Potager (horse)
| Potager | |
|---|---|
 Potager in June 2022 | |
| Sire | Deep Impact |
| Grandsire | Sunday Silence |
| Dam | Ginger Punch |
| Damsire | Awesome Again |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 4 February 2017[1] |
| Country | Japan |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Northern Farm |
| Owner | Kaneko Makoto Holdings |
| Trainer | Yasuo Tomomichi |
| Record | 24: 6-4-2[2] |
| Earnings | JPY362,826,000[3] |
| Major wins | |
| Shirafuji Stakes (2021) Osaka Hai (2022) | |
Potager (Japanese: ポタジェ foaled 4 February 2017) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. In his first two seasons he showed promise by winning four minor races but was not tested in the highest class. As a four-year-old in 2021 he won the Listed Shirafuji Stakes and was place three times in Graded stakes races. He improved again in 2022 when he recorded an upset win in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai.
Background
Potager is a dark bay horse with a faint white star and white pasterns on his hind feet bred in Japan by Northern Farm. In July 2018 he was entered in the JRA Sale of Yearlings and was bought for ¥205,200,000 by Makoto Kaneko.[4] He was sent into training with Yasuo Tomomichi.
He was from the tenth crop of foals sired by Deep Impact, who was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006, winning races including the Tokyo Yushun, Tenno Sho, Arima Kinen and Japan Cup. Deep Impact's other progeny include Gentildonna, Harp Star, Kizuna, A Shin Hikari, Snowfall and Saxon Warrior.[5] Potager's dam Ginger Punch was a Florida-bred mare who was an outstanding performer in North America, winning 12 races including the Breeders' Cup Distaff and being voted American Champion Older Female Horse in 2007.[6] As a female-line descendant of the British broodmare Dulcimer she was distantly related to Honeylight, Crepello, Twilight Alley and Attica Meli.[7] She was exported to Japan at the end of her racing career where she also produced the Mainichi Okan winner Rouge Buck.
Racing career
2019: two-year-old season
On his racecourse debut Potager started the 0.3/1 favourite in a contest for previously unraced two-year-olds over 1800 metres on firm ground at Nakayama Racecourse on 29 September. Ridden by Yuga Kawada he settled towards the rear of the fourteen-runner field in the early stages before moving up on the outside on the final turn and took the lead 100 metres from the finish to win by a length. In November the colt started favourite for the Kigiku Sho over 2000 metres at Kyoto Racecourse but was beaten a nose into second place by Simple Game.[8]
2020: three-year-old season
Potager began his second season in the Listed Principal Stakes over 2000 metres at Tokyo Racecourse on 9 May when he was beaten a neck into second place by Bitterender. He ran second again in June, beaten one and three quarter lengths by Al Satwa when starting odds on favourite for a minor race over 2000 metres at Hanshin Racecourse. Over the same course and distance on 4 July Potager was matched against older horses in the Ikuta Tokubetsu on soft ground and started the 0.4/1 favourite. Ridden by Kawada he raced in third place before taking the lead early in the straight and repelled a sustained challenge from the five-year-old Peptide Orchid to win by one and a quarter lengths.[9] The colt then started 0.9/1 favourite the Seibunikkan Sports Hai over 2000 metres at Kokura Racecourse on 15 August. With Kawada again in the saddle he settled behind the leaders before taking the lead on the final turn and kept on well to win by a length and a quarter from Blooming Sky. After a three-month break Potager returned to the track for the Kishiwada Stakes over 2000 metres at Hanshin on 14 November and went off at odds of 0.3/1 in a nine-runner field. After being settled in fourth place by Kawada he produced a sustained run on the outside in the straight, overhauled the front-runnon five-year-old Danon Majesty in the final strides and won by neck.[8]
2021: four-year-old season
On 30 January 2021, Potager began his third campaign with a step up in class for the Listed Shirafuji Stakes over 2000 metres at Tokyo where he was ridden by Kawada and started the 1/1 favourite. He raced just behind the leaders as Atomic Force set the pace but lost his position approaching the final turn. He began to make good progress in the straight, gained the advantage in the last 100 metres and prevailed in a tight finish, beating the fast-finishing Sanrei Pocket by a neck with Franz and African Gold close behind in third and fourth.[10] For the rest of the season, Potager was campaigned in Graded stakes races and ran consistently well although he failed to record another win. In the Grade 2 Kinko Sho at Chukyo in March he finished a close third behind Gibeon and Daring Tact with Glory Vase in third. In May he started favourite for the Grade 3 Niigata Daishoten but was beaten a neck into second by Sanrei Pocket.
After a summer break Potager returned for the Grade 2 Mainichi Okan over 1800 metres at Tokyo on 10 October and came home third behind Schnell Meister and Danon Kingly beaten a head and one and a half lengths by the first two.[11] Three weeks later the colt was stepped up to Grade 1 class for the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho and started at odds of 22.3/1. He tracked the leaders for most of the way before being outpaced in the closing stages and finished sixth behind Efforia, beaten five lengths by the winner.[12]
2022: five-year-old season
Potager began his fourth season on 23 January when he finished fifth to King of Koji in the Grade 2 American Jockey Club Cup at Nakayama, beaten just over two lengths by the winner. In March at Chukyo he produced another respectable effort in defeat as he came home fourth behind Jack d'Or in Kinko Sho.[13] Hayato Yoshida took the ride when Potager returned to Grade 1 class for the Osaka Hai over 2000 metres at Hanshin on 3 April and started a 58/1 outsider in a sixteen-runner field. Efforia started favourite while the other contenders included Lei Papale, Akai Ito, Makahiki, Jack d'Or and King of Koji. Potager settled in fifth place as Jack d'Or set the pace, before moving up on the final turn and making a sustained run in the straight. Lei Papale went to the front 200 metres from the finish but Potager maintained his progress, gained the advantage in the final strides and won by a neck from Arrivo, with Lei Papale a nose away in third place. After the race Yoshida commented "Potager adapts well to various race developments and he was terrific in that he was able to keep up with the pace of the other really strong horses in front. He really gave his all in the end and all I could do was keep urging him on so I’m happy that we were able to win."[14]
Potager was off the track until 26 June when he started at odds of 21.9/1 for the 2200 metre Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin. He raced in mid-division for most of the way but failed to make any progress in the straight and came home eleventh of the seventeen runners behind Titleholder.[15] Potager then rested until autumn and would return for the Mainichi Okan and Tenno Sho (Autumn).[16] In the Mainichi Okan, he started well throughout the race even with 58 kg handicap weight being added but failed to accelerate in the final straight and finished in sixth place.[17] For the Autumn Tenno Sho, he was unable to contend and stay mostly at eleventh place, ended up in 13th-place in the end.[18] He was selected for the end of season Arima Kinen too which he ended up 12th-place after failing to accelerate at the final turn to move up from the middle pack.[19]
2023: six-year-old season
He raced in the Kinko Sho for as the season opener. Under Mirai Iwata, he managed to ride him well but the weight difference caused his legs to give up early and he came home in sixth place.[20] Next, he aimed for the title defence in the Osaka Hai.[21] He ran around the fifth place during the race but fallen back on last stint to finish tenth.[22] He aimed for the Sapporo Kinen for his next race but he had to withdrew and got rested until autumn due to poor physical condition.[23] His rest eventually lasting for the next two season.
2025: eight-year-old season
Potager returned to racing for the first time in 1 year and 9 months at the American Jockey Club Cup on January 26, 2025. He held third place early in the race, but was overtaken by horses behind him after the third corner, finishing in a disastrous 15th-place.[24] He tried on two dirt race after this which were the Kawasaki Kinen and Kashiwa Kinen. He finished in tenth on the former but failed to finish on the later.[25][26] After the race in the Kashiwa Kinen, he was diagnosed with a limp in his right foreleg.[27] The injury eventually forced him to retired instantly and his registration was terminated on May 21.[28] He was assigned to the East Stud in Urakawa, Hokkaido for the stud duty.[29]
Racing form
Potager won six races out of 24 starts. This data available is based on JBIS and netkeiba.[30][2]
| Date | Track | Race | Grade | Distance (Condition) |
Entry | HN | Odds (Favored) |
Finish | Time | Margins | Jockey | Winner (Runner-up) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Sep 29 | Nakayama | 2YO debut | 1800m（Firm） | 14 | 10 | 1.3（1） | 1st | 1:50.1 | −0.2 | Yuga Kawada | (Harem Shadow) | |
| Nov 10 | Kyoto | Kigiku Sho | 1W | 2000m（Firm） | 10 | 8 | 3.0（1） | 2nd | 2:02.1 | 0.0 | Christophe Soumillon | Simple Game |
| 2020 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| May 9 | Tokyo | Principal Stakes | L | 2000m（Firm） | 11 | 2 | 5.4（3） | 2nd | 1:59.8 | 0.0 | Yutaka Take | Bitterender |
| Jun 7 | Hanshin | 3YO allowance | 1W | 2000m（Firm） | 9 | 6 | 1.4（1） | 2nd | 2:00.6 | 0.0 | Yutaka Take | Al Satwa |
| Jul 4 | Hanshin | Ikuta Tokubetsu | 1W | 2000m（Soft） | 10 | 6 | 1.4（1） | 1st | 2:03.2 | –0.2 | Yuga Kawada | (Peptide Orchid) |
| Aug 15 | Kokura | Seibunikkan Sports Hai | 2W | 2000m（Firm） | 10 | 7 | 1.9（1） | 1st | 1:57.8 | –0.2 | Yuga Kawada | (Blooming Sky) |
| Nov 14 | Hanshin | Kishiwada Stakes | 3W | 2000m（Firm） | 9 | 3 | 1.3（1） | 1st | 1:58.4 | 0.0 | Yuga Kawada | (Danon Majesty) |
| 2021 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 30 | Tokyo | Shirafuji Stakes | L | 2000m（Firm） | 13 | 6 | 2.0（1） | 1st | 1:59.0 | –0.1 | Yuga Kawada | (Sanrei Pocket) |
| Mar 14 | Chukyo | Kinko Sho | 2 | 2000m（Soft） | 10 | 10 | 19.8（6） | 3rd | 2:01.9 | 0.1 | Yuichi Kitamura | Gibeon |
| May 9 | Niigata | Niigata Daishoten | 3 | 2000m（Firm） | 14 | 10 | 3.5（1） | 2nd | 1:59.3 | 0.0 | Atsuya Nishimura | Sanrei Pocket |
| Oct 10 | Tokyo | Mainichi Okan | 2 | 1800m（Firm） | 13 | 5 | 8.7（4） | 3rd | 1:45.0 | 0.2 | Hayato Yoshida | Schnell Meister |
| Oct 31 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | 1 | 2000m（Firm） | 16 | 4 | 23.3（5） | 6th | 1:58.7 | 0.8 | Yuga Kawada | Efforia |
| 2022 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 23 | Nakayama | American Jockey Club Cup | 2 | 2200m（Firm） | 14 | 6 | 3.6（2） | 5th | 2:13.1 | 0.4 | Yuga Kawada | King of Koji |
| Mar 13 | Chukyo | Kinko Sho | 2 | 2000m（Firm） | 13 | 5 | 8.7（4） | 4th | 1:58.0 | 0.8 | Hayato Yoshida | Jack d'Or |
| Apr 3 | Hanshin | Osaka Hai | 1 | 2000m（Firm） | 16 | 8 | 58.7（8） | 1st | 1:58.4 | –0.1 | Hayato Yoshida | (Lei Papale) |
| Jun 26 | Hanshin | Takarazuka Kinen | 1 | 2200m（Firm） | 17 | 18 | 22.9（8） | 11th | 2:11.5 | 1.8 | Hayato Yoshida | Titleholder |
| Oct 9 | Tokyo | Mainichi Okan | 2 | 1800m（Firm） | 10 | 6 | 12.9（7） | 6th | 1:44.6 | 0.5 | Hayato Yoshida | Salios |
| Oct 30 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | 1 | 2000m（Firm） | 15 | 4 | 34.6（8） | 13th | 1:58.4 | 0.9 | Hayato Yoshida | Equinox |
| Dec 25 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | 1 | 2500m（Firm） | 16 | 12 | 136.9（12） | 12th | 2:34.5 | 2.1 | Hayato Yoshida | Equinox |
| 2023 – six-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 12 | Chukyo | Kinko Sho | 2 | 2000m（Firm） | 12 | 9 | 24.6（7） | 6th | 2:00.4 | 0.6 | Mirai Iwata | Prognosis |
| Apr 2 | Hanshin | Osaka Hai | 1 | 2000m（Firm） | 16 | 10 | 48.5（12） | 10th | 1:58.1 | 0.7 | Ryusei Sakai | Jack d'Or |
| 2025 – eight-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 26 | Nakayama | American Jockey Club Cup | 2 | 2200m（Firm） | 18 | 3 | 142.2（14） | 15th | 2:13.7 | 1.6 | Mirai Iwata | Danon Decile |
| Apr 9 | Kawasaki | Kawasaki Kinen | Jpn1 | 2100m（Firm） | 13 | 5 | 44.8（7） | 10th | 2:20.8 | 2.8 | Mirai Iwata | Meisho Hario |
| May 5 | Funabashi | Kashiwa Kinen | Jpn1 | 1600m（Fast） | 10 | 9 | 84.8（6） | DNF | – | – | Mirai Iwata | Shamal |
Legend:
Turf
Dirt
- The Jpn graded race were labeled as "Listed" in international level.
Pedigree
| Sire Deep Impact (JPN) 2002 |
Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 |
Halo | Hail to Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmah | |||
| Wishing Well | Understanding | ||
| Mountain Flower | |||
| Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 |
Alzao (USA) | Lyphard | |
| Lady Rebecca (GB) | |||
| Burghclere (GB) | Busted | ||
| Highclere | |||
| Dam Ginger Punch (USA) 2003 |
Awesome Again (CAN) 1994 |
Deputy Minister | Vice Regent |
| Mint Copy | |||
| Primal Force (USA) | Blushing Groom (FR) | ||
| Prime Prospect | |||
| Nappelon (USA) 1992 |
Bold Revenue | Bold Ruckus (USA) | |
| More Revenue (USA) | |||
| Sally Go Gray (USA) | Wise Exchange | ||
| Surreptitious (Family: 16-d)[7] |
References
- ^ a b "Potager pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ a b "Potager Race Record and Form | Horse Profile". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Potager(JPN) | JBIS-Search". www.jbis.jp. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Sales Results Select Sale: Yearlings, Lot 52". JBIS.
- ^ "Deep Impact – Stud Record". Racing Post.
- ^ "Ginger Punch profile". Equibase.
- ^ a b "Wild Agnes - Family 16-d". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ^ a b "Race Records:Lifetime Starts Potager". JBIS.
- ^ "Ikuta Tokubetsu result". Racing Post. 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Shirafuji Stakes result". Racing Post. 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Mainichi Okan result". Racing Post. 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Efforia Becomes First Three-Year-Old in 19 Years to Capture the Tenno Sho". Horse Racing in Japan. 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Kinko Sho result". Racing Post. 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Potager Lands Upset G1 Victory in 2022 Osaka Hai". Horse Racing in Japan. 3 April 2022.
- ^ "Titleholder with Most Fan Votes Captures This Year's All-Star Takarazuka Kinen". Horse Racing in Japan. 26 June 2022.
- ^ "【注目馬動向】宝塚記念１１着のポタジェは秋まで休養 友道調教師「毎日王冠と天皇賞・秋を目指します」" [[Horse Trends to Watch] Potager, who came in 11th in the Takarazuka Kinen, will rest until autumn. Trainer Tomomichi says, "We'll aim for the Mainichi Okan and the Autumn Tenno Sho."]. スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). The Hochi Newspaper. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "【毎日王冠】戦い終えて - スポニチ Sponichi Annex ギャンブル" [[Mainichi Okan] After the battle]. スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon Newspaper. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Equinox Excels over Proven Field in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) - News - Horse Racing in Japan". japanracing.jp. Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Race Favorite Equinox Bests a Strong Field in This Year's Arima Kinen - News - Horse Racing in Japan". japanracing.jp. Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS). 25 December 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "【金鯱賞】戦い終えて - スポニチ Sponichi Annex ギャンブル". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon Newspaper. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Three 6YO horses entered for Osaka Hai | Horse Racing News". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Jack d'Or Claims Wire-to-Wire Victory in 2023 Osaka Hai - News - Horse Racing in Japan". japanracing.jp. Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS). 2 April 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "ポタジェ、札幌記念を回避 友道師「体調が整わないので、秋まで休養」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex ギャンブル" [Potager to skip Sapporo Memorial, trainer Tomomichi says "He's not in good shape so he'll rest until autumn"]. スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon Newspaper. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "【AJC杯】戦い終えて - スポニチ Sponichi Annex ギャンブル" [[AJC Cup] After the Battle]. スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "競馬データベース | 競走馬・騎手など情報満載" [74th Kawasaki Memorial [Designated Exchange] (JpnI)]. netkeiba (in Japanese). NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "競馬データベース | 競走馬・騎手など情報満載" [37th Kashiwa Memorial (JpnI)]. netkeiba (in Japanese). NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "【かしわ記念】4角で競走中止のポタジェは右前肢ハ行の診断 22年大阪杯の覇者 | 競馬ニュース" [[Kashiwa Kinen] Potager, winner of the 2022 Osaka Hai, was diagnosed with a right forelimb hobble and was forced to withdraw from the race at the final corner.]. netkeiba (in Japanese). NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "ポタジェの競走馬登録抹消 JRA" [Potager's racehorse registration cancelled]. jra.jp (in Japanese). Japanese Racing Association. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "2022 G1 Osaka Hai winner Potager retired from racing, to stand at stud in Hokkaido | Horse Racing News". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Race Records | Potager(JPN) | JBIS-Search". www.jbis.jp. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 9 January 2026.