Air Groove

Air Groove – The Mare Who Challenged the Norm and Changed Japanese Racing Forever

In an era when female racehorses were often overshadowed by their male counterparts, one mare rose to redefine the standards. Her name was Air Groove. With pedigree, courage, and class, she not only won major races but also stood toe-to-toe with the best male horses of her time. This is the inspiring story of a mare who blazed trails for future generations—both on the track and in the breeding shed.

A Royal Pedigree

Sired by Champions

• Sire: Tony Bin, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
• Dam: Dyna Carl, winner of the Japanese Oaks

A descendant of a strong maternal line, producing multiple Grade 1 winners.

From birth, expectations for Air Groove were high. Even her future trainer remarked upon seeing her,

“If this filly were a colt, she’d be a Derby horse.”

Early Promise and Rising Stardom

Early Career Highlights

• Debuted in 1995, finishing 2nd in her first race
• Won her second race by 0.8 seconds
• Gained national attention in her third start despite being blocked in the stretch — still won with incredible grit
• Runner-up in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1)

Overcoming Setbacks

• Missed the Oka Sho (G1) due to illness
• Bounced back to win the Japanese Oaks (G1) against Oka Sho winner Fight Gulliver
• Became the second mother-daughter pair in 42 years to both win the Oaks

Racing Against the Boys

Injury and Comeback

• Missed the Shuka Sho due to a fracture
• Returned in 1997 with a win in the Mermaid Stakes (G3)

Sapporo Kinen and a Big Statement

Defeated top male horse Genuine in the Sapporo Kinen (G2). Marked her ability to challenge the best male horses head-on.

Triumph at the Tenno Sho (Autumn)

• Beat Bubble Gum Fellow and Genuine in a thrilling finish
• First mare in 17 years to win the Tenno Sho (Autumn)
• First mare ever to win it at the 2000-meter distance since the race’s change in 1984

International-Grade Competitor

Japan Cup and Arima Kinen

• Finished 2nd in the Japan Cup, narrowly defeated by Pilsudski, a top European horse
• Ran a strong race in the Arima Kinen, finishing 3rd

Her 1997 season stats:

• 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 5 races
• Earned the Horse of the Year title, the first mare in 26 years to receive the honor

Final Racing Year and Retirement

1998 Season

• Won the Osaka Hai, defeating Mejiro Dober
• Struggled on heavy ground in Naruo Kinen, finishing 2nd
• Finished 3rd behind Silence Suzuka in the Takarazuka Kinen
• Defeated Silent Hunter in the Sapporo Kinen again despite carrying 58kg

Skipping the Tenno Sho, Choosing the Queen Elizabeth II Cup

• Finished 3rd in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, behind Mejiro Dober
• Finished 2nd in the Japan Cup, behind El Condor Pasa
• Placed 5th in the Arima Kinen, her retirement race

Career Stats

• 19 starts: 9 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds
• Grade 1 wins: Oaks, Tenno Sho (Autumn)

A Legacy as a Broodmare

Progeny of Air Groove

Air Groove retired in 1999 and began a second life as a broodmare.

Her most notable offspring include:

• Admire Groove – Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner
• Duramente – Sired by Admire Groove, winner of the 2015 Satsuki Sho and Japanese Derby
• Rulership – Winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Hong Kong)
• Forgettable – Winner of two graded races over 3000m
• Guruveig – Mermaid Stakes winner, now a broodmare

Sadly, Air Groove passed away in 2013 at age 20 due to internal bleeding after foaling. Admire Groove had died a year earlier.

She left behind:

• 5 broodmare daughters
• 2 stallions

Her lineage continues through champions like Duramente.

Conclusion

Air Groove was more than a champion mare—she was a trailblazer. She raced fearlessly against male champions, won prestigious races, and passed her strength to future generations. Her legacy lives on in both her descendants and the path she carved for female racehorses in Japan.

She was a symbol of resilience, intelligence, and determination—and remains one of the most admired mares in Japanese racing history.