Oguri Cap
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| Oguri Cap | |
|---|---|
 Oguri Cap in retirement in 1995 | |
| Sire | Dancing Cap |
| Grandsire | Native Dancer |
| Dam | White Narubi |
| Damsire | Silver Shark |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 27 March 1985 |
| Died | 3 July 2010 (aged 25) |
| Country |  Japan |
| Colour | Gray |
| Breeder | Inaba Bokujō |
| Owner | Koichi Oguri → Isoo Sahashi → Toshinori Kondo |
| Trainer | Masao Sumi → Tsutomu Setoguchi |
| Record | 32: 22-6-1 NAR: 12: 10-2-0 JRA: 20: 12-4-1 |
| Earnings | ¥ 912,512,000 |
| Major wins | |
| Mainichi Okan (1988, 1989) Arima Kinen (1988, 1990) Sankei Sho All Comers (1989) Mile Championship (1989) Yasuda Kinen (1990) | |
| Awards | |
| JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1988) JRA Special Award (1989) JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (1990) NAR Grand Prix Special Award (1990) Japanese Horse of the Year (1990) | |
| Honours | |
| Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame (1991) | |
Oguri Cap (Japanese : オグリキャップ, 27 March 1985 – 3 July 2010) was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse and stud, sired by Dancing Cap.[1] Oguri Cap was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1991. A horse from the countryside who found success at the national level, he was known as a member of the "Heisei Big Three", a trio of racehorses who reignited interest in Horse racing in Japan alongside Super Creek and Inari One.
Popularity
[edit]Oguri Cap had a major impact on the sky Japanese horse-racing scene, thanks in no small part to his humble beginnings.
Due to starting his career in regional races, his move to the National scene came too late for him to be registered for the 1988 season of the Japanese Classic races, specifically the Satsuki Shō, the Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby) and the Kikuka Shō, collectively called the "Japanese Triple Crown". However, as Oguri Cap continued to win race after race, there was a popular outcry to allow him to participate in the classics despite missing the deadline. While the Japan Racing Association stood firm against allowing Oguri to participate, they did soon after change their rules to be less strict on registration, allowing late entries and even foreign-born horses to run in the classics, though with a hefty fee attached.[2] One of the beneficiaries of this new rule was T. M. Opera O.
Oguri Cap was extremely popular with fans, earning the nickname "Idol Horse", thanks to drawing crowds who watched the races for more than just race-betting, and was one of the first racehorses to have plush dolls made in his image, a form of merchandise that is now commonplace.[2]
Racing career
[edit]In May 1987, Oguri Cap made his debut at Kasamatsu Racecourse in Gifu Prefecture. After winning 9 starts in 11 races, including 7 consecutive victories and 4 stakes wins, he was transferred to the ownership of Chuo Horse Racing in January 1988. He recorded 13 more wins, including 4 Grade I stakes, 2 Grade II stakes, and 4 Grade III stakes. Some of his biggest wins included the 1989 Mile Championship (GI), two-time wins in the Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) (GI), and a win in the 1990 Yasuda Kinen (GI). He also won the New Zealand Trophy (GII), the Takamatsunomiya Hai (GII) and won the Mainichi Ōkan (GII) twice.
Oguri Cap was known for his rivalry with fellow gray-haired horse of the year Tamamo Cross, with whom he fought three times at the 1988 Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup, and Arima Kinen.
In 1988, Oguri Cap won the JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt and in 1990, he won both the JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse and Japanese Horse of the Year. His nicknames included "Oguri" and the "Grey-Haired Monster".
