Meiner Fanrong
| Meiner Fanrong マイネルファンロン | |
|---|---|
 Meiner Fanrong in November 2018 | |
| Breed | Thoroughbred |
| Sire | Stay Gold |
| Grandsire | Sunday Silence |
| Dam | Meiner Theresia |
| Damsire | Roses in May |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 19 February 2015 |
| Country | Japan |
| Colour | Dark bay |
| Breeder | Big Red Farm |
| Owner | Thoroughbred Club Ruffian |
| Racing colours |  |
| Trainer | Takahisa Tezuka |
| Jockey | Daichi Shibata João Moreira Mirco Demuro |
| Record | 48: 5-5-5 (46 flat: 5-5-5; 2 steeplechase: 0-0-0) |
| Earnings | ¥201,775,000 |
| Major wins | |
| Niigata Kinen (2021) | |
Meiner Fanrong (Japanese: マイネルファンロン, Hepburn: Mainā Fanron; foaled 19 February 2015) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He competed from 2017 to 2024, recording five wins in forty-eight starts, including the Niigata Kinen (GIII) in 2021.[1] He is the half-brother of Uberleben, winner of the 2021 Yūshun Himba, and Meiner Emperor, winner of the 2025 Nikkei Shō.[2]
Background
Meiner Fanrong is a dark bay horse bred in Niikappu, Hokkaido, by Big Red Farm.[1] He was sired by Stay Gold, a son of Sunday Silence, and his dam was Meiner Theresia, a daughter of the American-bred stallion Roses in May.[2] His dam Meiner Theresia is also the dam of Uberleben (by Gold Ship), who won the 2021 Yūshun Himba (Japanese Oaks).[2] His racing name combines the "Meiner" prefix used by owner Thoroughbred Club Ruffian with "Fanrong," the Chinese word for "prosperity" (繁榮).[1] He was sent into training with Takahisa Tezuka at the JRA's Miho Training Center.[1]
Racing career
2017: Two-year-old season
Meiner Fanrong debuted on September 16, 2017, in a maiden race on the turf at Nakayama Racecourse, finishing second.[3] He won a maiden race at Tokyo Racecourse on October 7.[3] He finished third in the Habotan Sho (Allowance) at Nakayama in December.[3]
2018: Three-year-old season
Meiner Fanrong finished second in the Freesia Sho (Allowance) at Tokyo in February.[3] He finished third in the Spring Stakes (GII) at Nakayama in March, earning priority entry to the Satsuki Shō.[3] He finished thirteenth in the Satsuki Shō (GI) in April.[3]
Ridden by João Moreira, he won a 5-million-yen allowance race at Sapporo Racecourse in August and the Narashino Tokubetsu (Allowance) at Nakayama in September.[3] He finished third in the November Stakes (Allowance) at Tokyo in November.[3]
2019: Four-year-old season
Meiner Fanrong won the Wangan Stakes (Allowance) over 2200 meters at Nakayama in April.[3] He finished second in the Hakodate Kinen (GIII) at Hakodate Racecourse in July, losing by a neck to My Style.[3] He finished unplaced in his remaining four starts that year.[3]
2020: Five-year-old season
Meiner Fanrong ran in seven races in 2020 without a win. His best finish was fourth in the October Stakes (Listed) at Tokyo.[3]
2021: Six-year-old season
Meiner Fanrong finished second in the Tomoe Sho (Open) at Hakodate in July.[3] On September 5, he contested the Niigata Kinen (GIII) at Niigata Racecourse. Ridden by Mirco Demuro, he tracked the leaders from the rear and won by 0.1 seconds over Tosen Surya, recording his first graded stakes victory.[3][4] He finished unplaced in his remaining three starts that year.[3]
