Symboli Kris S tops Japan

Symboli Kris S, third in the Japan Cup behind Falbrav and Sarafan, was named 2002 Horse of the Year by the Japan Racing Association on Monday.

A Kentucky-bred son of Kris S., Symboli Kris S wrapped Grade 1 victories against older horses in the Autumn Tenno Sho and the Arima Kinen, or Japanese Grand Prix, around his third-place Japan Cup finish.

Trained by Kazuo Fujisawa for Symboli Stud, Symboli Kris S won five of his 10 starts in 2002 for earnings of $4.9 million. His efforts also earned him honors as Japan's champion 3-year-old colt.

A Sunday Silence 4-year-old, Manhattan Cafe, winner of the Spring Tenno Sho but only 13th in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was named champion older horse.

Three other offspring of the late Sunday Silence were also voted championship honors: older filly, Diamond Biko; juvenile filly, Peace of World; and dirt horse, Gold Allure, whose victory in the Japan Cup Dirt was one of his three Grade 1 tallies.

Eishin Champ, a Kentucky-bred son of Mi Cielo, was named champion 2-year-old colt while an Irish-bred daughter of Danehill, Fine Motion, is the champion 3-year-old filly. Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen winner Admire Cozzene, a 6-year-old son of Cozzene, took champion sprinter honors.

Yutaka Take won his fifth Grand Prize as top jockey by leading all Japanese riders in victories (142), winning percentage (.293) and earnings ($27.4 million).