Racing record
[edit]In total, Oguri Cap raced 32 races in his career, with 22 wins and 4 Grade I victories.[3][4]
| Date | Race | Class | Distance | Racecourse | Track | Finish | Entry | Time | Jockey | Winner (2nd Place) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1987 | Two Year Old | 800m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 2 | 10 | 0:50.1 | Tatsuhiko Aoki | March Tosho | |
| Jun 2, 1987 | Two Year Old | 800m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 1 | 7 | 0:51.1 | Kazunari Takahashi | (North Hero) | |
| Jun 15, 1987 | Two Year Old | 800m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 1 | 9 | 0:49.8 | Tatsuhiko Aoki | (Fate Charles) | |
| Jul 26, 1987 | Two Year Old | 800m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 2 | 7 | 0:50.3 | Kazunari Takahashi | March Tosho | |
| Aug 12, 1987 | Two Year Old | 800m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 1 | 8 | 0:49.7 | Kazunari Takahashi | (March Tosho) | |
| Aug 30, 1987 | Open (Two Year Old) | 1400m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 1 | 10 | 1:30.3 | Katsumi Ando | (March Tosho) | |
| Oct 4, 1987 | Junior Crown | 1400m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 1 | 9 | 1:29.4 | Katsumi Ando | (March Tosho) | |
| Oct 14, 1987 | Chukyo Hai | 1200m | Chukyo | Turf | 1 | 12 | 1:10.8 | Katsumi Ando | (Ardent Love) | |
| Nov 4, 1987 | Tokubetsu (Two Year Old) | 1400m | Nagoya | Dirt | 1 | 12 | 1:29.8 | Katsumi Ando | (Hallow Princess) | |
| Dec 7, 1987 | Tokubetsu (Three Year Old & Up) | 1600m | Nagoya | Dirt | 1 | 10 | 1:44.4 | Katsumi Ando | (Young Oja) | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | Open (Two Year Old) | 1600m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 1 | 10 | 1:45.0 | Katsumi Ando | (Tokai Shark) | |
| Jan 19, 1988 | Open (Three Year Old) | 1600m | Kasamatsu | Dirt | 1 | 10 | 1:41.8 | Katsumi Ando | (March Tosho) | |
| Mar 6, 1988 | Pegasus Stakes | GIII | 1600m | Hanshin | Turf | 1 | 10 | 1:35.6 | Hiroshi Kawachi | (Rugger Black) |
| Mar 27, 1988 | Mainichi Hai | GIII | 2000m | Hanshin | Turf | 1 | 10 | 2:04.8 | Hiroshi Kawachi | (Foundry Dictor) |
| May 8, 1988 | Kyoto 4YO Tokubetsu | GIII | 2000m | Kyoto | Turf | 1 | 15 | 2:03.6 | Katsumi Minai | (Koei Spurt) |
| Jun 5, 1988 | New Zealand Trophy | GII | 1600m | Tokyo | Turf | 1 | 13 | 1:34.0 | Hiroshi Kawachi | (Lindo Hoshi) |
| Jul 10, 1988 | Takamatsunomiya Hai | GII | 2000m | Chukyo | Turf | 1 | 8 | 1:59.0 | Hiroshi Kawachi | (Land Hiryu) |
| Oct 9, 1988 | Mainichi Okan | GII | 1800m | Tokyo | Turf | 1 | 11 | 1:49.2 | Hiroshi Kawachi | (Sirius Symboli) |
| Oct 30, 1988 | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | 2000m | Tokyo | Turf | 2 | 13 | 1:59.0 | Hiroshi Kawachi | Tamamo Cross |
| Nov 27, 1988 | Japan Cup | GI | 2400m | Tokyo | Turf | 3 | 14 | 2:25.8 | Hiroshi Kawachi | Pay the Butler |
| Dec 25, 1988 | Arima Kinen | GI | 2500m | Nakayama | Turf | 1 | 13 | 2:33.9 | Yukio Okabe | (Tamamo Cross) |
| Sep 17, 1989 | Sankei Sho All Comers | GIII | 2200m | Nakayama | Turf | 1 | 13 | 2:12.4 | Katsumi Minai | (All Dash) |
| Oct 8, 1989 | Mainichi Okan | GII | 1800m | Tokyo | Turf | 1 | 8 | 1:46.7 | Katsumi Minai | (Inari One) |
| Oct 29, 1989 | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | 2000m | Tokyo | Turf | 2 | 14 | 1:59.1 | Katsumi Minai | Super Creek |
| Nov 19, 1989 | Mile Championship | GI | 1600m | Kyoto | Turf | 1 | 17 | 1:34.6 | Katsumi Minai | (Bamboo Memory) |
| Nov 26, 1989 | Japan Cup | GI | 2400m | Tokyo | Turf | 2 | 15 | 2:22.2 | Katsumi Minai | Horlicks |
| Dec 24, 1989 | Arima Kinen | GI | 2500m | Nakayama | Turf | 5 | 16 | 2:32.5 | Katsumi Minai | Inari One |
| May 13, 1990 | Yasuda Kinen | GI | 1600m | Tokyo | Turf | 1 | 16 | 1:32.4 | Yutaka Take | (Yaeno Muteki) |
| Jun 10, 1990 | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | 2200m | Hanshin | Turf | 2 | 10 | 2:14.6 | Junichiro Oka | Osaichi George |
| Oct 28, 1990 | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | 2000m | Tokyo | Turf | 6 | 18 | 1:58.9 | Sueo Masuzawa | Yaeno Muteki |
| Nov 25, 1990 | Japan Cup | GI | 2400m | Tokyo | Turf | 11 | 15 | 2:24.1 | Sueo Masuzawa | Better Loosen Up |
| Dec 23, 1990 | Arima Kinen | GI | 2500m | Nakayama | Turf | 1 | 16 | 2:34.2 | Yutaka Take | (Mejiro Ryan) |
Retirement
[edit]After retirement in 1991, Oguri Cap was sent to the Yushun Stallion Station to stand stud. He was not able to produce any racers of his caliber, and in 2007 he was retired from stud duty. After retirement, he lived as a pensioned stallion at the Yushun Stallion Station. On July 3, 2010, he fractured one of the tibias in his legs in an apparent pasture accident, and was subsequently euthanized.[5]
Legacy
[edit]A life-sized statue of Oguri Cap was erected at the Yushun Memorial Park in Niikappu, Hokkaido one year after the horse's death.[6][7]
