Efforia

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Efforia
Efforia wins the Satsuki Sho
SireEpiphaneia
GrandsireSymboli Kris S
DamKaties Heart
DamsireHeart's Cry
SexColt
Foaled10 March 2018[1]
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederNorthern Farm
OwnerU Carrot Farm
TrainerYuichi Shikato
Record11: 6-1-0-3
Earnings¥776,636,000
Major wins
Kyodo Tsushin Hai (2021)
Satsuki Sho (2021)
Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2021)
Arima Kinen (2021)
Awards
Japanese Horse of the Year (2021)
JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (2021)
Last updated on February 12, 2023

Efforia (Japanese: エフフォーリア foaled 10 March 2018) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning two minor races as a two-year-old in 2020 he won the Kyodo Tsushin Hai on his first run of 2021 and maintained his unbeaten record by taking the Satsuki Sho on his next start. He was narrowly beaten in the Tokyo Yushun but returned in autumn to win the Tenno Sho and the Arima Kinen.

Background[edit]

Efforia is a bay colt with a white sock on his left hind leg bred in Japan by Northern Farm. He was sent into training with Yuichi Shikato and raced in the green, white and red colours of the Northern Farm affiliate U Carrot Farm. He was ridden in his first four races by Takeshi Yokoyama.

He was from the second crop of foals sired by Epiphaneia who won the Kikuka Sho and the Japan Cup and was rated the second-best horse in the world in 2014.[2] Efforia's dam Katies Heart showed some racing ability in Japan, winning three minor races on dirt from fifteen starts.[3] She was a half-sister to the dam of Admire Moon and a grand-daughter of the Irish-bred mare Katies whose other descendants have included Sleepless Night (Sprinters Stakes) and Hishi Amazon (Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup).[4]

Racing career[edit]

2020: two-year-old season[edit]

Efforia made his first appearance in a 2000 metre contest for previously unraced juveniles on firm ground at Sapporo Racecourse on 23 August 2020. Starting the 0.4/1 favourite in a seven-runner field he tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the straight and winning by three quarters of a length from Escobar. On 8 November over the same distance at Tokyo Racecourse he started second favourite behind Veil Nebula for a minor race and came from fourth place on the final turn to win by one and a quarter lengths.[5]

Commenting on the colt's juvenile campaign, Yuichi Shikato said "physically and mentally he was a little weak, and his hindquarters weren’t so strong, so it took him a bit of time to recover from races."[6]

2021: three-year-old season[edit]

Efforia's trainer Yuichi Shikato

For his first run as a three-year-old Efforia was stepped up in class to contest the Grade 3 Kyodo Tsushin Hai over 1800 metres at Tokyo on 14 February and started the 5.8/1 fourth choice in the betting behind Stella Veloce (winner of the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup), Shahryar and the filly Leftovers. After tracking the early leaders Efforia made strong progress early in the straight, went to the front approaching the last 200 metres and drew away to win by two and a half lengths from Victipharus.[7] Yuichi Shikato commented: "He ran very smoothly... in what was a perfect race for him".[8]

On 18 April Efforia moved up to Grade 1 class for the Satsuki Sho over 2000 metres at Nakayama Racecourse. He went off the 2.7/1 second favourite behind Danon The Kid in a sixteen-runner field which also included Victipharus, Lagom (Kisaragi Sho), Stella Veloce, Gratias (Keisei Stakes), Titleholder (Yayoi Sho) and Red Belle Aube (Daily Hai Nisai Stakes). Takeshi Yokoyama settled in fourth place as Titleholder and World Revival set the pace before making rapid progress to take the lead entering the straight. He quickly opened up a clear advantage and was never challenged, winning by three lengths from Titleholder. After the race Yokoyama said "I was fortunate to have been able to ride this colt since his debut.. I believed that if I put my concentration on using whatever skills I had as a rider and bring out the best performance from my horse, that we would have a great chance of winning. The pace wasn't that fast, so we were able to cruise along in a good position but we were a little tight going into the stretch and I could not be sure of my win until the end."[9]

For his next race Efforia was stepped up in distance for the 88th running of the Tokyo Yushun over 2400 metres at Tokyo on 30 May and started the 0.7/1 favourite in a seventeen runner field. After settling behind the leaders he moved up to take the lead 200 metres from the finish but was run down in the final strides by Shahryar and was beaten a nose into second place.[10] Shikato described the colt's first defeat as "very frustrating".[11]

After an absence of six months, Efforia returned to the track for the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho over 2000 metres at Tokyo on 31 October, when he was matched against older horses for the first time. He was made the 2.4/1 third choice in the betting behind Contrail and Gran Alegria in an eighteen-runner field which also included World Premiere, Persian Knight (Mile Championship) and Curren Bouquetd'or. Efforia settled in sixth place as the outsider Kaiser Minoru set the pace, before moving up on the outside on the final term. He quickened well in the straight, gained the advantage from Gran Alegria 200 metres from the finish and held off a late challenge from Contrail to win by a length. After the race Yokoyama said "I cried with joy for the first time in my life, as I was very disappointed with the result of the Derby. He’s a good starter and a clever racer so I decided to believe in his ability and ride him without thinking too much.. I am grateful that we were able to win the race in front of many fans."[12]

