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, the horse was dubbed "Kōtei (皇帝)", or emperor.[4][5]

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

Racing career edit

Symboli Rudolf became the first undefeated Triple Crown (not losing a single race until winning Kikuka Sho, later succeeded 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 ultimately went on to win a total of 7 Grade I races in his career.[2]

Racing form edit

The following form is based on information from JBIS-Search and netkeiba.[6][7]

Date Racecourse Name Group Entry PP Finished Jockey Distance Time Winner (2nd Place)
1983.07.23 Niigata Maiden Race 10 6 1st Yukio Okabe 1000m 0:59.2 (Broken Hill)
10.29 Tokyo Icho Tokubetsu 17 4 1st Yukio Okabe 1600m 1:37.3 (Ebisu George)
11.27 Tokyo Open 5 1 1st Yukio Okabe 1600m 1:39.9 (Haruda)
1984.03.04 Nakayama Yayoi Sho GIII 14 12 1st Yukio Okabe 2000m 2:01.7 (Bizen Nishiki)
04.15 Nakayama Satsuki Sho GI 18 10 1st Yukio Okabe 2000m R2:01.1 (Bizen Nishiki)
05.27 Tokyo Tokyo Yushun GI 21 10 1st Yukio Okabe 2400m 2:29.3 (Suzu Mach)
09.30 Nakayama St Lite Kinen GIII 10 5 1st Yukio Okabe 2200m R2:13.4 (Onward Cameroun)
11.11 Kyoto Kikka Sho GI 18 5 1st Yukio Okabe 3000m 3:06.8 (Gold Way)
11.25 Tokyo Japan Cup GI 14 12 3rd Yukio Okabe 2400m 2:26.5 Katsuragi Ace
12.23 Nakayama Arima Kinen GI 11 4 1st Yukio Okabe 2500m R2:32.8 (Katsuragi Ace)
1985.03.31 Nakayama Nikkei Sho GII 8 6 1st Yukio Okabe 2500m 2:36.2 (Kane Kuroshio)
04.29 Kyoto Tenno Sho (Spring) GI 15 15 1st Yukio Okabe 3200m 3:20.4 (Sakura Gaisen)
06.02 Hanshin Takarazuka Kinen GI 10 3 N/A Yukio Okabe 2200m Scratched Suzuka Gohan
10.27 Tokyo Tenno Sho (Autumn) GI 17 17 2nd Yukio Okabe 2000m 1:58.8 Gallop Dyna
11.24 Tokyo Japan Cup GI 15 15 1st Yukio Okabe 2400m 2:28.8 (Rocky Tiger)
12.22 Nakayama Arima Kinen GI 10 6 1st Yukio Okabe 2500m 2:33.1 (Miho Shinzan)
1986.03.29 Santa Anita San Luis Rey Handicap GI 7 - 6th Yukio Okabe 12f 2:26.8 Dahar

Stud career edit

 
Symboli Rudolf in 2010 (Tokyo Racecourse)


As a stallion, Symboli Rudolf was a sired numerous grade winners.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]

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

Pedigree edit

Pedigree of Symboli Rudolf[12][13]
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

In popular culture edit

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 anthomorphized version of the horse appears in Uma Musume Pretty Derby.[14][15]

References edit

  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. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Record | Stallion Reports | Symboli Rudolf(JPN) |". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  9. ^ "Tokai Teio(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  10. ^ "Ayrton Symboli(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  11. ^ "Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  12. ^ "Five-generation Pedigree Table". JBIS.jp. Japan Bloodstock Information System. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  13. ^ "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba.com. NetDreamers. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ 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 edit