of 1,800 meters at Sapporo Racecourse with Takeshi Yokoyama as his jockey. He ran most of the race among the pack before passing over the rest on the final stretch, clinching his first victory.[4] Urban Chic also won his next race, the Hyakunichiso Tokubetsu, by passing the pack from behind.[5]
2024: three-year-old season
[edit]Urban Chic started the season off with his first graded race, the Keisei Hai held on January 14th at Nakayama Racecourse. While he was able to cover the last three furlongs in 33.9 seconds, he was unable to cover for the loss of meandering in to the inside, leading him to finish second behind future Derby winner Danon Decile.[6] This marked his first defeat. In his first Grade I race, the Satsuki Shō, he finished fourth.[7] At the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), he was unable to make a pass and finished 11th.[8]
At the parade ring of the 2024 Japanese Derby
He spent the summer recuperating and came back to the turf at the St Lite Kinen in Autumn. After running among the pack on the inside of the field, he slowly started to push up his position before showing immense speed on the final stretch. He passed the others in the field and managed to score his first graded race victory after his unimpressive last race.[9][10][11]
On the Kikka Sho held on October 20, after moving up from the middle to the front of the pack, quickly passed the rest of the pack on the final stretch, leading the horse to win his first Grade I title.[12] This was the third St Lite Kinen winner, after Symboli Rudolf and Kitasan Black, to win the Kikka Sho since Japan adopted graded race. Also, at this race, the groom in charge, Makoto Gunji, won the Best Turned Out Award.[13]
Urban Chic was announced to end his season at the Arima Kinen in December, sticking with Lemaire as his jockey.[14] As the race favourite, he missed his break but recovered well into the middle position, running in the inside lane. He had a good striking position leading up to the third corner, but he struggled to climb uphill in the later phase and finished in sixth place.[15]
2025: four-year-old season
[edit]Opening up the new season, Urban Chic ran in the Nikkei Sho at the end of March.[16] On a slightly less firm track, the horse broke well at the start. He took the final corner with ease but failed to accelerate on the hill section after passing it. He finished the race in third place behind the winner, Meiner Emperor.[17] The next race he joined would be the Takarazuka Kinen in June, his first ever grade 1 race in five months.[18] When the gates opened, he was out struck and ran the most of the race as the backmarker in 14th position. He never improved along the way and finished in 14th place in the end.[19]
Urban Chic at the paddock in 2025 Tenno Sho (Autumn).
_Paddock_02_Urban_Chic.jpg)
He was rested for the rest of the summer and resumed his season at the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in early November. His handler this time around would be a short-term licensed jockey from France, Alexis Pouchin.[20] In the early phase, Pouchin rode him mostly at the second most rear from the pack. He gradually made his chase as the race progressed, but there was too much ground to cover once he reached the final straight. He finished in fifth place.[21] After this race, his team accepted an invitation to join the Hong Kong Vase, which would be his first-ever overseas race.[22] Lemaire, who made his comeback this race, pushed Urban Chic to be among the leading pack as the race started. This strategy did not work out as he gassed out in the final straight and fell back in the pecking order.[23] He finished second last in tenth place that day. Lemaire said that Urban Chic was relaxed in the front but just could not reach the speed to close it out.[24] The horse returned home on December 17 and rested for the next year campaign.[25]
2026: five-year-old season
[edit]Early in this year, his team rejected two race offer from Qatar and Dubai because they decided to put him in the Kinko Sho instead.[26] He would be switching jockeys again on this occasion, as Kosei Miura would take the reins.[27] In the pre-race workout, Takei explained that they found his finishing kick lacking, but his movements, responses, and physical condition were excellent.[28] He performed terribly on race day as he finished dead last, 14th place behind Shake Your Heart. Miura said he was disappointed that the horse could not fulfill his true potential on the day.[29] Due to recent poor performance, the team sent him back to Northern Farm as they trained for the summer race, which would be the Niigata Kinen in late August.[30]