Efforia closed out his three-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen, also known as Japan's "Grand Prix." With the most fan votes and sent off as the favorite in the 2500-metre event, Efforia moved forward from the middle of the pack to take the lead in the stretch, winning by three quarters of a length.[13][14][15]

With four victories out of five starts in his 2021 campaign, including three Grade 1 wins and a Grade 1 placing, Efforia is selected as the Japanese Horse of the Year recipient of 2021.[13][14]

  • 2022 Satsuki Sho
    2022 Satsuki Sho
  • 2022 Tokyo Yushun, at paddock
    2022 Tokyo Yushun, at paddock

2022 and 2023 seasons[edit]

Efforia started his 2022 season with the Osaka Hai.[16][17] However, he finished at 9th place behind Potager after he hit his head on the gate.[18][19] He then went on to run in the Takarazuka Kinen as planned, with him being the most favored, but wound up losing behind Titleholder at 6th place.[20][21] Efforia would go on to take a break for nearly 6 months before coming back to run in the Arima Kinen for the second time, of which he finished at 5th place behind Equinox.[22]

Efforia would start his 2023 season with his first Grade-2 race in his career at the Kyoto Kinen, and was the second most favored behind Do Deuce.[23] However, he was unable to finish the race as Efforia suffered atrial fibrillation.[24] Two days after the race; Efforia's owner, Carrot Club, announced that the horse will be retired to stand stud at the Shadai Stallion Station.[25][26][27]

Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Efforia (JPN), bay colt, 2018[1]
Sire
Epiphaneia (JPN)
2010 		Symboli Kris S (USA)
1999　 		Kris S Roberto
Sharp Queen
Tee Kay Gold Meridian
Tri Argo
Cesario (JPN)
2002　 		Special Week Sunday Silence (USA)
Campaign Girl
Kirov Premiere (GB) Sadler's Wells (USA)
Querida (IRE)
Dam
Katies Heart (JPN)
2009 		Heart's Cry (JPN)
2001 		Sunday Silence (USA) Halo
Wishing Well
Irish Dance Tony Bin (IRE)
Buper Dance (USA)
Katies First (USA)
1987 		Kris (GB) Sharpen Up
Doubly Sure
Katies (IRE) Nonoalco (USA)
Mortefontaine (FR) (Family: 7-f)[4]
  • Efforia was inbred 3 × 4 to Sunday Silence, meaning that this stallion appears in both the third and fourth generations of his pedigree.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Efforia pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ^ "The 2014 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  3. ^ "Katies Heart – Horse information". JBIS.
  4. ^ a b "Hermione - Family 7-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  5. ^ "Efforia: Race Records:Lifetime Starts". JBIS.
  6. ^ "Satsuki Sho Comments from runners' connections". Horse Racing in Japan. 16 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Kyodo Tsushin Hai result". JBIS. 14 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Satsuki Sho Preview". Horse Racing in Japan. 13 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Unbeaten Efforia Claims Satsuki Sho Title". Horse Racing in Japan. 18 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Shahryar Robs Heavy Favorite's Second Crown by a Nod to Claim Tokyo Yushun Title". Horse Racing in Japan. 30 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) - Comments from runners' connections". Horse Racing in Japan. 29 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Efforia Becomes First Three-Year-Old in 19 Years to Capture the Tenno Sho". Horse Racing in Japan. 31 October 2021.
  13. ^ a b Andersen, Steve (26 December 2021). "Japan: Efforia surges in final furlong of Arima Kinen". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b Kieckhefer, Bob (26 December 2021). "Efforia Caps Potential Title Season in Arima Kinen Win". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Results of the 66th Arima Kinen" (PDF). japanracing.jp. Japan Racing Association. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  16. ^ "年度代表馬エフフォーリア、大阪杯の後は宝塚記念を視野｜極ウマ・プレミアム". p.nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  17. ^ Carasso, Alan (2022-04-01). "Horse of the Year Efforia Resumes in Osaka Hai". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  18. ^ "【大阪杯結果】8番人気ポタジェが競り合いを制し初戴冠！エフフォーリアは9着に敗れる | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  19. ^ "大阪杯９着エフフォーリアは放牧へ ゲートにぶつけた顔が腫れる 鹿戸師「責任を感じています」｜極ウマ・プレミアム". p.nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  20. ^ "完敗エフフォーリア 横山武は「ペース速く付いていくのが精いっぱい」肩落とす【宝塚記念】：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  21. ^ "2022年 宝塚記念　JRA". www.jra.go.jp. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  22. ^ "【有馬記念結果】イクイノックス圧勝！天皇賞に続きキタサンブラックと親子制覇 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  23. ^ "京都記念(G2) オッズ | 2023年2月12日 阪神11R レース情報(JRA)". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  24. ^ "【京都記念】馬群に沈んだ2番人気エフフォーリアは競走中止 心房細動を発症 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  25. ^ "エフフォーリア電撃引退、キャロットクラブ公式サイト発表 京都記念を心房細動のため競走中止 - 競馬 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  26. ^ "エフフォーリアが競走馬登録抹消 JRA". jra.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  27. ^ TDN, The (2023-02-14). "Japanese Horse Of The Year Efforia Retired To Stand At Shadai". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
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