November 2010 Vol. 18 No. 5 2 ～ 5 6 ～ 7 8 Japan, as the nation on global map 2010 ARF Japanese Principal Race Results Interview with Naohiro Goda Specialized Study Program held (Horseracing Journalist) by JAIR Other Japanese G1 Races (c) Yuji Takahashi standard of pedigree in Japan improved dramatically, thanks we can. We have a good chance to beat him”. I believe it is fair Japan, to the introduction of well-bred thoroughbred from overseas. to say Nakayama Festa is just one of good horses in training in It is not only the pedigree, but also the skills of people at our country at the moment. breeding farms and training yards improved significantly in So then, when an outstanding super horse emerges in Japan the last 20 or more years. next time, and provided, this is very important, provided the as the nation I believe the top horses bred and trained in Japan can be horse is very well prepared for the overseas campaign, I competitive in major races at any places in the world now. believe the goddess of racing should support the Japanese horse to conquer the Mt. Arc. And I predict it will materialize on global map Q; 2nd place in the Arc was achieved by El Condor within three years. Pasa 11 years ago, and Nakayama Festa was 2nd Yoshitaka Ninomiya and his team did very good job, and again in 2010. What is needed to gain one better Nakayama Festa was very well prepared for the Arc. In fact, Interview with Naohiro Goda place in the Arc? Ninomiya made very effective use of his experience, for A; The margin was “half a length” 11 years ago, and it short- example, the human network in France which he established (Horseracing Journalist) ened to “head” this year. I think we are now very close to the 11 years ago helped him a lot. summit of highest mountain. The “half a length” and “head” While there is a few more Japanese trainers, who knows may look similar, but I assess there was a big progress in the what they need to prepare for overseas campaign and how to Q; It was very good performance by Nakayama last 11 years. train the horses for the race in foreign countries, many of Festa in the Arc, wasn’t it? While El Condor Pasa was bred, owned, and trained by trainers at Miho and Ritto may have a moment to be at a loss A; I have attended at Longchamp on Arc Weekend almost Japanese, he is by American-bred sire and out of Irish-bred what to do, when they prepare their trainees for the Arc. I every year in the last two decades, however, Green Channel, mare. And Deep Impact, who is widely recognized as the best think it is the key factor that how the racing society in Japan the racing channel in Japan, requested me to work in the studio horse we have seen in Japan since El Condor Pasa, is by can support them. in Tokyo as one of presenters on the live coverage of the Prix American-bred sire and out of Irish-bred mare, too. Nakayama de l’Arc de Triomphe, and was watching the race through Festa, who is bred by a small sized breeder at Mukawa and Q; It looks many owners and trainers have major monitors in studio. I understood I must be calm and cool, sold to the owner at JRHA (Japan Racing Horse Association) races in foreign countries in their sight as the Sale only for 10,000,000yen, is by Stay Gold, bred in Japan, ultimate goal for their top horses nowadays. and out of Dear Wink, bred in Japan. I believe Japan has A; It is great to have a big ambition. And as we consider the potential to breed next Nakayama Festa in very near future. horse racing as the sport to watch, it is important the Japanese El Condor Pasa and Deep Impact, who tried to win the Arc representatives are involved in the games to play for the very and failed to do it in 2006, were both outstanding and unbeat- best in the world. able in Japan at the time. On the other hand, Nakayama Festa People who like to watch golf games are so much excited to is good horse, or I should say very good horse, and his perfor- see the top players playing in The Masters Tournament at mance in G1/Takarazuka Kinen was impressive, however, if I Augusta National. Tennis lovers pay their attention on went to visit Kentucky and Newmarket, learnt what were asked the trainers of second, third and fourth finisher in Wimbledon, even if the match begins very late at night or early going on there, and tried to import stallions and broodmares Takarazuka Kinen, saying “Can you beat Nakayama Festa in in the morning. And football mania has a craze for the World before then, it was only 30 to 40 years ago when Japan was next start?”, I believe all of them should have answered “Yes, Cup. The audience of sports event love to watch the perfor- involved in the global map of racing/breeding and Japanese mance of the world best players, and the excitement is doubled horsemen recognized what the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is. In when the players representing their nations are involved in the other words, only 30 to 40 years has yet passed since Japanese world championships. I believe it is important for the sport that Nakayama Festa (C)Yuji Takahashi horsemen understood the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is one of the Japanese horses compete in the championship races, such however, I was so much excited watching at the closing stage the highest mountains to climb in the world and recognized as Arc, Breeders’ Cup, and Dubai World Cup. of race and could not stop myself shouting and hitting table in they need to work hard with the adamant will of breed faster I understand there are some difficulties for trainers to the studio. Last time when I was in Tokyo on the day of Arc horses and train stronger horses to conquer Mt. Arc. overcome when they carry out the overseas campaign. For was 11 years ago, when El Condor Pasa was narrowly beaten I think it is astonishing that the horse from such country is example, the purse in Japan is very good, or I should say too by Montjeu, as I worked in studio of NHK Network, which approaching to the top of mountain now. It was fortunate for good to miss. The cost for transportation is very expensive. had the live coverage of the race in 1999. Therefore, though it racing and breeding industry in Japan that Japan enjoyed the And as the number of stable staffs is limited, it causes is sad to think of, I should not attend at Longchamp when the boom of economy in ‘70s and ‘80s, when the Japan’s strong problems of short of hands at home when a certain number of field of Arc will have a runner from Japan next time, because economical power afforded us to import quality stallions and staff becomes absent attending with a horse trained at foreign Japanese horses seems to run much better when I was in broodmares from Europe and America, and make big invest- country. They are the problems which are difficult for the Tokyo, Ah la! ments on facilities and lands. El Condor Pasa (1998 Japan Cup) individual trainers to solve by themselves, and, once again, I It is obvious that every aspect in breeding horses and And The Plaza Accord on September 22nd 1985, when G5 think it is the key factor that how the racing society in Japan training horses in Japan improved a lot in the last 20 or more concluded agreements to reduce currency risk, which included can support them. years. the appreciation of Japanese Yen in relation to the other When you look back the history of racing and breeding, you currencies, encouraged Japanese to be major players in blood- Q; Are the owners and trainers in foreign countries find Japan kept the isolation for many years. It was 1971, 26 stock market in the world. The number of thoroughbred still keen to send their top horses to the races in years after the Second World War concluded, when the private imported to Japan for racing purpose, which had been single- Japan? purchases of thoroughbred bred in foreign countries by digit until 1987, became three-digit number in 1993 and A; I know there are some trainers who feel Japan is too far or owners was permitted on the purpose of importing them to peaked in 1997 when Japanese imported 453 foreign-bred the racing in Japan is different with the racing at their home give them the racing career in Japan. And it was 1981 when the horses to race in Japan. Japanese imported more than 20 nation. I think it is tough to persuade those trainers to change Japan Cup, the first international race in Japan, was inaugu- stallions every single year for seven consecutive years from their mind. However, generally speaking, the trainers and rated and the audience at Tokyo Racecourse witnessed the 1986, and more than 200 broodmares in 1989 and 1990. The owners based at major racing countries understand, for horses owned, trained, and ridden by foreign horsemen highlight was the introduction of Sunday Silence, who would example, what is Japan Cup including its detailed race condi- competing with the horses representing Japan.