Approaching race day, Takei explained the horse's current condition. He said that the horse was not breathing well, but it had improved in training. He also claimed that despite this being the first time he raced at Niigata, he was confident on the adaptability of the said horse.[31] Contrary to what the trainer said, Miura, who's continued as his jockey, felt that the track did not suit him and struggled early. He made a late push in the final furlongs and finished in fifth place that day.[32] Miura commented on how he tried to alleviate the pain of coming out of the gate (referencing to his botched start at last season's Hong Kong Vase) during the race and also praised that the horse made good ground to become a good competitive GI horse once again.[33]
Racing Form
[edit]The form below is based on information available on netkeiba and JBIS.[2][34]
| Date | Track | Race | Grade | Distance (Condition) |
Entry | HN | Odds (Favored) |
Finish | Time | Margin | Jockey | Winner (Runner-up) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Aug 13 | Sapporo | 2YO Debut Race | 1,800m (Firm) | 10 | 6 | 2.3 (1) | 1st | 1:53.1 | 0.0 | Takeshi Yokoyama | (Victoria Doll) | |
| Nov 5 | Tokyo | Hyakunichiso Tokubetsu | L | 2,000m (Firm) | 9 | 4 | 4.1 (3) | 1st | 1:59.4 | -0.1 | Takeshi Yokoyama | (Margot Solare) |
| 2024 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 14 | Nakayama | Keisei Hai | GIII | 2,000m (Firm) | 15 | 6 | 3.0 (2) | 2nd | 2:00.6 | 0.1 | Takeshi Yokoyama | Danon Decile |
| Apr 14 | Nakayama | Satsuki Shō | GI | 2,000m (Firm) | 18 | 9 | 14.2 (6) | 4th | 1:57.5 | 0.4 | Takeshi Yokoyama | Justin Milano |
| May 26 | Tokyo | Tōkyō Yūshun | GI | 2,400m (Firm) | 18 | 8 | 8.3 (4) | 11th | 2:25.4 | 1.1 | Takeshi Yokoyama | Danon Decile |
| Sep 16 | Nakayama | St Lite Kinen | GII | 2,200m (Firm) | 14 | 1 | 3.1 (2) | 1st | 2:11.6 | -0.3 | Christophe Lemaire | (Cosmo Kuranda) |
| Oct 20 | Kyoto | Kikka Sho | GI | 3,000m (Firm) | 18 | 13 | 3.7 (2) | 1st | 3:04.1 | -0.4 | Christophe Lemaire | (Redentor) |
| Dec 22 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | GI | 2,500m (Firm) | 15 | 3 | 2.8 (1) | 6th | 2:32.3 | 0.5 | Christophe Lemaire | Regaleira |
| 2025 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 29 | Nakayama | Nikkei Sho | GII | 2,500m (Good) | 15 | 7 | 1.7 (1) | 3rd | 2:36.2 | 0.1 | Christophe Lemaire | Meiner Emperor |
| Jun 15 | Hanshin | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | 2,200m (Good) | 17 | 13 | 10.6 (6) | 12th | 2:13.5 | 2.4 | Christophe Lemaire | Meisho Tabaru |
| Nov 2 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | 2,000m (Firm) | 14 | 2 | 28.2 (11) | 5th | 1:58.8 | 0.2 | Alexis Pouchin | Masquerade Ball |
| Dec 14 | Sha Tin | Hong Kong Vase | GI | 2,400m (Good) | 11 | 6 | 4.5 (4) | 10th | 2:30.16 | 2.1 | Christophe Lemaire | Sosie |
| 2026 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 15 | Chukyo | Kinko Sho | GII | 2,000m (Firm) | 14 | 4 | 11.9 (7) | 14th | 1:59.1 | 1.0 | Kosei Miura | Shake Your Heart |
| Aug 30 | Niigata | Niigata Kinen | GIII | 2,000m (Good) | 11 | 9 | 18.4 (7) | 5th | 1:59.9 | 0.3 | Kosei Miura | Zoroastro |
Legend:
Turf
Pedigree
[edit]| Sire Suave Richard ch. 2014 |
Heart's Cry b 2001 |
Sunday Silence | Halo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wishing Well | |||
| Irish Dance | Tony Bin | ||
| Buper Dance | |||
| *Pirramimma dk.b. 2005 |
Unbridled's Song | Unbridled | |
| Trolley Song | |||
| Career Collection | General Meeting | ||
| River of Stars | |||
| Dam Edgy Style ch. 2013 |
*Harbinger b. 2006 |
Dansili | Danehill |
| Hasili | |||
| Penang Pearl | Bering | ||
| Guapa | |||
| Land's Edge ch. 2006 |
Dance in the Dark | Sunday Silence | |
| Dancing Key | |||
| Wind in Her Hair | Alzao | ||
| Burghclere (GB) (Family: 2-f)[37] |
- Urban Chic is inbred 3x4 to Sunday Silence, meaning the horse's name appears in both the third and fourth generations of this pedigree.
- Urban Chic's granddam, Land's Edge, is the half-sister to Black Tide, who sired Kitasan Black as well as Deep Impact.
- Urban Chic's great-granddam, Wind in Her Hair, won the Aral-Pokal in Germany, while her granddam, Highclere, won the Prix de Diane and the 1000 Guineas Stakes.
- Urban Chic also shares a mare line with Regaleira (Arima Kinen) and Stellenbosch (Oka Sho).
