Japanese Triple Tiara Heroine Gentildonna Dies at 16

Two-time Japan Horse of the Year and top-level-producing broodmare Gentildonna has died at the age of 16. The daughter of Deep Impact and 2005 Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) winner Donna Blini swept Japan's Filly Triple Crown in 2012, taking the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1), Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1), and the Shuka Sho (G1)—just the fourth filly to sweep those races. She closed out that historic season with a victory against older males in the Japan Cup (G1), defeating Orfevre in a thrilling finish. She would win that race again in 2013 to become the first horse to win back-to-back runnings of the race. Gentildonna was named Japan's Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2014. She won the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) and Arima Kinen (G1) in 2014 to land that second Horse of the Year honor. Trainer Sei Ishizaka paid tribute when speaking to Netkeiba: "This week is the Japan Cup, and she was a horse I would think about whenever the classics or the Arima Kinen came around. Those three or four years with Gentildonna were tough for me, but I'm sure the horse had it even tougher. When she retired, all I wished for was that she would live a long life. I feel nothing but sadness and regret. "She was tremendously strong as a 3-year-old as well. It's the fate of a racehorse, but I believe she gave everything, she really ran her heart out. That's why I hoped she could enjoy a long life afterwards. It hurts whenever any horse I trained passes away, but she was truly one of the special ones." Overall, Gentildonna won $18,468,392 in prize money and was granted a place in the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2016. Gentildonna was bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm. She retired with a record of 10-4-1 from 19 career starts. She went on to have a successful career as a broodmare, producing 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) and Sankei Sho All Comers (G2) winner Geraldina (JPN), and was retired from broodmare duties in July.