Buena Vista named Japan’s Horse of the Year

Buena Vista’s romp in the Tenno Sho helped propel her to Horse of the Year honors (©Japan Racing Association)

The Japan Racing Association named BUENA VISTA (Special Week) Horse of the
Year Friday. The recently turned five-year-old, who previously earned champion
two-year-old filly and champion three-year-old filly honors, is owned by Sunday
Racing Co., Ltd. and conditioned by Hiroyoshi Matsuda.

Bred by Northern Farm, Buena Vista posted a 7-3-4-0 record this past term
with earnings exceeding $7 million. She took the Kyoto Kinen (Jpn-G2) to kick
off 2010 before finishing second in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) at Meydan
in March. The dark bay returned to her homeland to annex the Victoria Mile
(Jpn-G1) and Tenno Sho Autumn (Jpn-G1) before a controversial and disappointing
end to her season.

Despite a decisive 1 3/4-length victory in the prestigious Japan Cup (Jpn-G1)
at Tokyo Racecourse November 28, the heavy favorite was demoted to second behind
Rose Kingdom (King Kamehameha), also owned by Sunday Racing Co. Ltd., for minor
interference in the stretch. Buena Vista finished the year with another
runner-up effort, losing by a desperate nose in the December 26 Arima Kinen
(Jpn-G1). She also earned champion older female honors and, according to
Racing Post, is being pointed to Dubai again.