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Urban Chic(JPN)". JBIS Search. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- 1 2 "RECENT FORM". netkeiba.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "競走馬情報 アーバンシック". Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【札幌5R新馬戦結果】アーバンシックが鋭く差し切りデビューV". netkeiba (in Japanese). 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【百日草特別結果】アーバンシックが直線一気で無傷の2連勝！". netkeiba (in Japanese). 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【京成杯】最速３３秒９の末脚でアーバンシックが２着 内にもたれて修正 横山武史騎手「その分の差が出てしまったかも」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【皐月賞】６番人気アーバンシックが最後に伸びて４着 横山武史騎手「一歩ずつ成長している」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2024-04-14. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【日本ダービー】４番人気アーバンシック末脚不発１１着 横山武史騎手「スムーズに外に出せましたが…」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【セントライト記念】アーバンシックが鋭く差し切り重賞初制覇 ルメール騎手は９度目騎乗で初勝利". Sports Hochi. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【セントライト記念結果】アーバンシックが突き抜け重賞初制覇！". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【セントライト記念】アーバンシックが圧巻の切れ味発揮！反撃の秋へ初の重賞V". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【菊花賞 2024結果情報】アーバンシックが重賞連勝で最後の一冠制す | 競馬まとめ". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "【菊花賞】アーバンシックの郡司誠厩務員がベストターンドアウト賞を受賞 審査委員は９９年の菊花賞を勝った調教師". UMATOKU | 馬トク - スポーツ報知' (in Japanese). 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "G1 Kikuka Sho winner Urban Chic pairs up with Christophe Lemaire for the G1 Arima Kinen". netkeiba. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "Three-Year-Old Filly Regaleira Snatches 2024 Arima Kinen Title". japanracing.jp. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "G1 winner Urban Chic shows off in trackwork ahead of G2 Nikkei Sho". netkeiba. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ 【日経賞】アーバンシック3着 坂で勢い欠いた…ルメール「馬場が重かった」 [[Nikkei Prize] Urban Chic finishes 3rd, lacked momentum on the uphill section... Lemaire: "The track was heavy."]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 30 March 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "Urban Chic eyes redemption in G1 Takarazuka Kinen after sharp final trackwork". netkeiba. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "Meisho Tabaru Claims Wire-to-Wire Victory in All-Star Takarazuka Kinen". japanracing.jp. 15 June 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "Rising French star Alexis Pouchin arrives in Japan, set for G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) debut with Urban Chic". netkeiba. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "Masquerade Ball Win First G1 Victory Against Top Older Foes in Tenno Sho (Autumn)". japanracing.jp. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "Urban Chic fires sharp late split in final trackwork for the G1 Hong Kong Vase". netkeiba. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ Burton, Scott (14 December 2025). "Sosie and Guyon flash class to earn Andre Fabre a record-breaking fourth win in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase". The Hong Kong Jockey Club. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "LONGINES Hong Kong Vase – Post-race jockey quotes". The Hong Kong Jockey Club. 14 December 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ 香港M2着ソウルラッシュ、香港C2着ベラジオオペラ、香港C回避ロードデルレイなど香港遠征馬8頭が帰国 [Eight horses that traveled to Hong Kong have returned home, including Soul Rush (2nd in Hong Kong M), Bellagio Opera (2nd in Hong Kong Cup), and Lord Del Rey (who skipped Hong Kong Cup).]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 17 December 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ 香港遠征明けのアーバンシックはサウジアラビアのネオムターフC見送り カタールのアミールTも招待辞退 [Urban Chic, returning from a trip to Hong Kong, has declined the invitation to the Neom Turf C in Saudi Arabia, and has also declined the invitation to the Amir Tournament in Qatar.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 9 January 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "Urban Chic sharpens form with unusual Friday work ahead of G2 Kinko Sho". netkeiba. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "Urban Chic sharpens form with unusual Friday work ahead of G2 Kinko Sho". netkeiba. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ 【金鯱賞】24年菊花賞馬アーバンシックはまさかの最下位14着 完全復活ならず三浦皇成騎手「走り切れていない感じ」 [Kinko Stakes] Urban Chic, winner of the 2024 Kikuka Sho, surprisingly finished last in 14th place. Not a complete comeback. Jockey Kosei Miura: "It felt like he wasn't able to run to his full potential."]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 15 March 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ 24年菊花賞馬アーバンシックは新潟記念へ 金鯱賞14着後はNF天栄で調整中 [Urban Chic, winner of the 2024 Kikuka Sho, will head to the Niigata Kinen. After finishing 14th in the Kinshachi Sho, he is currently being trained at Northern Farm Tenei.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 24 July 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ 【新潟記念】24年菊花賞馬アーバンシック、1年10カ月ぶり勝利へ 舞台適性に自信 [[Niigata Kinen] Urban Chic, winner of the 2024 Kikuka Sho, aims for his first victory in 1 year and 10 months, confident in his suitability for the track.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 26 August 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "【新潟記念】ダノンシーマは頭+頭差3着 G1ホース5頭押さえ1番人気も 川田将雅騎手「すばらしい走りでした」" [[Niigata Kinen] Danon Cima finishes 3rd, one head behind the leader. Despite being the favorite among five G1 winners, jockey Yuga Kawada commented, "It was a wonderful run."]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 30 August 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ 【新潟記念レース後コメント】ゾロアストロ岩田望来騎手ら [[Post-Race Comments for the Niigata Memorial Race] Zoroastro, Jockey Mirai Iwata, and others]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 30 August 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Lifetime Starts". JBIS Search. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "アーバンシック - 競走馬詳細 - UMATOKU". 馬トク (in Japanese). 報知新聞社. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Hyacinthus Mare - Family 2-f". www.bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on 2024-09-10. Retrieved 2024-04-19.