Daiichi Ruby

Daiichi Ruby: The Brilliant Mare Who Conquered the Yasuda Kinen and Sprinters’ Stakes

In the rich history of Japanese horse racing, few families shine as brightly as the Splendid Family, a distinguished female lineage that has produced multiple champions. Among them stands Daiichi Ruby, a mare who overcame physical handicaps and fierce rivals to leave an indelible mark on the sport. Her story is not only one of speed and victory but also of resilience, heritage, and the unbroken spirit of her bloodline.

Origins of the Splendid Family

The Foundation Mare: Mairie

The roots of the Splendid Family trace back to Mairie, an English mare imported to Japan in 1957. Mairie established a powerful bloodline that would influence generations of Japanese racing.

Itto – The Strong Matriarch

Mairie’s granddaughter Itto was a remarkable racehorse, winning 7 of her 15 starts against male competition. She later became a prolific broodmare, producing 14 foals, including:

• Hagino Kamui O – winner of the prestigious Takarazuka Kinen
• Hagino Top Lady – winner of the 1980 Oka Sho and the Queen Elizabeth Cup

Hagino Top Lady was especially renowned for her blazing speed, setting a juvenile track record at Hakodate (57.2 seconds for 1000m). This extraordinary performance stood unchallenged for decades before finally being surpassed in recent years.

Birth of Daiichi Ruby

A Pedigree of Champions

Born in 1987, Daiichi Ruby was sired by Tosho Boy (nicknamed “Pegasus”) out of Hagino Top Lady. With such impeccable bloodlines, she was valued at an astonishing 100 million yen at birth.

Early Challenges

Despite her pedigree, Daiichi Ruby was born with asymmetry in her legs. Yet once she ran, she revealed extraordinary talent, clearly a cut above her peers.

The Racing Career of Daiichi Ruby

Early Campaigns

• Debut (February 1990, Kyoto, 1600m): She stormed to victory, displaying the same blistering speed as her dam.
• Anemone Stakes: Won impressively, but denied entry to the Oka Sho due to the draw. Agnes Flora later won that year’s Oka Sho.
• Oaks Trial: Narrowly beaten into second but secured a place in the Oaks.
• Oaks (1990, 2400m): Entered as second favorite but faded to fifth, showing the distance was too far for her stamina.

Setbacks and Return

After battling cellulitis and missing the Queen Elizabeth Cup in 1990, Daiichi Ruby returned in January 1991. She soon captured her first graded stakes victory in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3) with a relentless stretch run, signaling her return to form.

Triumph in the Yasuda Kinen

Spring Cup Prelude

In the Spring Cup (1991), Daiichi Ruby faced the highly regarded Bamboo Memory, a multiple G1 winner. With a powerful outside run, she surged past him to claim victory, proving she could defeat elite males.

The Historic Yasuda Kinen

The highlight of her career came in the 1991 Yasuda Kinen (G1, Tokyo, 1600m):

• The early pace was brutal, with the first 1000m clocked at 57.6 seconds.
• As the frontrunners weakened, Daiichi Ruby began her charge from deep in the pack.
• Launching a devastating burst on the outside, she swept past Daitaku Helios and the rest of the field.

She crossed the finish line first, becoming the first female horse to win the Yasuda Kinen under the grading system. The Tokyo crowd erupted in celebration at her historic triumph.

Continued Rivalries and the Sprinters’ Stakes Victory

Narrow Defeats

Despite her Yasuda Kinen triumph, Daiichi Ruby endured a series of near misses:

• Takamatsunomiya Cup (2000m): A heartbreaking photo-finish second, in a race tied closely to her pedigree.
• Swan Stakes: Fell just short against K.S. Miracle despite recording the same time as the winner.
• Mile Championship: Beaten by the powerful front-runner Daitaku Helios.

Redemption in the Sprinters’ Stakes

In December 1991, Daiichi Ruby lined up in the Sprinters’ Stakes (G1, Nakayama, 1200m). The race took an unexpected turn when rival K.S. Miracle broke down, leaving the stage open for her furious acceleration. She charged to the lead, extending it to a four-length victory in a record time of 1:07.6.

With this emphatic win, she claimed her second G1 title and surpassed ¥400 million in career earnings, the highest ever for a Japanese mare at the time.

Later Career and Retirement

Final Season

Although expected to dominate in 1992, Daiichi Ruby’s form declined. She finished unplaced in her last Yasuda Kinen and retired with a record of:

• 18 starts, 6 wins
• 2 G1 victories (Yasuda Kinen, Sprinters’ Stakes)
• Over ¥400 million in earnings

Broodmare Life

Daiichi Ruby produced seven foals, though none matched her brilliance. Her most notable was Daiichi Cigar, who placed in the 1997 Oaks. In 2007, Daiichi Ruby passed away at age 20 due to laminitis.

Legacy of Daiichi Ruby

Though her direct descendants did not achieve great success, Daiichi Ruby’s legacy endures through her unforgettable victories. Her triumphs against elite male horses in the Yasuda Kinen and Sprinters’ Stakes marked her as a trailblazer, inspiring fans and future generations alike.

Fast female horse from a Splendid family - Daiichi Ruby（ダイイチルビー）

Conclusion

Daiichi Ruby was more than a champion mare—she was the embodiment of the Splendid Family’s proud legacy. Despite physical challenges and fierce competition, she etched her name into racing history with courage and brilliance. Her story reminds us that greatness is not merely inherited; it is forged in moments of determination, speed, and the will to surpass expectations.