2022: Seven-year-old season
Meiner Fanrong finished second in the American Jockey Club Cup (GII) at Nakayama in January.[3] He finished sixth in the Tennō Shō (Spring, GI) and fifth in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI).[3] He finished unplaced in his remaining two starts.[3]
2023: Eight-year-old season
Meiner Fanrong finished unplaced in three flat races in early 2023.[3] He was transferred to steeplechase racing in August, finishing eighth in a hurdle maiden at Niigata.[3] In his second steeplechase start at Nakayama on September 9, he fell at the fourth fence on the second circuit and was pulled up.[3] He returned to flat racing and finished seventh in the Chunichi Shimbun Hai (GIII) in December.[3]
2024: Nine-year-old season and retirement
Meiner Fanrong ran in four races in 2024 without a win.[3] Following a thirteenth-place finish in the Thailand Cup (Open) at Sapporo on September 1, trainer Tezuka stated that the horse's age made further improvement unlikely.[5] His retirement was announced by owner Thoroughbred Club Ruffian on September 4, 2024.[6] He was deregistered from JRA competition on September 6, 2024.[7]
Following his retirement, Meiner Fanrong became a riding horse at Niigata Racecourse, with the aim of serving as a lead pony.[7][6] He served as a lead pony at the 2025 Niigata Kinen.[1]
Statistics
The following table details all 48 starts of Meiner Fanrong's racing career based on official netkeiba and JBIS records.
| Date | Distance (Condition) | Race | Class | Course | Odds (Favourite) |
Field | Finish | Time | Jockey | Winning (Losing) Margin |
Winner (2nd Place) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Sep 16 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | 2-Y-O Newcomer | Maiden | Nakayama | 2.0 (1st) | 16 | 2nd | 1:50.3 | Daichi Shibata | 0.0 | Spearano | [3] |
| Oct 7 | Turf 2000 m (Soft) | 2-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Tokyo | 1.7 (1st) | 13 | 1st | 2:02.3 | Daichi Shibata | –0.6 | (Rose Phoenix) | [3] |
| Dec 2 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Habotan Sho | Allowance | Nakayama | 5.4 (3rd) | 9 | 3rd | 2:01.5 | Daichi Shibata | 0.1 | Generale Uno | [3] |
| 2018 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Feb 17 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Freesia Sho | Allowance | Tokyo | 5.4 (4th) | 11 | 2nd | 2:01.6 | Daichi Shibata | 0.1 | Gibeon | [3] |
| Mar 18 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | Spring Stakes | GII | Nakayama | 16.0 (6th) | 13 | 3rd | 1:48.7 | Daichi Shibata | 0.6 | Stelvio | [3] |
| Apr 15 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | Satsuki Shō | GI | Nakayama | 151.8 (13th) | 16 | 13th | 2:02.3 | Daichi Shibata | 1.5 | Epoca d'Oro | [3] |
| Aug 4 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | 3-Y-O Allowance | Allowance | Sapporo | 1.4 (1st) | 13 | 1st | 2:01.9 | João Moreira | –0.7 | (Cerberus) | [3] |
| Aug 26 | Turf 1800 m (Good) | WASJ Round 4 | Allowance | Sapporo | 3.4 (2nd) | 14 | 6th | 1:51.2 | Shane Foley | 0.9 | Smart Elements | [3] |
| Sep 29 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | Narashino Tokubetsu | Allowance | Nakayama | 2.0 (1st) | 16 | 1st | 2:01.8 | João Moreira | –0.2 | (Freezing Rain) | [3] |
