Gentildonna, the eternal queen of Japanese racing, dies at 16

A Triple Tiara heroine, two-time Japan Cup winner and twice crowned Horse of the Year, she also left a lasting mark as a broodmare

Gentildonna was a truly exceptional filly / JRA

HOKKAIDO, Japan (Special to Turf Diario).- Japanese racing has lost one of its greatest legends. Gentildonna, a multiple champion, two-time winner of the Japan Cup (G1) and one of the most influential fillies of modern times, has died at the age of 16.

A daughter of the unforgettable Deep Impact out of Donna Blini (winner of the Cheveley Park S.), bred by Northern Racing, Gentildonna achieved immortality during her 3-year-old campaign by sweeping the Japanese Fillies’ Triple Crown: the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas), Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and the Shuka Sho. That same season she sealed her legend with a thrilling victory in the Japan Cup (G1), defeating Orfevre (Stay Gold) in one of the most memorable finishes of 21st century Japanese racing.

With that feat, she became only the fourth filly in history to complete the Triple Tiara in Japan and was crowned Japanese Horse of the Year in 2012 and again in 2014, an honor reserved only for the very best.

Far from stopping there, Gentildonna went on to add three more Group 1 victories, including a second Japan Cup, becoming the first horse ever to win the race in consecutive years. She also captured the prestigious Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan and the Arima Kinen (G1), confirming her exceptional international standing.

Her trainer, Sei Ishizaka, paid an emotional tribute in comments to Netkeiba:

“This week is the Japan Cup, and whenever the Classics or the Arima Kinen came around, I always thought of her. Those years with Gentildonna were tough, but she had it even harder on the track. When she retired, all I wished was that she would live a long life. Now I feel nothing but sadness and regret.”

He added:

“She was tremendously strong as a three-year-old. That is the fate of a racehorse, but I truly believe she gave everything she had. That’s why I hoped she could enjoy a long life afterwards. It hurts every time a horse I trained passes away, but she was truly special.”

Over her career, Gentildonna earned more than £12.2 million in prize-money and in 2016 was inducted into the JRA Hall of Fame.

As a broodmare, she also left a lasting legacy, producing Geraldina (Maurice), winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) and the Sankei Sho All Comers (G2), confirming her impact on the breeding shed. Gentildonna had been officially retired from broodmare duties in July this year.

A champion, a matriarch and a symbol of modern Japanese racing is gone — one of those fillies who will never be forgotten.