In addition, another Oguri Cap statue was erected at Kasamatsu Racecourse and later refreshed in 2019.[8]
Popular culture
[edit]An anthropomorphized version of Oguri Cap has made an appearance as a playable character in the video game franchise Uma Musume Pretty Derby voiced by Tomoyo Takayanagi.[9]
Oguri Cap's real-life career would later be dramatized in Uma Musume's spin-off manga series Uma Musume Cinderella Gray. Produced by Junnosuke Itō, written by Masafumi Sugiura and illustrated by Taiyō Kuzumi, Cinderella Gray began serializing in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump on June 11, 2020 with the first collected tankōbon volume published on January 19, 2021.[10][11] As of September 2025[update], twenty-one volumes have been released.[12] It received an anime adaptation on 2025, airing on two split cours.[13] The first season, focused on Oguri Cap's debut at the Kasamatsu racecourse in 1987 to the 1988 Autumn Tenno Sho, aired from April 6 to June 29, 2025 with the second cour set to premiere on October 5, 2025.[14]
In the manga and anime series Nichijou, the character Mai Minakami owns a dog named Oguri Cap.[15]
Pedigree
[edit]Through Never Say Die, Oguri Cap is a descendant of War Admiral and Man o' War.
| Sire Dancing Cap |
Native Dancer | Polynesian | Unbreakable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Polly | |||
| Geisha | Discovery | ||
| Miyako | |||
| Merry Madcap | Grey Sovereign | Nasrullah | |
| Kong | |||
| Croft Lady | Golden Cloud | ||
| Land of Hope | |||
| Dam White Narubi |
Silver Shark | Buisson Ardent | Relic |
| Rose o'Lynn | |||
| Palsaka | Palestine | ||
| Masaka | |||
| Never Narbi | Never Beat | Never Say Die | |
| Bride Elect | |||
| Senju | Guersant | ||
| Star Narubi |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Oguri Cap (JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ a b Watase, Natsuhiko (1992). Gin no yume: Ogurikyappu ni kaketa hitobito. Tōkyō: Kōdansha. ISBN 978-4-06-205282-5.
- ^ "Oguri Cap (JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ "Oguri Cap Race Record and Form". netkeiba. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ "Racing Legend Oguri Cap dead at 25". The Japan Association for International Horse Racing. July 7, 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "オグリキャップ号一周忌法要並びに馬像除幕式が行われる" (Press release) (in Japanese). Yushun Company. 2011-07-03. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ "オグリキャップ馬像除幕式典が行われる". www.keiba.go.jp (in Japanese). 2011-07-04. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ "オグリキャップ、笠松競馬の守り神". 岐阜新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Gifu Shimbun. 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (2020-03-22). "Uma Musume Spinoff Anime Umayon's Video Reveals July Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ^ 「ウマ娘」オグリキャップが怪物と呼ばれるまで描く新連載がヤンジャンで. Natalie (in Japanese). June 11, 2020. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ ウマ娘 シンデレラグレイ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ ウマ娘 シンデレラグレイ 21 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
- ^ Tai, Anita (2025-02-22). "Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray Anime's New Video Unveils April 6 Debut, More Cast & Staff, Opening Song". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^
- Multiple sources in reference to CG second cour:
- Cayanan, Joanna (June 29, 2025). "Umamusume: Cinderella Gray Anime's New Teaser Confirms 2nd Part's October Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 1, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
- "ウマ娘 シンデレラグレイ：テレビアニメ第2クール 10月スタート 海外ウマ娘登場 領域〈〈ゾーン〉〉覚醒シーンも公開". MANTANWEB (in Japanese). 株式会社MANTAN. June 29, 2025. Archived from the original on July 1, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- "「ウマ娘 シンデレラグレイ」第2クールは10月放送開始、ティザーPV公開". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. June 29, 2025. Archived from the original on July 1, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 22, 2025). "Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray Anime Reveals Trailer, Character Visuals for Show's 2nd Part". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 23, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- "「シンデレラグレイ」第2クール、海外のライバルたちに甲斐田裕子ら OPは10-FEET". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. August 22, 2025. Archived from the original on August 23, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ^ Ishihara, Tatsuya; Takemoto, Yasuhiro; Ishidate, Taichi (2011-08-29), "Episode #1.22", Nichijou: My Ordinary Life, Shizuka Furuya, Hiromi Konno, Minoru Shiraishi, retrieved 2025-08-03
- ^ "Five-generation Pedigree Table". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba. Retrieved 2025-10-05.