| Nov 3 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | November Stakes | Allowance | Tokyo | 7.0 (4th) | 10 | 3rd | 1:59.0 | Daichi Shibata | 0.2 | Langadia | [3] |
| Nov 25 | Turf 2000 m (Soft) | Welcome Stakes | Allowance | Tokyo | 7.6 (5th) | 10 | 5th | 1:47.2 | Daichi Shibata | 0.5 | Up Quark | [3] |
| 2019 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 6 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Kotobuki Stakes | Allowance | Kyoto | 3.3 (3rd) | 6 | 4th | 2:01.7 | Keita Tosaki | 0.3 | K T Clever | [3] |
| Feb 17 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Amethyst Stakes | Allowance | Tokyo | 14.9 (6th) | 11 | 5th | 1:58.9 | Daichi Shibata | 0.6 | Rochefort | [3] |
| Mar 17 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | Tajima Stakes | Allowance | Hanshin | 6.8 (4th) | 13 | 5th | 2:02.8 | Ryuji Wada | 0.7 | Mauve Sapphire | [3] |
| Apr 6 | Turf 2200 m (Firm) | Wangan Stakes | Allowance | Nakayama | 5.2 (3rd) | 8 | 1st | 2:12.3 | Yuji Tannai | –0.2 | (Acuto) | [3] |
| Jun 30 | Turf 1800 m (Good) | Tomoe Sho | Open | Hakodate | 10.7 (5th) | 16 | 12th | 1:48.7 | Yuji Tannai | 1.3 | Suzuka Devious | [3] |
| Jul 14 | Turf 1800 m (Good) | Hakodate Kinen | GIII | Hakodate | 17.6 (9th) | 16 | 2nd | 1:59.6 | Yuji Tannai | 0.0 | My Style | [3] |
| Oct 6 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | Mainichi Ōkan | GII | Tokyo | 139.7 (9th) | 10 | 10th | 1:46.7 | Daichi Shibata | 2.3 | Danon Kingly | [3] |
| Nov 10 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Fukushima Kinen | GIII | Fukushima | 11.9 (5th) | 16 | 16th | 2:01.1 | Yuji Tannai | 1.6 | Crescendo Love | [3] |
| 2020 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 15 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Kinko Sho | GII | Chukyo | 175.9 (11th) | 12 | 8th | 2:02.7 | Yuji Tannai | 1.1 | Saturnalia | [3] |
| Apr 19 | Turf 2000 m (Soft) | Fukushima Minpo Hai | Listed | Fukushima | 8.0 (5th) | 16 | 5th | 2:02.1 | Yuji Tannai | 0.3 | Meiner Surpass | [3] |
| Jun 14 | Turf 1800 m (Heavy) | Epsom Cup | GIII | Tokyo | 31.9 (12th) | 18 | 12th | 1:49.8 | Kosei Miura | 2.1 | Daiwa Cagney | [3] |
| Jul 19 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Hakodate Kinen | GIII | Hakodate | 22.6 (10th) | 16 | 14th | 2:01.5 | Yuji Tannai | 1.8 | Admire Justa | [3] |
| Oct 18 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | October Stakes | Listed | Tokyo | 46.0 (12th) | 16 | 4th | 2:00.3 | Daichi Shibata | 0.8 | Territorial | [3] |
| Nov 15 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Fukushima Kinen | GIII | Fukushima | 36.5 (14th) | 16 | 15th | 2:00.9 | Kanichiro Fujii | 1.3 | Bio Spark | [3] |
| Dec 20 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | December Stakes | Listed | Nakayama | 57.0 (10th) | 15 | 6th | 1:49.7 | Yuji Tannai | 0.5 | Taurus Gemini | [3] |
| 2021 – six-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 30 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Shirafuji Stakes | Listed | Tokyo | 82.9 (12th) | 13 | 11th | 1:59.9 | Daichi Shibata | 0.9 | Potager | [3] |
| Jul 4 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | Tomoe Sho | Open | Hakodate | 19.1 (7th) | 13 | 2nd | 1:48.0 | Yuji Tannai | 0.0 | Satono Eldor | [3] |
