Lord Kanaloa is JRA Horse of the Year

Japan's champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa ended his illustrious career on a high note after being voted the Japan Racing Association's 2013 Horse of the Year.



During a year in which his four group I wins included a repeat victory in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I), Lord Kanaloa received 209 of 280 votes as Horse of the Year and was the unanimous pick for best sprinter or miler, which he won in 2012 as well.

The now 6-year-old son of King Kamehameha retired with 13 wins, five seconds, and one third from 19 starts for trainer Takayuki Yasuda.

Japan's 2013 top horses, trainers, jockeys, and Thoroughbred-related individuals and organizations will be honored during the JRA award ceremony in Tokyo on Jan. 27. Among the awards will be a a Special Award to jockey Yutaka Take.



All of the winners were bred in Japan, except Florida-bred Asia Express, a son of Henny Hughes honored as best 2-year-old colt after winning all three of his 2013 starts. Bred by Ocala Stud, Asia Express was purchased by Narvick International for $230,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-year-olds in training sale.



Japan Racing Association Award Winners for 2013:



Horse of the Year

Sprinter or Miler

Lord Kanaloa, by King Kamehameha—Lady Blossom (by Storm Cat); owner, Lord Horse Club; trainer, Takayuki Yasuda; breeder, K. I. Farm (Jpn).

Lord Kanaloa preps for his repeat win in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I):

[brightcove videoid="2940574752001"]



2-Year-Old Colt

Asia Express, by Henny Hughes—Running Bobcats (by Running Stag); owner, Yukio Baba; trainer, Takahisa Tezuka; breeder, Ocala Stud (Fla.).



2-Year-Old Filly

Red Reveur, by Stay Gold—Desaucered (by Dixieland Band); owner, Tokyo Horse Racing Co.; trainer, Naosuke Sugai; breeder, Shadai Farm (Jpn).



3-Year-Old Colt

Kizuna, by Deep Impact—Catequil (by Storm Cat); owner, Shinji Maeda; trainer Shozo Sasaki; breeder, North Hills Co. (Jpn).



3-Year-Old Filly

Meisho Mambo, by Suzuka Mambo—Meisho Momoka (by Grass Wonder); owner and breeder, Yoshio Matsumoto (Jpn); trainer, Akihiro Iida.



Older Colt or Horse

Orfevre, by Stay Gold—Oriental Art (by Mejiro McQueen); owner, Sunday Racing Co.; trainer , Yasutoshi Ikee; breeder, Shadai Corporation (Jpn).



Older Filly or Mare

Gentildonna, by Deep Impact—Donna Blini (by Bertolini); owner, Sunday Racing Co.; trainer, Sei Ishizaka; breeder, Northern Racing (Jpn).



Dirt Horse

Belshazzar, by King Kamehameha—Maruka Candy (Sunday Silence); owner and breeder: Shadai Farm (Jpn); trainer, Kunihide Matsuda.



Steeplechase Horse

Apollo Maverick, by Apollo Kingdom—Omega Fastar (by Theatrical); owner and breeder, Apollo Thoroughbred Club Jpn); trainer, Masahiro Horii.



Best Trainer Races Won, Money Earned, Training Technique

Katsuhiko Sumii

Best Trainer Winning Average

Hideaki Fujiwara

Best Jockey Races Won, Money Earned, Most Valuable Jockey

Yuichi Fukunaga



Best Jockey Winning Average

Yuga Kawada



Special Award

Yutaka Take

Related Photos

Orfevre's Retirement Ceremony.