Symboli Rudolf

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Symboli Rudolf
Symboli Rudolf and Yukio Okabe at the Tenno Sho (Spring) in 1985
SirePartholon
GrandsireMilesian
DamSweet Luna
DamsireSpeed Symboli
SexStallion
FoaledMarch 13, 1981
DiedOctober 4, 2011(2011-10-04) (aged 30)
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederSymboli Bokujo
OwnerSymboli Bokujo
TrainerYuji Nohira
JockeyYukio Okabe
Record16: 13–1–1
Earnings684,824,200 yen
Major wins
Yayoi Sho (1984)
Satsuki Sho (1984)
Tokyo Yushun (1984)
St Lite Kinen (1984)
Kikuka Sho (1984)
Arima Kinen (1984, 1985)
Tenno Sho (spring) (1985)
Japan Cup (1985)
Awards
Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Colt (1984)
Japanese Horse of the Year (1984, 1985)
Japanese Champion Older Colt or Horse (1985)
Honours
Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame (1987)
Last updated on June 27, 2009

Symboli Rudolf (Japanese : シンボリルドルフ, March 13, 1981 – October 4, 2011)[1][2] was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse who won the Japanese Triple Crown, sired by Partholon [ja], a son of Milesian, out of Sweet Luna, a daughter of Speed Symboli [ja]. Symboli Rudolf was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1987.[3] Due to his racing career and his namesake, Rudolf I of Germany, the horse was dubbed "Kōtei (皇帝)", or emperor.[4][5]

Background

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Symboli Rudolf's father, Partholon, was a leading sire in Japan, while Rudolf's mother, Sweet Luna, was the offspring of Speed Symboli, a famous horse born at Symboli Bokujo. Sweet Luna's first foal with Partholon was Symboli Friend, who, despite his talent, had a poor temper; his best race result was winning the Keio Hai Spring Handicap.[6][7] They had two more foals after that, but both had difficult temperaments and didn't see success. Nevertheless, Tomohiro Wada at Symboli Bokujo had the pair mate a fourth time, which resulted in Symboli Rudolf's birth in 1981. He had a crescent-moon-shaped mark on his forehead, and it was said that he only took twenty minutes to stand on his own after being born. While at the farm, he was called "Luna."[8]

Racing career

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Symboli Rudolf became the first undefeated Triple Crown champion (not losing a single race until winning Kikuka Sho, a feat later matched by Deep Impact in 2005 and Contrail in 2020) as well as the first Triple Crown winner since the introduction of Racing Grades in Japan.

Symboli Rudolf's first defeat was in the 1984 Japan Cup[9], an international event with champions from various parts of the world, the event was won by his rival Katsuragi Ace, but Symboli Rudolf managed to win the 1985 Japan Cup[10], his son Tokai Teio also won the 1992[11] Japan Cup, 7 years after his father.

Symboli Rudolf ultimately went on to win a total of 7 Grade I races in his career.[2]

1983: three-year-old season

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Symboli Rudolf won his maiden race on July 23, 1983 at Niigata Racecourse. His jockey, Yukio Okabe, said afterwards that the horse had raced a 1600-meter race in 1000 meters.

After being trained at Symboli Bokujo after his debut, he returned to Miura Training Center in early October before winning the Icho Stakes on October 29. When his trainer Yuji Nohira saw Okabe's riding, he said he had run a 2400-meter race in 1600 meters.

For Symboli Rudolf's third race, his team eschewed the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes, instead opting for an open race on October 27, which he won.

1984: four-year-old season

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Symboli Rudolf's first race in his 1984 four-year-old season was the G2 Yayoi Sho. This was the horse's first race in three months. He competed with the number-one favorite Bizen Nishiki, who was also jockeyed by Okabe and was on a four-race winning streak, but Symboli Rudolf defeated him by 1 1/4 lengths.

After recovering from a minor injury, the horse underwent harsher training to make up for it. He would race Bizen Nishiki again in the G1 Satsuki Sho, the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown; the two were considered the two main racers, but Symboli Rudolf was the number-one favorite this time. After keeping a third-place position throughout the race, he moved into the lead on the fourth corner. The final stretch turned into a one-on-one between him and Bizen Nishiki on the outside, and the two horses knocked into each other at one point before Symboli Rudolf won by 1 1/4 lengths and setting a race record, earning his first crown. The oblique motion that led to the collision on the track saw Okabe prohibited from jockeying for the next two days. At the award ceremony, Okabe held one finger up in the air, anticipating two more crowns. (Yutaka Take, who jockeyed Deep Impact, would later imitate that performance.)

