Japan Cup: a Vodka served 1 century ago

Imagine what would be Japan there is 100 years. Imagine what the transport of the horses with roads and vehicles which existed… or not could represent at that time  It is however at this time and in this context that the Vodka history started. Just a century after the arrival of its 11th dam in the Eastern Empire still living recluse on itself at the time of samurai, Vodka has beaten some of the best horses of the planet, in live on TV or over Internet.

All the mares of the Vodka ascent were born in Japan, to the 10th mother, born in 1912. This Daiyon Florries Cup was born in the Far East in a time when it is not even imagined that he can exist races there. In fact, this history, explained by Patrick Barbe, specialist of Japan, shows that the international exchanges are older that we can imagine.

A 6 months travel!


At the beginning of the 20th century, there were already races in the Far East, in Japan as in Hong Kong. In fact, they had been organized by the English installed in various exotice countries to make trading. To break the famous colonial bore, these English had recopied their preferred native leisures, of which horse-races. It arrived whereas autochtones are also pricked them of passion for these new sports. On this occasion, it was the grandfather of Teruya Yoshida, current owner of Shadaï Farm. This one, already curious about the outside world, had benefitted from an particular situation for racing in the United States. All the races had been stopped in America between 1907 and 1909. Mr. Yoshida then had bought there several mares in Kentucky, including one named Florries Cup, born in 1904. To bring back them to Japan, it was an incredible travel. It was necessary to take along the horses almost to foot from Kentucky as far as California, on the other side of the United States. And from there, the horses took boats direction Japan. And once arrived, it still remained to join the stud farm. This kind of voyage could last up to 6 months!

The breeding in autarky


Vodka gained a lot of victories of Gr.1. Its biggest title until Japan Cup was of course the Japanese, beating colts. No filly had made a success of such exploit for 64 years, knowing that this race was creates in 1920.

Her breeder lives in an autarkical way. He made the sire Tanino Gimlet, son of Brian' S Time, himself a Japanese Derby 2002 winner. He is also the breeder of  Vodka's dam, Tanino Sister, by however the dark Roussillon. It should be noted that Sunday Silence does not appear at all in this pedigree. It is rare.

This kind of history going up at the end of the conquest of the west in the United States has at least a precedent. The winner of Japan Cup 1999, named Special Week, also descended him from same Florries Cup.