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Sixpence (horse)

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Sixpence
シックスペンス
Image
Sixpence at the paddock of 2024 Tokyo Yushun
SireKizuna[1]
GrandsireDeep Impact
DamFinley'sluckycharm[1]
DamsireTwirling Candy[1]
SexHorse[1]
Foaled (2021-04-17) 17 April 2021 (age 5)[1]
CountryJapan[1]
ColourBay[1]
BreederNorthern Farm[1]
OwnerCarrot Farm[1]
Racing coloursImage
TrainerSakae Kunieda
→Hiroyasu Tanaka[1]
Jockey
Record14 : 6-1-0[2]
Earnings420,697,000 JPY[3]
Major wins
Spring Stakes (2024)
Mainichi Ōkan (2024)
Nakayama Kinen (2025)
Yasuda Kinen (2026)
Last updated on 7 June 2026

Sixpence (Japanese: シックスペンス; foaled 17 April 2021) is an active Japanese thoroughbred racehorse who won multiple group races, including the 2026 Yasuda Kinen.[4][5]

He is named after the traditional British coin.[5]

Background

[edit]

Sixpence was bred by Northern Farm in Japan, and was foaled on 17 April 2021.[3] He was sired by Kizuna, who won the 2013 Japanese Derby, and out of the dam Finley's Lucky Charm, who won the 2018 Madison Stakes.[6][7] He is trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka for owner Carrot Farm.[1]

Racing career

[edit]

2-year-old season (2023)

[edit]

On September 10, 2023 he made his debut in a 2-year-old maiden race over 1600m on turf at Nakayama, with Christophe Lemaire aboard him. He stayed in the front mostly at third position before sprinting forward at the end phase to win by a head against Atarayo.[8][9] He closed the season with a run at the Hiiragi Sho with Yukito Ishikawa as his jockey. In this race, he chased the leading group and easily pulled away in the straight to win by a length and a half, securing his second consecutive victory.[10]

3-year-old season (2024)

[edit]

Sixpence started his new season when he won the Spring Stakes by three and a half lengths ahead of Allegro Brillante, under Lemaire again.[11] Despite earning the automatic berth to the Satsuki Sho, it was announced that he would forego that race and go straight for the Tokyo Yushun instead, as he was found to be lame after the Spring Stakes.[12] He ran in the Tokyo Yushun on May 26, but his run went wild and uncontrollable as he failed to accelerate in the final straight and finished in ninth.[13]

He took a rest during the summer and returned for the autumn campaign at the Mainichi Okan in Tokyo.[14] In this race, he bounced back to form when he made a strong run in the end to overtake Ho O Biscuits before the line, winning by a neck and getting his second graded stakes win.[15][16] He was meant to be prepared to race the Mile Championship in November but his trainer, Sakae Kunieda, cancelled the participation after they found his gait irregular due to inflammation of his right front hoof. He decided that Sixpence would be focusing on treatment for the rest of the season.[17]

4-year-old season (2025)

[edit]

In his return, Sixpence trained for the upcoming Nakayama Kinen in March.[18] He stayed in the middle of the pack for the majority of the race, triggered his finishing burst on the inside track, overtook Ecoro Walz and won the race by a nose in record time.[19][20] Then, he ran in both Osaka Hai and Yasuda Kinen but he failed to make impressions and trigger another gear in either race, finishing in seventh and 12th respectively.[21][22]

In autumn, Kunieda diverted him for a campaign on dirt track and aiming for the Mile Championship Nambu Hai in Morioka.[23] Despite changing jockey once again with Norifumi Mikamoto on the saddle, he made a good debut on the new track as he finished in second place four lengths behind the winner, Wilson Tesoro.[24] Sixpence closed the season with a run at the Champions Cup where he rallied the lead early but faded out as the race went on and finished in 11th place.[25]

5-year-old season (2026)

[edit]

Despite his poor previous run on dirt, Sixpence would participate in the February Stakes for his season opener.[26] When the race began, he set up the pace after 300 metres. He ran gamely along the way but faded out at 100 metres to the line and ended up in ninth place.[27] At the end of February, Kunieda retired from training, leading to his stable's dissolution. Sixpence would be transferred to Hiroyasu Tanaka's stable.[28] Following the transfer, he would switch back to turf races, running in the Yomiuri Milers Cup.[29] On the race, he tracked in the middle of the pack during the race but failed to take the lead and finished seventh. His jockey for the day, Keita Tosaki, quoted, "He had much better balance compared to the previous race and ran well. The pace was fast, but he was able to handle it and came through at the end."[30] He was then registered for the Yasuda Kinen next, but with an initially unspecified jockey.[31] After Admire Zoom, another horse who had registered for the Yasuda Kinen, suffered a right front hoof injury a few days before the race, the horse's jockey Yutaka Take would elect to ride Sixpence instead for that race.[32] Starting from the fourth gate, Sixpence quickly seized second position as World's End shot out to a three-length lead. They held that order into the long Tokyo homestretch with World's End tenaciously clinging to the lead up to the final 50 meters. Take then rode the horse up outside the World's End and came to even terms as the favourite, Gaia Force, closed fast on his outside. Sixpence won by a neck with World's End and Gaia Force in a dead heat for second and third.[33] After the race, Take reflected and quoted about the race:

