Japan: Almond Eye wins second Horse of the Year title

Almond Eye was named Japan’s 2020 Horse of the Year earlier this week, becoming the first two-time winner of the award since Kitasan Black in 2016-17 and the sixth repeat winner of this century.

Almond Eye clinched the title with a win in the Grade 1 Japan Cup on Nov. 29, her final career start and third Grade 1 win of 2020. By Deep Impact, Almond Eye won 3 of 4 starts in 2020, all at Tokyo Racecourse.

Almond Eye won the Grade 1 Victoria Mile in May and was second in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen in June. Her two-race fall campaign began with a win in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho on Nov. 1 in a prep for the Japan Cup.

In her career, Almond Eye won 11 of 15 starts and earned approximately $18.4 million for owner Silk Racing Co. Ltd. and trainer Sakae Kunieda. Almond Eye raced primarily in Japan. She won the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates in March 2019, her only start outside of Japan.

Almond Eye was also named champion older female of 2020. In 2018, Almond Eye was champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year in a season that included a sweep of the Triple Crown for 3-year-old fillies and a win in the Japan Cup.

Japanese champions are selected by a committee of journalists.

Others awards for 2020 went to Danon the Kid, 2-year-old colt; Sodashi, 2-year-old filly; Contrail, 3-year-old colt; Daring Tact, 3-year-old filly; Fierement, older male; Gran Alegria, sprinter or miler; Chuwa Wizard, dirt horse; and Meisho Dassai, steeplechaser.

Aside from Almond Eye and Kitasan Black, the other two-time winners of the Japanese Horse of the Year title since 2000 were Symboli Kris S (2002-03), Deep Impact (2005-06), Vodka (2008-09), and Gentildonna (2012 and 2014).