Oju Chosan (Japanese : オジュウチョウサン, foaled April 3, 2011) is a retired champion Japanese thoroughbred racehorse who is best known for his multiple victories in Japan's major steeplechase races.[3] He owns speed records in Nakayama Racecourse's two annual Grade 1 jump races: the Nakayama Grand Jump, which he has won six times (including five consecutive victories from 2016 to 2020),[4][5] and the Nakayama Daishogai, which he has won on three occasions.[6]

Oju Chosan
オジュウチョウサン
Oju Chosan after winning the 2016 Nakayama Daishogai
SireStay Gold
GrandsireSunday Silence
DamShadow Silhouette
DamsireSymboli Kris S
SexStallion
FoaledApril 3, 2011
CountryJapan
ColorBay
BreederNaoyoshi Nagashima
TrainerShoichiro Wada
JockeyShinichi Ishigami
Record40: 20-2-18
Earnings¥941,377,000
Major wins
Nakayama Grand Jump (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022)
Nakayama Daishogai (2016, 2017, 2021)
Tokyo High Jump (2016, 2017)
Hanshin Spring Jump (2017, 2019, 2020)
Tokyo Jump Stakes (2016)
Awards
JRA Award for Best Steeplechase Horse (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
Last updated on 28 December 2022[1][2]

Background

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Oju Chosan's father is Stay Gold, a winner of 7 races from 50 starts who would later become one of Japan's most influential stallions, siring such flat champions as Orfevre and Gold Ship. Stay Gold's father is American Horse of the Year and Triple Crown contender Sunday Silence.

Oju Chosan's mother is Shadow Silhouette, sired by two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S.

Racing career

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Oju Chosan made his debut at the Tokyo Racecourse under the training of Mitsuhiro Ogata in October 2013 in a flat race but finished in 11th place and his second race in 8th place,[7] before a broken front leg forced him to take a year off, by which point maiden races that suited Oju Chosan had finished. They then tried to have him run in a steeplechase race in November 2014, but came in last.[8]

Training role was soon passed from Ogata to Shoichirō Wada soon after, with Shinichi Ishigami being his primary jockey. From there, Oju Chosan's performance gradually improved,[7] as he would go on to win 11 steeplechase races in a row from 2016 to 2019, and ultimately win 20 races from 38 starts as of April 2022.[1] In addition to his victories in the Nakayama Grand Jump and Nakayama Daishogai, he has won the Grade 2 Tokyo High Jump at Tokyo Racecourse two times and the Grade 2 Hanshin Spring Jump at Hanshin Racecourse three times.[6]

Oju Chosan's victory at the Nakayama Grand Jump in 2022 made him the oldest horse in Japan to win a graded race, as well as the most wins in a JRA G1 steeplechase races.[8]

Oju Chosan retired in December 2022 after finishing in 6th place at the 2022 Nakayama Daishogai behind Nishino Daisy.[9][10] He is to stand stud at the Versailles Farm [ja] in Hokkaido starting from 2023.[11][12]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Oju Chosan (JPN), bay horse, 2011[13]
Sire
Stay Gold (JPN)
1994
Sunday Silence (USA)
1986
Halo (USA) Hail to Reason (USA)
Cosmah (USA)
Wishing Well (USA) Understanding (USA)
Mountain Flower (USA)
Golden Sash (JPN)
1988
Dictus (FR) Sanctus (FR)
Doronic (FR)
Dyna Sash (JPN) Northern Taste (USA)
Royal Sash (GB)
Dam
Shadow Silhouette (JPN)
2005
Symboli Kris S (USA)
1999
Kris S. (USA) Roberto (USA)
Sharp Queen (USA)
Tee Kay (USA) Gold Meridian (USA)
Tri Argo (USA)
Yuwa Joyner (JPN)
1990
Mill George (USA) Mill Reef (USA)
Miss Charisma II (USA)
Sashima Thunder (JPN) Never Beat (GB)
Sharma (GB)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Results of the 24th Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1)" (PDF) (Press release). Japan Racing Association. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. ^ "オジュウチョウサン". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Netdreamers. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  3. ^ Takahashi, Masakazu (2021-12-25). "Japan's legendary jumper Oju Chosan brings Christmas Day cheer at Nakayama". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  4. ^ Di Iorio, Carl (18 April 2021). "Grand streak ends at five". racing.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  5. ^ Takahashi, Masakazu (16 April 2022). "Tiger Roll eat your heart out! Jumper in Japan takes earnings past £5.7 million". racingpost.com. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Oju Chosan(JPN)". jbis.jp (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b "オジュウチョウサン | 競走馬データ". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  8. ^ a b Motoe, Nozomi (2022-12-20). "Oju Chosan Awaits Final Run: How a Problem Colt Who Hated Practice Became an Absolute Champion | JAPAN Forward". japan-forward.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  9. ^ "【中山大障害】オジュウチョウサン、6着でラストランV届かず...完全燃焼で現役生活に別れ - スポニチ Sponichi Annex ギャンブル". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2022-12-24. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  10. ^ "オジュウチョウサンが競走馬登録抹消 JRA". jra.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  11. ^ オジュウチョウサンがYogiboヴェルサイユリゾートファームで種牡馬入り - サンスポ、2023年1月23日閲覧。
  12. ^ "オジュウチョウサン号が 預託種牡馬として入厩いたしました". Yogiboヴェルサイユリゾートファーム (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  13. ^ "Oju Chosan pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved 25 December 2021.