I think we did a really good job. It was a last-minute ride, but I'm happy we were able to deliver the result. Before the race, I had a long discussion with trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, and he told me, 'We've been training him so he can stick on even if he races forward."[34]

This would be the first G1 win for Sixpence and also the fourth Yasuda Kinen win for Take himself, which he last won back in 2009 with Vodka.[34] For future races, Carrot Farm representative Machiko Kuroda already registered the horse to run at the Prix Jacques Le Marois in Deauville-La Touques Racecourse, but would assess his condition and discuss with Tanaka first.[35] On 28 June, Carrot Farm officially confirmed on their website that Sixpence would indeed head to the Prix Jacques Le Marois, with Take continuing to jockey him.[36] On the day, Sixpence and his fellow compatriot, Strauss raced along the outside rail, separated from the rest of the field. In the late race, Sixpence faded away from the race and finished tenth.[37] Both Take and Tanaka thought the horse might have some breathing problems before the race, which probably the cause of him slowing down at the end.[38]

Racing form

[edit]

Sixpence won six races out of 14 starts. This data is available based on JBIS and netkeiba.[8][2]

Date Course Race Class Distance (Condition) Field HN Odds
(Favored)		 Finish Time Winning
(Losing)
Margin		 Jockey Winner
(2nd Place)		 Ref
2023 – two-year-old season
Sep 10 Nakayama Two Year Old Debut Turf 1,600 m (Firm) 13 6 1.5 (1) 1st 1:37.1 head Christophe Lemaire (Atarayo) [39]
Dec 17 Nakayama Hiiragi Sho 1 Win Turf 1,600 m (Firm) 9 6 3.2 (2) 1st 1:35.5 1+1⁄2 lengths Yukito Ishikawa (Pod Theo) [40]
2024 – three-year-old season
Mar 17 Nakayama Spring Stakes GII Turf 1,800 m (Firm) 10 4 2.9 (1) 1st 1:49.4 3+1⁄2 lengths Christophe Lemaire (Allegro Brillante) [41]
May 26 Tokyo Tokyo Yushun GI Turf 2,400 m (Firm) 17 12 8.3 (3) 9th 2:25.3 (6 lengths) Yuga Kawada Danon Decile [42]
Oct 6 Tokyo Mainichi Okan GII Turf 1,800 m (Firm) 14 11 3.5 (1) 1st 1:45.1 neck Christophe Lemaire (Ho O Biscuits) [43]
2025 – four-year-old season
Mar 2 Nakayama Nakayama Kinen GII Turf 1,800 m (Firm) 16 1 3.1 (2) 1st R1:44.8 nose Christophe Lemaire (Ecoro Walz) [44]
Apr 6 Hanshin Osaka Hai GI Turf 2,000 m (Firm) 15 10 4.8 (1) 7th 1:56.6 (2+3⁄4 lengths) Takeshi Yokoyama Bellagio Opera [45]
Jun 8 Tokyo Yasuda Kinen GI Turf 1,600 m (Firm) 18 1 4.4 (3) 12th 1:33.4 (4 lengths) Christophe Lemaire Jantar Mantar [46]
Oct 13 Morioka Mile Championship Nambu Hai JpnI Dirt 1,600 m (Fast) 16 14 9.5 (5) 2nd 1:34.9 (4 lengths) Norifumi Mikamoto Wilson Tesoro [47]
Dec 7 Chukyo Champions Cup GI Dirt 1,800 m (Fast) 16 11 10.2 (5) 11th 1:51.5 (8+1⁄4 lengths) Christophe Lemaire W Heart Bond [48]
2026 – five-year-old season
Feb 22 Tokyo February Stakes GI Dirt 1,600 m (Fast) 16 5 17.4 (6) 9th 1:36.4 (6+1⁄4 lengths) Keita Tosaki Costa Nova [49]
Apr 26 Kyoto Yomiuri Milers Cup GII Turf 1,600 m (Firm) 18 16 7.8 (4) 7th 1:32.1 (2 lengths) Keita Tosaki Admire Zoom [50]
Jun 7 Tokyo Yasuda Kinen GI Turf 1,600 m (Firm) 17 4 21.6 (8) 1st 1:32.1 neck Yutaka Take (World's End) [51]
(Gaia Force)
Aug 16 Deauville Prix Jacques le Marois GI Turf 1,600 m (Good to Soft) 10 3 20.4 (7) 10th 1:39.55 (21+3⁄4 lengths) Yutaka Take Rayif [52][53]
  • Domestic grade races (Jpn) was labeled as Listed internationally.
  • R on the time indicates that this was a record time