The 1984 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) was nicknamed the "SB Derby," indicating the fierce rivalry between Symboli Rudolf and Bizen Nishiki. Symboli Rudolf was overwhelmingly the favorite, however, with 1.3 odds. Several other racehorses pulled out of the race, leading to a field of 21 horses, which was the lowest it had ever been at the time. The race began with Suzu Mach running int he front. On the opposite straightaway, Symboli Rudolf didn't respond to Okabe's signal to spurt, leading to audible confusion in the crowd. But on the stretch, he grabbed his bit in his own teeth, overtaking the three in the lead—Suzu Mach, Fujino Fuun, and Suzu Parade—to win his second crown. Bizen Nishiki ended the race far back in 14th. Okabe held two fingers up at the awards ceremony.

After the derby, Tomohiro Wada made plans for Rudolf to race overseas, which was reported in newspapers at the time.[12] But after an injury to his left front leg and not meeting quarantine requirements, this plan was announced to be canceled in July.[13]

Recovering from an injury to his right shoulder, Symboli Rudolf went into the autumn season fully refreshed, winning the St Lite Kinen with a record time. From there, he took on the Kikuka Sho, the last of the Triple Crown races. He kept to the middle pack, and while the racers slightly ahead of him formed a wall on the third corner, Rudolf broke out on the final stretch and passed Gold Way to win by 3/4 of a length. He became the first ever horse in JRA racing history to win the Classic Triple Crown while undefeated, as well as the first Classic Triple Crown winner after the introduction of the grading system. At the awards ceremony, Okabe held up three fingers. To date, four other horses have won the Triple Crown, but no others have come from the Kanto region.

After the 3000-meter Kikuka Sho, Symboli Rudolf advanced to the Japan Cup just a week later.

The 4th Japan Cup would be the first time two Triple Crown winners would compete against each other, as Mr. C.B. had won it the year before. However, Symboli Rudolf was widely reported to be in bad shape, for example having diarrhea, and his younger age compared to the rest of the field as well as the 1-week gap from his previous race led to him being the number-four favorite, the lowest he would ever be in his career. The first favorite was Mr. C.B., who had just come off a record-breaking win at the autumn Tenno Sho as an end closer. The second favorite was Bedtime, a British horse who was said to be G1-class despite never being able to run in a G1 race due to being a gelding; the third favorite was the American turf-racer Majesty's Prince, said to be the second coming of John Henry. However, it was Takarazuka Kinen winner Katsuragi Ace, who flew under the radar at number-ten favorite, who would run away from the victory, becoming the first Japanese horse to win the Japan Cup. Symboli Rudolf maintained a good position throughout the race, and despite pulling off a better result than he ever had in his life, still came in 3rd place to Bedtime, bringing an end to his 8-win streak.

Coming off of his first loss, Symboli Rudolf would then compete against Mr. C.B. and Katsuragi Ace in the Arima Kinen. While Rudolf was only second-place in the fan vote to Mr. C.B., he was the favorite to win, with 1.7 odds. Okabe devoted himself to learning more about Katsuragi Ace after the upset. Katsuragi Ace attempted to replicate his result in the Japan Cup, running far out in front, while Rudolf maintained 2nd the entire time. On the final stretch, though, they traded places, Rudolf beating Katsuragi Ace by two lengths and a record time. Symboli Rudolf became the first JRA horse in history to earn four crowns in his four-year-old season. At the awards ceremony, Okabe held up four fingers. With a record that year of 6 wins and 1 third-place finish, Symboli Rudolf was chosen as the JRA's Horse of the Year.

1985: five-year-old season

[edit]

Symboli Rudolf's first race of 1985 was the Nikkei Sho, where he was favored to win with 1:1 odds. The race comprised no front-runner horses, so Rudolf was pushed out into the lead, but won anyway by four lengths. Okabe never took his hands off the reins.

His third race against fellow triple-crown winner Mr. C.B. would come at the Spring Tenno Sho. Mr. C.B. surged early, just before the third corner, which was the first time Rudolf had ever seen the horse ahead of him. Despite Okabe's attempts to rally, however, Rudolf had difficulty keeping pace. However, when Mr. C.B. slowed down going into the final stretch, Rudolf easily passed him, winning by 2 1/2 lengths over Sakura Gaisen, another foal of Partholon. At the awards ceremony, Okabe held up five fingers. From there, the team scheduled a race abroad—he, along with fellow Derby-winner Sirius Symboli, would compete in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

He was later voted into the 1985 Takarazuka Kinen, but on the Saturday before the race, the team pulled out of it because of a left shoulder limp sustained during his training because of a turf issue where the jockey was almost thrown off the horse. His owner Wada was furious, and the story was picked up by the news. The cancellation, however, was also due to Nohira sensing the horse was in poor condition; he didn't want Rudolf to run, which went counter to Symboli Bokujo's desire at the time, but Wada agreed to compromise. This injury would cancel Symboli Rudolf's plans to go abroad, with Sirius Symboli going alone. Wada also submitted his resignation at this time.

