Admire Moon


Admire Moon is a Japanese racehorse who won the 2007 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, Takarazuka Kinen and Japan Cup.

Racing career

2006: three-year-old season

Admire Moon ran in the Satsuki Sho in 2006, his first Grade I race. He placed 4th to Meisho Samson. He then went to Tokyo for the Japanese Derby, the Tokyo Yushun, where he placed 7th, also to Meisho Samson.
He returned to Tokyo in late October for the Tenno Sho, not the Kikuka Sho, and finished 3rd to Daiwa Major. In December, he traveled to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Cup, his first-ever race outside Japan. He finished second to Pride by a nose.

2007: four-year-old season

In 2007, he raced in Kyoto Kinen and won. He then headed to Dubai for the Dubai Duty Free Stakes. He finished first, winning his first ever Group One race, over Linngari, Daiwa Major, etc. On June 24, he took on the Takarazuka Kinen by a vote of fans and finished first ahead of Vodka, Daiwa Major etc., winning his first Grade I race in Japan.
He then ran in the Japan Cup the same year in November and won by a head over Pop Rock. With the Takarazuka Kinen win earlier in the year, Admire Moon earned a ¥130 million bonus in addition to over ¥250 million in prize money. Admire Moon retired after winning the Japan Cup.

Stud record

At the end of his racing career Admire Moon was retired to become a breeding stallion. The best of his offspring have included the sprinters Fine Needle and Seiun Kosei, both of whom won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.

Pedigree