Espoir City
Espoir City is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 2010 February Stakes.
Background
Espoir City was foaled out of Eminent City who won three out of 23 races. He was sired by Gold Allure who won the 2002 Japan Dirt Derby, 2002 Tokyo Daishoten and 2003 February Stakes.In the beginning, her dam had some complications when giving birth to her first foal, which causing her womb to get damaged. She got permission later from the veterinarian to continue her duties as a broodmare. At the Yushun Horse order, Eminent City was scheduled to be slaughtered but the breeder, Ikuchise kept her in secret as a riding horse for Scarlet Riding Club for several years. It was until Espoir City's gradual success on the dirt when the details been fully revealed to the public.
His name came from the french word for hope, Espoir and the Yushun Horse crown's name, City.
Racing Career
Espoir City debuted on March 9, 2008, at Hanshin, where he came in 3rd. He got his first win after six races on July 29, 2008, when he won at Kokura. He then picked up another win at Kokura on August 10, 2008. This sparked a 4 race winstreak.2009 was a very successful year for Espoir City. He went on a 6 race winstreak. He picked up his first graded win on March 29, 2009, when he won the March Stakes. He then won his first Grade 1 race by winning the May 5th, 2009 Kashiwa Kinen. He also won both the G1 Mile Championship Nambu Hai on October 12, 2009, and the G1 2009 Champions Cup in December.
He started off 2010 with another Grade 1 win, this time at the February 21st, 2010 February Stakes. He then successfully defended his Kashiwa Kinen title on May 5, 2010, to cap off his win streak.
His next win came on March 21, 2011, when he won the Nagoya Taishoten. He tried to defend his Kashiwa Kinen title for a 2nd time in May, but came in 3rd place. He was only able to win one more race in 2011, when he captured the November 2011 Miyako Stakes.
He returned to the Kashiwa Kinen on May 2, 2012, and won the race for the 3rd and final time. Later in October, he also re-captured the Mile Championship Nambu Hai.
2013 was Espoir City's final year in racing. He came in 2nd at the 2013 February Stakes and at the 2013 Kashiwa Kinen. He then won the Mile Championship Nambu Hai for the 3rd and final time in October. His last win was the November 4th, 2013 Japan Breeding farms' Cup Sprint. He finished his career with a 7th-place finish at the Champions Cup on December 1, 2013. After retirement, he became a breeding stallion at Yushun Stallion Station.
Racing form
Espoir City won 17 and placed 13 races in 40 starts. The data available is based on JBIS and netkeiba.- indicated that it was a record run
- All Jpn graded races are labeled as "Listed" in international scale.
Stud career
Espoir City's descendants include:''c = colt, f = filly''