Mejiro Ardan
Mejiro Ardan was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse and stud horse. His main victory was at the 1989 Takamatsunomiya Hai. He was sometimes called a "heavy tank" due to his size, weight, and characteristic running style of sinking low to the ground, though his legs were frail throughout his lifetime.
His older half-sister Mejiro Ramonu was the first-ever winner of the Fillies' Triple Crown in 1986.
Background
Mejiro Ardan was born at Mejiro Stud on March 28, 1985. The early 1980s were considered a horse racing boom in Japan that produced many talented thoroughbreds; those born in 1985 were popular, sometimes as the "strongest generation in history." Other horses foaled that year included Oguri Cap, Yaeno Muteki, Super Creek, and Soccer Boy.The name "Mejiro" originated with the farm he was born at, while "Ardan" was a result of Mejiro Stud's current naming theme for the year which borrowed from famous racehorses of the past. A horse named Ardan had won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1944, though there was no blood relation between the two horses.
Racing career
Mejiro Ardan won just a single graded race in his career, though he placed well at major races among other horses considered to be strong at the time. However, his weak legs were a detriment throughout his career, forcing him to take several long breaks and eventually causing his retirement. It also pushed his debut back by a year into 1988.1988: three-year-old season
When Mejiro Ardan finally debuted, it was on a dirt course over 1200 meters; the dirt was wet from a storm, which gave him an advantage due to his weak legs. He then comfortably won his first race on turf, the Yamafuji Sho, fulfilling one of the conditions for the Tōkyō Yūshun by winning a 40000-and-under race.The other condition for entering the Derby was to place in a trial race, and the team decided on the NHK Hai, which at the time was a G2 2000-meter race. He was the sixth favorite going into the event; as a trial race, many strong horses were set to take part, with Soccer Boy as the first favorite. Other notable racers included Meiner Logic and Meiner Glauben.
Mejiro Ardan began the race in post 16, the furthest to the outside, but quickly took up a good position chasing the leaders. In the last 200 meters, he pulled into first place. A battle ensued between him and Meiner Glauben on the outside, which Kokusai Triple joined for a moment, but Meiner Glauben ended the race ahead of Mejiro Ardan by a head.
Despite placing in a Tōkyō Yūshun trial race, Mejiro Ardan may not have been able to take part if not for the loss of Chunika O, who placed 12th in this race after winning his own 40000-and-under race. Chunika O was forced to race in the Shirayuri Stakes instead, which was considered the "Zannen Derby".
However, the Japanese Derby was only two weeks after the NHK Hai, and Mejiro Ardan was not in peak condition going into the race. His jockey Okabe remarked on the possibility of having to stop the horse partway through. Soccer Boy was the number-one favorite to win, with other strong racers such as Satsuki Sho winner Yaeno Muteki and Yayoi Sho winner Sakura Chiyono O also participating.
For the majority of the race, Mejiro Ardan kept pace behind the leading pack. He accelerated on the last 400 meters, catching up to and passing Sakura Chiyono O in the lead before the latter rallied and won the race over Ardan by a neck. Despite his late debut, this second-place finish cemented his status as one of the generation's best.
After the race, perhaps because of the difficult rotation, a fracture was discovered and Mejiro Ardan went on a year-long break to recover.
1989: four-year-old season
As Mejiro Ardan began training again, he was often partnered up with lower-ranking horses and didn't run much. Nevertheless, the team prepared the horse for a comeback at the May Stakes, an open race, almost a year after his run at the Derby. He won the race easily.His next five races made up the most successful part of his career. The next race in his rotation was the G1 Takamatsunomiya Hai. With his regular jockey Okabe abroad, Hiroshi Kawachi—who had jockeyed Mejiro Ramonu—took the spot. Also in the race was Bamboo Memory, whom Okabe himself had jockeyed in his Yasuda Kinen victory earlier that month.
During the race, Ardan kept a good position throughout and made a break for it on the first corner, passing Dai Yusaku and winning by 2.5 lengths. This was Ardan's first—and only—graded victory.
Mejiro Ardan would begin his autumn circuit with the Mainichi Okan, starting as the second favorite to Oguri Cap, with Inari One as the third. Mejiro Ardan fought well and clinched a third-place finish.
He then continued on to the autumn Tenno Sho, another race featuring very strong horses; Oguri Cap, Super Creek, Yaeno Muteki, and Inari One all participated it in, but Ardan was the third-favorite. Once again, he placed third, this time to Super Creek and Oguri Cap.
Despite the team's plans to race Mejiro Ardan in the Japan Cup after that, a bowed tendon was discovered in his front-right leg, forcing him into another long hiatus.
1990: five-year-old season
Okabe, Ardan's long-time regular jockey, left after the previous Tenno Sho, opting to jockey Yaeno Muteki for his races in 1990 after Yaeno's team offered him the reins for a revival. While Mejiro Ardan had great potential, he still had weak legs, including his bowed tendon. His team planned for a comeback at the Tomoe Sho in Hakodate that August, but he wasn't ready in time. Mejiro Ardan would finally return to racing in the autumn of 1990, where he took 4th at the Sankei Sho All Comers.At the autumn Tenno Sho, he was jockeyed by a young hopeful named Norihiro Yokoyama, who would later go on to win many races. In the last 200 meters, Yaeno Muteki—jockeyed by Okabe—came in all the way on the inside and took the lead to clinch the win, with Ardan getting 2nd place by just a head.
His last race of the year was the Arima Kinen that December against powerful racers like Oguri Cap, Mejiro Ryan, and White Stone, but placed poorly despite being the number-two favorite.
1991: six-year-old season
Mejiro Ardan began his six-year-old season at the Nikkei Shinshun Hai, where he placed 4th. His bowed tendon flared up after this, leading to his third hiatus.He returned to race again that autumn, but didn't see results, placing 6th at the Fuji Stakes and 14th at the Japan Cup. After desmitis was discovered in his front-left leg, he was retired.
Statistics
The following statistics are based on information from netkeiba and JBIS.2nd place was a dead heat between Nakami Regent and Bold Victor.
Retirement
Mejiro Ardan was retired to become a stud horse and went to Breeders Stallion Station. While a few of his progeny saw minor success, like Mejiro Steed and Gulfin Dream, none would exceed his achievements.He was transferred to China in October 2000. One of his foals there, a horse named Wu Di, would also become a stud horse, winning a stud horse of the year award from the Chinese racing association in 2015.
Mejiro Ardan died in 2002 of a heart attack while mating. A grave was erected for him at the farm there.