Tokai Teio

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Tokai Teio
Tokai Teio in retirement
SireSymboli Rudolf
GrandsirePartholon
DamTokai Natural
DamsireNice Dancer
SexStallion
Foaled1988
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederNagahama Farm
OwnerMasanori Uchimura
TrainerShouichi Matsumoto
Record12: 9-0-0
Earnings625,633,500 yen
Major wins
Satsuki Sho (1991)
Tokyo Yushun (1991)
Osaka Hai (1992)
Japan Cup (1992)
Arima Kinen (1993)
Awards
Japanese Horse of the Year (1991)
JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1991)
Best Horse By Home-bred Sire (1991)
JRA Special Award (1993)
Honours
Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame (1995)
Last updated on February 2, 2010

Tokai Teio (Japanese: トウカイテイオー, April 20, 1988 – August 30, 2013) was a champion Japanese thoroughbred racehorse. In 1991 he won the Satsuki Sho and the Tokyo Yushun. He was the 1991 Japanese Horse of the Year. In 1992 he won the Japan Cup where champion horses like the European Horse of the Year and the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year participated. In 1993, after he has just rested his broken leg injury for a whole year (364 days), he won the Arima Kinen. Tokai Teio was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

Background[edit]

Tokai Teio was sired by triple crown winner Symboli Rudolf. Tokai Teio's dam was Tokai Natural, the half sister of Yushun Himba winner Tokai Roman. Because Natural had foot problems, she could not debut and became a brood mare.[1] Natural and Roman's owner Masanori Uchimura had obtained the breeding right to Symboli Rudolf and originally planned to breed him with Roman.[1] However, Roman, who was supposed to retire after the Niigata Daishoten, placed second, and it was decided that she would race for one more year.[2] Natural was bred with Rudolf instead.[3][a]

Tokai Natural gave birth on April 20, 1988, at the Nagahama Ranch in Niikappu, Hokkaido.[5] Immediately after birth, the foal was referred to as「帝王」"Teio", meaning monarch, referring to his sire Symboli Rudolf's nickname「皇帝」"Koutei", meaning emperor.[6][1] Thus, the foal was named Hamano Teio.[7] Teio had long legs and a delicate frame and did not receive high valuations.[3] However, once he started exercising, his flexible movement became apparent, garnering expectations.[3] In October the following year, Teio was transferred to the Nibutani Training Center in Biratori, Hokkaido where his flexibility and competitive spirit was highly received.[8] Teio would remain at Nibutani for an entire year until reaching the racing age of 3 years in October, 1990, after which he entered the Rittō Training Center in Rittō, Shiga under trainer Shoichi Matsumoto. Teio's racing name was registered as Tokai Teio.

During training, Tokai Teio was outstanding on the ramp course where horses with long strides are not supposed to record good times, giving Matsumoto high expectations.[9] Believing Teio to have a chance in the Japanese Triple Crown, Matsumoto back-calculated from the Satsuki Shō and Tokyo Yūshun and planned a schedule with leeway.[3] Furthermore, Teio's farrier was surprised at the flexibility of his joints,[b] saying to his groom that "the derby horse has arrived".[10]

Racing career[edit]

Major Racing Wins
  • 1991 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (Domestic GI), Nakayama Turf 2000m
  • 1991 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Domestic GI), Tokyo Turf 2400m
  • 1992 Osaka Hai (Domestic GII), Hanshin Turf 2000m
  • 1992 Japan Cup (GI), Tokyo Turf 2400m
  • 1993 Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) (Domestic GI), Nakayama Turf 2500m

Honours[edit]

Tokai Teio was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

Stud career[edit]

Tokai Teio's descendants include:

c = colt, f = filly, g= gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
1996 Tokai Pulsar c Aichi Hai
1996 Tokai Point g Mile Championship
1996 Taiki Polar c Mermaid Stakes
1999 Strong Blood c Kashiwa Kinen
2001 Yamanin Sucre f Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Popular culture[edit]

Tokai Teio was the inspiration for the main character of the 2021 anime Uma Musume Pretty Derby Season 2. Just like the real Tokai Teio, the character suffers multiple injuries and struggles to remain one of the best racers.

Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Tokai Teio (JPN), bay stallion, 1988
Sire
Symboli Rudolf (JPN)
B. 1981 		Partholon Milesian My Babu
Oatflake
Paleo Pharis
Colonice
Sweet Luna Speed Symboli Royal Challenger
Sweet Inn
Dance Time Palestine
Samaritaine
Dam
Tokai Natural (JPN)
B. 1982 		Nice Dancer Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Nice Princess Le Beau Prince
Happy Night
Tokai Midori Faberge Princely Gift
Spring Offensive
Tokai Queen Atlantis
Top Ryu (F-No.19-b)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Tokai Roman retired in 1988 and bred with Symboli Rudolf, producing the colt Tokai Thames, who retired without winning.[4]
  2. ^ 「繋」vaguely means "connection", interpreted at "joints"

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 江面 2017, p. 218.
  2. ^ 『優駿』2013年6月号、p.83
  3. ^ a b c d 『優駿』2005年12月号、p.41
  4. ^ 『名馬列伝トウカイテイオー』, p. 77.
  5. ^ 吉川 2003, p. 40.
  6. ^ 『優駿』1991年8月号、p.12
  7. ^ 『トウカイテイオー栄光の蹄跡』p.62
  8. ^ 『トウカイテイオー栄光の蹄跡』p.47
  9. ^ 『優駿』1991年7月号、p.84
  10. ^ 『優駿』2013年6月号、p.84

References[edit]

  • 江面, 弘也 (2017), 名馬を読む, 三賢社 ISBN 4908655073
  • 吉川, 良 (2003), 人生をくれた名馬たち, 毎日コミュニケーションズ ISBN 4839912270
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