Symboli Rudolf's next race would be the Autumn Tenno Sho, a 2000-meter course said to be unfavorable at the time; he was the number-one favorite despite starting far out in post 17. He had a late start, however, and the high pace of the race made it difficult for him to catch up. Still, on the opposite straight, he pulled into a better position, and coming into the final stretch he took the lead, causing a crazed uproar in the audience. But despite his astonishing strength at out-speeding horses like Windsor Knot, he ultimately lost just before the finish line by half a length to Gallop Dyna, the thirteenth-favorite who came out of nowhere. It was reported that after the race, Symboli Rudolf cried in frustration in his stable.

Once again, the team scheduled the horse to go abroad, determining that the 1985 Arima Kinen would be his last run. Before the race, his trainer Nohira instructed Okabe to not just win, but overwhelm the others. He ultimately won by four lengths over Miho Shinzan, double-crown winner of that year's Satsuki Sho and Kikuka Sho. This was the first time a horse had won two Arima Kinen races in a row since Speed Symboli. Okabe didn't hold up seven crowns for this one.

With his 1985 record of four wins and one second-place finish, Symboli Rudolf was chosen as JRA's Horse of the Year a second time in a row. The selection committee's decision was unanimous for only the third time in history after Meiji Hikari in 1956 and Ten Point in 1977. (After that, the same would happen to T. M. Opera O in 2000 and Almond Eye in 2018.)

1986: six-year-old season

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In 1986, Symboli Rudolf went abroad, but Wada and Nohira had subtly different plans in mind. Wada wanted to go to the US first in the spring, then to Europe in the fall. Nohira's plan, however, was to let Rudolf rest in the spring before going to Europe in the fall. This created antagonism between the two, and while Wada's plan would be adopted in the end, none of the stable team went with the horse, leaving him completely up to the staff on-site. Wada also wouldn't invite Nohira to foreign races, so Nohira had to travel there on his own dime to watch.

Wada's plan was to have Symboli Rudolf race first in the G1 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita Racecourse, then in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap. But during the first of those races, he lost to Dahar and came in 6th place. The reason for Rudolf's loss was given as desmitis in the horse's left front leg from having to cross the dirt course in the middle of the track—a famous characteristic of the track—and many Japanese news outlets reported on the same day that Rudolf had been injured and lost the race. Okabe had noticed the horse acting strangely during training before the race, and advised the team to pull out, but he wasn't listened to. Incidentally, each of Symboli Rudolf's losses were on left-handed courses.

After returning to Japan and a brief evaluation of returning overseas to race again, Symboli Rudolf was ultimately retired at a ceremony at Nakayama Racecourse on December 7. He wore a bib marked with the number 7 and a crown, representing his seven crowns.

Statistics

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The following form is based on information from JBIS-Search and netkeiba.[14][15]

Date Track Name Grade Field Finished Jockey Distance Time Winner (2nd Place)
1983 – three-year-old season
Jul 23, 1983 Niigata Maiden Race 10 1st Yukio Okabe 1000m 0:59.2 (Broken Hill)
Oct 29, 1983 Tokyo Ichō Stakes 17 1st Yukio Okabe 1600m 1:37.3 (Ebisu George)
Nov 27, 1983 Tokyo Open 5 1st Yukio Okabe 1600m 1:39.9 (Haruda)
1984 – four-year-old season
Mar 4, 1984 Nakayama Yayoi Sho G3 14 1st Yukio Okabe 2000m 2:01.7 (Bizen Nishiki)
Apr 15, 1984 Nakayama Satsuki Sho G1 18 1st Yukio Okabe 2000m R2:01.1 (Bizen Nishiki)
May 27, 1984 Tokyo Tokyo Yushun G1 21 1st Yukio Okabe 2400m 2:29.3 (Suzu Mach)
Sep 30, 1984 Nakayama St Lite Kinen G3 10 1st Yukio Okabe 2200m R2:13.4 (Onward Cameroun)
Nov 11, 1984 Kyoto Kikuka Sho G1 18 1st Yukio Okabe 3000m 3:06.8 (Gold Way)
Nov 25, 1984 Tokyo Japan Cup G1 14 3rd Yukio Okabe 2400m 2:26.5 Katsuragi Ace
Dec 23, 1984 Nakayama Arima Kinen G1 11 1st Yukio Okabe 2500m R2:32.8 (Katsuragi Ace)
1985 – five-year-old season
Mar 31, 1985 Nakayama Nikkei Sho G2 8 1st Yukio Okabe 2500m 2:36.2 (Kane Kuroshio)
Apr 29, 1985 Kyoto Tenno Sho (Spring) G1 15 1st Yukio Okabe 3200m 3:20.4 (Sakura Gaisen)
June 2, 1985 Hanshin Takarazuka Kinen G1 10 N/A Yukio Okabe 2200m Scratched Suzuka Gohan
Oct 27, 1985 Tokyo Tenno Sho (Autumn) G1 17 2nd Yukio Okabe 2000m 1:58.8 Gallop Dyna
Nov 24, 1985 Tokyo Japan Cup G1 15 1st Yukio Okabe 2400m 2:28.8 (Rocky Tiger)
Dec 22, 1985 Nakayama Arima Kinen G1 10 1st Yukio Okabe 2500m 2:33.1 (Miho Shinzan)
1986 – six-year-old season
Mar 9, 1986 Santa Anita San Luis Rey Handicap G1 7 6th Yukio Okabe 12f 2:26.8 Dahar

