Normcore to Take Up Broodmare Duties at Northern Farm
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Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club
Normcore wins the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse
Dual top-level victress Normcore has been retired from racing and will take up broodmare duties at Northern Farm this year.
The daughter of Harbinger, who ended her career with a tough win in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) at Sha Tin in December, is the seventh foal out of Chronologist and a half sibling of Chrono Gensis, winner of the Shuka Sho (G1), Takarazuka Kinen (G1), and last month's Arima Kinen (Grand Prix, G1).
Normcore herself proved a top-class performer on the track, with a victory in the Victoria Mile (G1) in 2019 followed by success in the Sapporo Kinen (G2) and her swansong in Hong Kong.
The 6-year-old also picked up further graded success in the Shion (G3) and Fuji (G3) stakes, while she was placed behind the brilliant Almond Eye back in the Victoria Mile last May.
Trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara told Tokyo Sports: "I'm glad she was able to retire after winning a group 1. I learned a lot from this horse and I'd like to thank everyone for their great support."
Owned by Seiichi Iketani, Normcore is one of a number of top-class performers for her sire, who himself was a sensational 11-length winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) for Sir Michael Stoute in 2010.
Harbinger, a son of Dansili and the listed-winning Bering mare Penang Pearl, is responsible for five top-level scorers including the popular Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) winner Deirdre—a Japanese globe-trotter who will visit Galileo this year—Mile Championship (G1) victor Persian Knight, and Arima Kinen hero Blast Onepiece.
The 15-year-old has more than 30 stakes wins to his name at stud, including 13 individual group winners.