G3 Unicorn Stakes as a G1 springboard
Thursday, 15 June, 2023 18:22
Agnes Digital, Taiki Shuttle, Kane Hekili (clockwise) (Photo by: Yuki Shimono)
A three-year-old dirt mile contest, the G3 Unicorn Stakes will be held at Tokyo Racecourse on the18th. The race was established in 1996, and is known as a prestigious stepping stone for future success. Among the 27 previous winners, 14 went on to win G1/Jpn1 races. In this article, we will look back at some of the notable horses that have triumphed in the race.
1996 - Shinko Windy In the inaugural race held at Nakayama over 1800 meters on dirt, the favorite Battle Line crossed the finish line in first place but was subsequently disqualified to 10th due to interference. Shinko Windy was promoted to first place. The horse later went on to win the newly elevated G1 race, the February Stakes.
1997 - Taiki Shuttle It is surprising to note that the historic first graded stakes victory for the renowned miler came on dirt. Taiki Shuttle raced in the fifth position along the inside, made a strong move in the stretch with the fastest closing speed, and claimed victory. This display of power on dirt might have been a factor in the horse's subsequent success on tough European tracks.
2000 - Agnes Digital Agnes Digital, a legendary all-around horse, would later achieve six G1 victories both domestically and internationally. Starting from the inside post, he saved energy until the last moment and unleashed a sharp burst of speed in the stretch, winning by two-and-a-half lengths. The horse went on to secure his first G1 title in the Mile Championship after finishing second in the G2 Musashino Stakes.
2005 - Kane Hekili Kane Hekili, who dominated in dirt races, delivered a commanding victory as the overwhelming favorite in the Unicorn Stakes. Subsequently, the horse went on to capture major titles such as the JPN1 Japan Dirt Derby and the Derby Grand Prix. Despite facing a tendon injury after becoming an older horse, Kane Hekili made a comeback by winning the G1 Japan Cup Dirt at the age of eight and continued to reign as the top dirt horse until the summer of that year.
2016 - Gold Dream With three consecutive victories at the start of his career, Gold Dream clinched his first graded stakes win in the Unicorn Stakes. In 2017, the horse achieved the remarkable feat of winning both spring and autumn G1 dirt races. While struggling on local tracks for a long time, Gold Dream elevated himsef to become an historic dirt horse by winning the JPN 1 Kashiwa Kinen and the JPN1 Teio Sho in 2018.
2018 - Le Vent Se Leve Le Vent Se Leve triumphed in the JPN1 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun claiming her first graded stakes victory. From the Unicorn Stakes to the G1 Champions Cup in the autumn, the horse secured four consecutive graded wins. Although she faced setbacks due to leg issues after a long break, Le Vent Se Leve is widely regarded as one of the strongest dirt horses of all time.
In addition to these winners, there have been numerous horses such as Wing Arrow, Best Warrior, Nonkono Yume, and Cafe Pharoah, who went on to win G1/JpnI1 races. It is possible that this year's field also harbours future G1 contenders.
1996 - Shinko Windy In the inaugural race held at Nakayama over 1800 meters on dirt, the favorite Battle Line crossed the finish line in first place but was subsequently disqualified to 10th due to interference. Shinko Windy was promoted to first place. The horse later went on to win the newly elevated G1 race, the February Stakes.
1997 - Taiki Shuttle It is surprising to note that the historic first graded stakes victory for the renowned miler came on dirt. Taiki Shuttle raced in the fifth position along the inside, made a strong move in the stretch with the fastest closing speed, and claimed victory. This display of power on dirt might have been a factor in the horse's subsequent success on tough European tracks.
2000 - Agnes Digital Agnes Digital, a legendary all-around horse, would later achieve six G1 victories both domestically and internationally. Starting from the inside post, he saved energy until the last moment and unleashed a sharp burst of speed in the stretch, winning by two-and-a-half lengths. The horse went on to secure his first G1 title in the Mile Championship after finishing second in the G2 Musashino Stakes.
2005 - Kane Hekili Kane Hekili, who dominated in dirt races, delivered a commanding victory as the overwhelming favorite in the Unicorn Stakes. Subsequently, the horse went on to capture major titles such as the JPN1 Japan Dirt Derby and the Derby Grand Prix. Despite facing a tendon injury after becoming an older horse, Kane Hekili made a comeback by winning the G1 Japan Cup Dirt at the age of eight and continued to reign as the top dirt horse until the summer of that year.
2016 - Gold Dream With three consecutive victories at the start of his career, Gold Dream clinched his first graded stakes win in the Unicorn Stakes. In 2017, the horse achieved the remarkable feat of winning both spring and autumn G1 dirt races. While struggling on local tracks for a long time, Gold Dream elevated himsef to become an historic dirt horse by winning the JPN 1 Kashiwa Kinen and the JPN1 Teio Sho in 2018.
2018 - Le Vent Se Leve Le Vent Se Leve triumphed in the JPN1 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun claiming her first graded stakes victory. From the Unicorn Stakes to the G1 Champions Cup in the autumn, the horse secured four consecutive graded wins. Although she faced setbacks due to leg issues after a long break, Le Vent Se Leve is widely regarded as one of the strongest dirt horses of all time.
In addition to these winners, there have been numerous horses such as Wing Arrow, Best Warrior, Nonkono Yume, and Cafe Pharoah, who went on to win G1/JpnI1 races. It is possible that this year's field also harbours future G1 contenders.