Jantar Mantar (horse)

Jantar Mantar (Japanese: ジャンタルマンタル, foaled March 21, 2021) is an active Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. His major wins include the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and the NHK Mile Cup.

He was named after Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory in India. He was awarded the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt for 2023.

2023: two-year-old season
Jantar Mantar debuted at the Kyoto Racecourse on October 8, 2023, in a two-year-old newcomer race on turf at a distance of 1,800 meters. Ridden by Katsuma Sameshima, he was the second favored horse. After settling in a good position from the start of the race, he broke away at the final stretch to win by two and a half horse lengths over Keep Calm.

On December 17, he made his first grade one stakes race debut at the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse. Ridden by Yuga Kawada, he was the most favored horse to win the race. Settling near the rail at the middle of the pack early on, he moved up near the front by the fourth corner as the race progressed. Then at the final straight, he quickly broke away from the pack and successfully held off the fast-finishing Ecoro Walz to win the race and clinch his first grade one win.

2024: three-year-old season
Jantar Mantar made his three-year-old season debut at the Kyodo Tsushin Hai, moving back up to a distance of 1,800 meters at Tokyo Racecourse. He settled in midfield throughout the race but failed to chase down Justin Milano, who moved up early, finishing second place.

Two months later, he once again moved up in distance to race at the Satsuki Shō (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at a distance of 2,000 meters at Nakayama Racecourse. After surviving through the grueling fast pace set by Meisho Tabaru, he moved up to the front early in the final stretch but was overtaken by the fast-finishing Justin Milano and Cosmo Kuranda and ended up at third place.

Three weeks later, he dropped down in distance to a mile to race at the NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse. He broke off well from the gates and settled in a good position up front. In the final straight, he pulled away from the pack and maintained the lead to win the race, holding off Ascoli Piceno.

Racing statistics
Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search, and NetKeiba.

Legend: