Admire Vega
Admire Vega was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1998 he won two of his three races including the Grade III Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Stakes. In the following spring he was beaten in his first two starts before recording his greatest success in defeating a strong field in the Tokyo Yushun. In the autumn he added a win in the Grade II Kyoto Shimbun Hai before being retired in 2000. He had some success in a brief stud career before dying at the age of eight.
Background
Admire Vega was a bay horse with a white blaze and a white sock on his left hind leg bred in Japan by the Yoshida family's Northern Farm. He was smaller than average for a male Thoroughbred, with a maximum racing weight of 464 kg. He was sired by Sunday Silence, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, before retiring to stud in Japan where he was champion sire on thirteen consecutive occasions. His other major winners included Deep Impact, Stay Gold, Heart's Cry, Manhattan Cafe, Zenno Rob Roy and Neo Universe. Admire Vega's dam Vega was an outstanding racemare who won the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba in 1993. As a broodmare Vega also produced the multiple Grade I winner Admire Don and Historic Star, the dam of Harp Star. Vega was a descendant of the American mare Nellie Morse, making her a distant relative of Bold Forbes and Bet Twice.The colt was acquired by Riichi Kondo and was sent into training with Mitsuru Hashida.
Racing career
1998: two-year-old season
Admire Vega began his racing career by finishing fourth to Mayano Matador in a 1600-metre maiden race at Kyoto Racecourse on 7 November and recorded his first win four weeks later when he won the Erica Sho over 2000 metres at Hanshin Racecourse. On 26 December the colt was moved up in class for the Grade III Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Stakes over the same course and distance as the Erica Sho. He gained his first major success as he won from Matikane Kinnohosi and Osumi Bright.1999: three-year-old season
On his three-year-old debut Admire Vega contested the Grade II Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho over 2000 metres at Nakayama Racecourse on 7 March and finished second to Narita Top Road. In the Grade I Satsuki Sho over the same course and distance on 18 April he finished sixth, three lengths behind T. M. Opera O, who won from Osumi Bright and Narita Top Road. On 6 June Admire Vega was moved up in distance to contest the sixty-sixth running of the Tokyo Yushun over 2400 metres at Tokyo Racecourse. Ridden by Yutaka Take he faced seventeen opponents including T. M. Opera O, Narita Top Road and Osumi Bright. He won by a neck from Narita Top Road, with T. M. Opera O a length and a quarter back in third place.After a break of more than four months Admire Vega returned in the Group Two Kyoto Shimbun Hai at Kyoto on 17 October and won from Narita Top Road. For his final race the colt was moved up in distance for the Grade I Kikuka Sho over 3000 metres at Kyoto on 7 November. He finished sixth of the fifteen runners, four lengths behind Narita Top Road, who won by a neck from T. M. Opera O.
He remained in training as a four-year-old but suffered from ligament problems and did not race again.
Racing form
The following form is based on information available on JBIS Search and netkeiba.- * Finished first but disqualified after running interference with another horse
Stud record
Admire Vega was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion at Shadai Stallion Station. He had some success in four seasons at stud, siring the Grade I winners Kiss to Heaven and Blumenblatt. He died suddenly on 29 October 2004 at the age of eight. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was an accidental stomach rupture.A funeral was held for Admire Vega on 23 November of the same year at the Shadai Stallion Station, which was attended by 200 people including at least 50 fans, trainer Hashida, and House of Councillors member Seiko Hashimoto.
Major winners
c = colt, f = filly| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
| 2002 | Monroe Blond | f | 2006 Sasebo Stakes |
| 2002 | Black Altair | g | 2007 Christmas Cup |
| 2002 | T M Dragon | c | 2005 Nakayama Daishogai, 2005 and 2007 Kyoto High Jump, 2006 Hanshin Spring Jump |
| 2002 | Stormy Cafe | g | 2005 Kyodo Tsushin Hai |
| 2002 | Silk Worlitz | c | 2006 Hida Stakes |
| 2002 | Silk Trouper | c | 2005 Tachibana Stakes |
| 2002 | Sarara | f | 2008 Sotobo Tokubetsu |
| 2002 | Admire Fuji | c | 2006 Nikkei Shinshun Hai, 2008-09 Nakayama Kimpai |
| 2002 | Admire Title | c | 2007 Sunshine Stakes |
| 2003 | Moere Connection | c | 2006 Kanchiku Sho |
| 2003 | Meiner Polite | c | 2008 Banshun Stakes |
| 2003 | Premium Box | c | 2008 Ocean Stakes, 2009 CBC Sho, 2009 Keihan Hai |
| 2003 | Blumenblatt | f | 2008 Mile Championship, 2008 Fuchu Himba Stakes |
| 2003 | Nihonpillow Regalo | c | 2010 Kokura Kinen |
| 2003 | Tosho Scirocco | c | 2007 Tokyo Racecource Grand Open Kinen |
| 2003 | Stella di Cuore | c | 2007 Nagaoka Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | South Thida | f | 2007 Hiuchiyama Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Kiss to Heaven | f | 2006 Oka Sho, 2006 Flower Cup, 2008 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap, 2009 Nakayama Himba Stakes |
| 2004 | Nihonpillow Cherie | f | 2007 Kiyotaki Tokubetsu |
| 2004 | Towa Vega | c | 2010 Hanshin Spring Jump |
| 2004 | Sunrise Vega | c | 2011 Kokura Daishoten |
| 2004 | Continent | c | 2011 Naruto Stakes |
| 2004 | Crimson Vega | c | 2009 Wakashio Sho |
| 2004 | Guilty Strike | g | 2010 Tokyo Jump Stakes |
| 2004 | Al Nasrain | c | 2009 Nikkei Sho |
| 2004 | Admire Atom | c | 2009 Tsubame Tokubetsu |
| 2005 | Libiamo | f | 2010 Oro Cup |
| 2005 | Merci Mont Saint | c | 2010 Nakayama Grand Jump |
| 2005 | Miyabi Vega | c | 2010 Sado Tokubetsu |
| 2005 | Boston O | c | 2009 Shinsaibashi Stakes |
| 2005 | Fitz Roy | g | 2009 Kokurajo Tokubetsu |
| 2005 | Street Style | f | 2010 Uzushio Stakes |
| 2005 | Suez | g | 2012 Hakurei Stakes |
| 2005 | Southern Galaxy | c | 2009 Hayama Tokubetsu |
| 2005 | Crystal Wing | c | 2009 Hidaka Tokubetsu |
| 2005 | Osumi Spark | c | 2010 Kokura Daishoten |