Stud career

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Symboli Rudolf in 2010 (Tokyo Racecourse)

As a stallion, Symboli Rudolf sired numerous grade winners.[16] The horse's most successful progeny was by far Tokai Teio, who won 4 GI races, including the Tokyo Yushun in 1991 and the Arima Kinen in 1993.[17] Other notable progenies include Ayrton Symboli [ja], who won the Stayers Stakes in 1992 and 1993, and Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi [ja], who won the Kyoto Daishoten and Asahi Challenge Cup in 1999.[18][19]

Symboli Rudolf passed away on October 4, 2011 at the Symboli Farm in Narita, Chiba.[1][2]

Sire line tree

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Pedigree

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Pedigree of Symboli Rudolf[23][24]
Sire
Partholon 		Milesian My Babu Djebel
Perfume
Oatflake Coup de Lyon
Avena
Paleo Pharis Pharos
Carissima
Colonice Abjer
Coronis
Dam
Sweet Luna 		Speed Symboli Royal Challenger Royal Charger
Skerweather
Sweet Inn Rising Light
Feenagh
Dance Time Palestine Fair Trial
Una
Samaritaine Maravedis
Sarita
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A sake brand, Nanakanba (七冠馬), is sold by Hikami Sake Brewery in honor of the horse. The Tamura family, who owns the brewery, is related to the Wada family, who owned the Symboli Ranch.[4] An anthropomorphised version of the horse appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Azusa Tadokoro (田所あずさ). [25][26]

References

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  1. ^ a b "皇帝シンボリルドルフ死す！30歳". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2011-10-04. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  2. ^ a b c "初の無敗３冠馬シンボリルドルフ大往生". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2011-10-05. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  3. ^ "シンボリルドルフ：競馬の殿堂". Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  4. ^ a b "Brand". Hikami Sake Brewery. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  5. ^ ""皇帝"ルドルフが登場". Sankei News (in Japanese). 2010-11-28. Archived from the original on 2011-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  6. ^ "シンボリフレンド｜JBISサーチ（JBIS-Search）". JBIS-Search (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  7. ^ 『優駿』2020年11月号 通巻923号 114-115頁
  8. ^ 『優駿』1985年6月号 通巻498号 77頁
  9. ^ "4th Running of the Japan cup" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-27.
  10. ^ "5th Running of the Japan cup" (PDF). 1985-11-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-27.
  11. ^ "12th Running of the Japan cup" (PDF). 1992-11-29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-27.
  12. ^ 『史上最強馬シンボリルドルフ』 p.183
  13. ^ 『史上最強馬シンボリルドルフ』 pp.202-203
  14. ^ "年度別累計成績／主な成績｜競走成績｜シンボリルドルフ". JBIS-Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  15. ^ "シンボリルドルフ (Symboli Rudolf)の競走成績 | 競走馬データ". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  16. ^ "Record | Stallion Reports | Symboli Rudolf(JPN) |". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  17. ^ "Tokai Teio(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  18. ^ "Ayrton Symboli(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  19. ^ "Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  20. ^ Bay Middleton Sire Line
  21. ^ "トウカイテイオー後継種牡馬プロジェクト・クワイトファイン種牡馬入りへの道". camp-fire.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  22. ^ "トウカイテイオーの血を令和に繋ぎたい！ファンの支援が後継種牡馬を送り出す – スポニチ Sponichi Annex ギャンブル". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  23. ^ "Five-generation Pedigree Table". JBIS.jp. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  24. ^ "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba.com. NetDreamers. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  25. ^ "シンボリルドルフ". ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト (in Japanese). Cygames. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  26. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (2017-07-01). "Uma Musume Pretty Derby Project's Anime, Game Promo Videos Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2024-02-12. The cast of Uma Musume (Horse Girls) includes ... Azusa Tadokoro as Symboli Rudolf

See also

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