Pedigree

[edit]
Pedigree of Sixpence (JPN), bay horse, 2021[54]
Sire
Kizuna (JPN)
2010		 Deep Impact (JPN)
2002		 Sunday Silence (USA) Halo
Wishing Well
Wind in Her Hair (IRE) Alzao (USA)
Burghclere (GB)
Catequil (CAN)
1990		 Storm Cat (USA) Storm Bird (CAN)
Terlingua
Pacific Princess (USA) Damascus (USA)
Fiji (GB)
Dam
Finley'sluckycharm (USA)
2013		 Twirling Candy (USA)
2007		 Candy Ride Ride the Rails
Candy Girl
House of Danzig Chester House
Danzig Crown
Day of Victory (USA)
2005		 Victory Gallop Cryptoclearance
Victorous Lil
Gather the Day Dayjur
Gather The Clan
  • Sixpence was inbred M4 × M4 to Cryptoclearance and M5 × M5 to Danzig.

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "netkeiba - Sixpence". Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Sixpence Race Record and Form". netkeiba. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Sixpence (JPN)". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "2026 Yasuda Kinen (GI) result". netkeiba.com. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  5. 1 2 "競走馬情報 JRA". Japan Racing Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Record | Stallion Reports | Kizuna (JPN)". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Family | Finley'sluckycharm (USA)". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Race records | Sixpence (JPN)". jbis.jp. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "【２歳新馬】シックスペンスが断然人気に応えてデビュー勝ち ルメール「馬にとってもいい勉強になった」" [[2-year-old maiden race] Sixpence lives up to its overwhelming popularity with a debut win. Lemaire: "It was a good learning experience for the horse."]. 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 10 September 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "【ひいらぎ賞】シックスペンスが危なげなく抜け出してデビュー２連勝 石川「僕は乗っていただけ」" [[Hiiragi Prize] Sixpence pulls away safely for his second consecutive win since debut. Ishikawa: "I was just riding him."]. 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 17 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Sixpence goes three-from-three in G2 Spring Stakes". netkeiba. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Sixpence to avoid G1 Satsuki Sho in favour of G1 Japanese Derby". netkeiba. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "【日本ダービー】シックスペンスは9着 川田「調教では全く見せていない力みが返し馬でありました」" [[Japanese Derby] Sixpence finishes 9th. Kawada: "He showed a tension in the warm-up that he hadn't shown at all in training."]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "This week's racing schedule for the JRA and NAR". netkeiba. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "【毎日王冠】じわじわ伸びたシックスペンス首差届いてＶ ルメール騎手「この秋は上のレベルに」" [[Mainichi Okan] Sixpence, who steadily gained ground, won by a neck. Jockey Christophe Lemaire: "We'll be aiming for a higher level this autumn."]. スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 6 October 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Sixpence claims the G2 Mainichi Okan under Christophe Lemaire". netkeiba. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "マイルＣＳ回避のシックスペンスは今週中に放牧へ 国枝調教師「まずは治療に専念」" [Sixpence, who will be skipped in the Mile Championship, will be sent to pasture this week. Trainer Kunieda said, "We will focus on treatment first."]. 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 13 November 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Sixpence shows off readiness for G2 Nakayama Kinen". netkeiba. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "強い４歳世代だ！シックスペンスがレコードで重賞３勝目！２着にエコロヴァルツ／中山記念" [What a strong generation of four-year-olds! Sixpence wins his third graded stakes race in record time! Ecoro Waltz finishes second in the Nakayama Kinen.]. nikkan sports. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Sixpence wins G2 Nakayama Kinen in record time under Christophe Lemaire". netkeiba. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Bellagio Opera sets record time in G1 Osaka Hai under Kazuo Yokoyama". netkeiba. 6 April 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Jantar Mantar Claims Third Mile G1 Title in Yasuda Kinen". japanracing.jp. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "【注目馬動向】シックスペンスの次走は南部杯を予定 芝のG2・3勝馬がダートに初挑戦" [[Featured Horse Update] Sixpence's next race is scheduled to be the Nanbu Hai. The horse with three G2 wins on turf will make its debut on dirt.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 18 September 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "【盛岡・南部杯結果】ウィルソンテソーロが突き抜け4馬身差完勝！ GI級2勝目" [[Morioka Nanbu Cup Results] Wilson Tesoro pulls away to win by a dominant 4 lengths! Second Grade I victory!]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 13 October 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "Four-Year-Old Filly W Heart Bond Captures Her First G1 Title in the Champions Cup". japanracing.jp. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "W Heart Bond with Ryusei Sakai bids to become first mare to win G1 February Stakes". netkeiba. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  27. ↑ "Costa Nova Accomplish Repeat Victory in February Stakes". japanracing.jp. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  28. ↑ "【注目馬動向】フェブラリーＳ９着のシックスペンスは定年で解散となる国枝厩舎から田中博厩舎に転厩へ" [[Featured Horse Movements] Sixpence, who finished 9th in the February Stakes, will be transferred from the Kunieda stable, which is being dissolved due to the retirement of its trainer, to the Tanaka Hiroyasu stable.]. UMATOKU (in Japanese). 22 February 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Sixpence targets fourth graded stakes title in stable debut for trainer Tanaka in G2 Milers Cup". netkeiba. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "【読売マイラーズC】4戦ぶり芝のシックスペンスは7着 復活星ならずも戸崎圭太騎手「前走より上手に走れていました」" [[Yomiuri Milers Cup] Sixpence, running on turf for the first time in four races, finished 7th. He failed to make a comeback, but jockey Keita Tosaki said, "He ran better than in his last race."]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 26 April 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  31. ↑ "【安田記念想定騎手】ガイアフォースは横山武史騎手、トロヴァトーレはC.ルメール騎手" [[Expected Jockeys for the Yasuda Kinen] Gaia Force will be ridden by Takeshi Yokoyama, and Trovatore will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 1 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "【安田記念】シックスペンスは武豊騎手との新コンビが決定 鞍上は09年ウオッカ以来のV狙う キャロットクラブ発表" [[Yasuda Kinen] Sixpence will be paired with jockey Yutaka Take for the first time since Vodka in 2009. (Announced by Carrot Club)]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 3 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  33. ↑ Kieckhefer, Bob (7 June 2026). "Sixpence Looks Like a Million Yen Winning Yasuda Kinen". Bloodhorse. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  34. 1 2 ""I'm glad we could deliver the result" Yutaka Take sets new record with Sixpence in G1 Yasuda Kinen". netkeiba. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  35. ↑ Takahashi, Masakazu (7 June 2026). "European options for Sixpence as Yutaka Take makes Japanese riding history in Yasuda Kinen". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  36. ↑ "安田記念Vシックスペンスは仏GⅠジャックルマロワ賞も引き続き武豊とのコンビ【次走報】". 東スポ競馬 (in Japanese). 28 June 2026. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  37. ↑ "Sixpence and Strauss struggle at Deauville as Japanese runners finish outside the top eight in G1 Prix Jacques le Marois". netkeiba. 16 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  38. ↑ 【ジャックルマロワ賞】最下位に沈んだ武豊騎手のシックスペンス 田中博調教師「少し息が苦しそうだったと…」 [[Prix Jacques Le Marois] Sixpence, ridden by jockey Yutaka Take, finished last. Trainer Hiroshi Tanaka: "He seemed to be having a little trouble breathing..."]. netkeiba (in Japanese). 16 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "5R サラ系2歳新馬 | 2023年9月10日". JBIS (in Japanese). 10 September 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  40. ↑ "9R ひいらぎ賞 １勝クラス | 2023年12月17日". JBIS (in Japanese). 17 December 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  41. ↑ "11R スプリングS | 2024年3月17日". JBIS (in Japanese). 17 March 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  42. ↑ "11R 日本ダービー | 2024年5月26日". JBIS (in Japanese). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  43. ↑ "11R 毎日王冠 | 2024年10月6日". JBIS (in Japanese). 6 October 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  44. ↑ "11R 中山記念 | 2025年3月2日". JBIS (in Japanese). 2 March 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  45. ↑ "11R 大阪杯 | 2025年4月6日". JBIS (in Japanese). 6 April 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  46. ↑ "11R 安田記念 | 2025年6月8日". JBIS (in Japanese). 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  47. ↑ "12R マイルChS南部杯 | 2025年10月13日". JBIS (in Japanese). 13 October 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "11R チャンピオンズC | 2025年12月7日". JBIS (in Japanese). 7 December 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  49. ↑ "11R フェブラリーS | 2026年2月22日". JBIS (in Japanese). 22 February 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  50. ↑ "11R マイラーズC | 2026年4月26日". JBIS (in Japanese). 26 April 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  51. ↑ "11R 安田記念 | 2026年6月7日". JBIS (in Japanese). 7 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  52. ↑ "The Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois (Group 1)". Racing Post. 16 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  53. ↑ "C4 - The Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois - 1600m" (pdf). France Galop (in French). 16 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  54. ↑ "Sixpence (JP) Pedigree JBIS". jbis.jp. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
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