| Jul 18 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Hakodate Kinen | GIII | Hakodate | 19.9 (7th) | 16 | 14th | 2:00.6 | Toshiki Akiyama | 1.9 | Tosen Surya | [3] |
| Sep 5 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Niigata Kinen | GIII | Niigata | 42.8 (12th) | 17 | 1st | 1:58.4 | Mirco Demuro | –0.1 | (Tosen Surya) | [3] |
| Oct 10 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | Mainichi Ōkan | GII | Tokyo | 61.5 (13th) | 13 | 12th | 1:46.0 | Takeshi Yokoyama | 1.2 | Schnell Meister | [3] |
| Nov 14 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Fukushima Kinen | GIII | Fukushima | 40.2 (14th) | 16 | 8th | 2:00.5 | Masami Matsuoka | 1.3 | Panthalassa | [3] |
| Dec 11 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Chunichi Shimbun Hai | GIII | Chukyo | 62.0 (14th) | 18 | 17th | 2:01.0 | Masami Matsuoka | 1.2 | Shonan Baldi | [3] |
| 2022 – seven-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 23 | Turf 2200 m (Firm) | American Jockey Club Cup | GII | Nakayama | 87.9 (11th) | 14 | 2nd | 2:12.9 | Masami Matsuoka | 0.2 | King of Coji | [3] |
| May 1 | Turf 3200 m (Good) | Tennō Shō (Spring) | GI | Hanshin | 82.9 (14th) | 18 | 6th | 3:18.7 | Masami Matsuoka | 2.5 | Titleholder | [3] |
| Jun 26 | Turf 2200 m (Firm) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Hanshin | 175.2 (14th) | 17 | 5th | 2:10.6 | Mirco Demuro | 0.9 | Titleholder | [3] |
| Oct 10 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Kyoto Daishoten | GII | Hanshin | 13.0 (8th) | 14 | 14th | 2:26.6 | Mirco Demuro | 2.3 | Vela Azul | [3] |
| Nov 6 | Turf 2500 m (Firm) | Copa Republica Argentina | GII | Tokyo | 65.5 (15th) | 18 | 15th | 2:32.5 | Mirco Demuro | 1.4 | Break Up | [3] |
| 2023 – eight-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Feb 12 | Turf 2200 m (Firm) | Kyoto Kinen | GII | Hanshin | 141.4 (11th) | 13 | 12th | 2:12.6 | Yoshihiko Kawasu | 1.7 | Do Deuce | [3] |
| Mar 25 | Turf 2500 m (Heavy) | Nikkei Shō | GII | Nakayama | 63.3 (8th) | 12 | 8th | 2:39.2 | Yuji Tannai | 2.4 | Titleholder | [3] |
| Jun 3 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Naruo Kinen | GIII | Hanshin | 122.8 (11th) | 15 | 11th | 1:59.7 | Ryusei Sakai | 0.6 | Boccherini | [3] |
| Aug 13 | Hurdle 2850 m (Firm) | 3-Y-O Hurdle Maiden | Maiden | Niigata | 3.1 (1st) | 14 | 8th | 3:10.8 | Yasunori Minoshima | 4.7 | Sakura Top Run | [3] |
| Sep 9 | Hurdle 2880 m (Soft) | 3-Y-O Hurdle Maiden | Maiden | Nakayama | 6.7 (3rd) | 12 | DNF | – | Yasunori Minoshima | – | Osiris Brain | [3] |
| Dec 9 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Chunichi Shimbun Hai | GIII | Chukyo | 117.8 (15th) | 17 | 7th | 1:59.3 | Genki Maruyama | 0.5 | Yamanin Salvum | [3] |
| 2024 – nine-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 6 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Nakayama Kimpai | GIII | Nakayama | 134.6 (15th) | 17 | 10th | 1:59.5 | Genki Maruyama | 0.6 | Licancabur | [3] |
| Feb 18 | Turf 1800 m (Firm) | Kokura Daishoten | GIII | Kokura | 73.2 (13th) | 15 | 13th | 1:46.5 | Genki Maruyama | 1.4 | Epiphany | [3] |
| Apr 14 | Turf 2000 m (Firm) | Fukushima Minpo Hai | Listed | Fukushima | 74.6 (14th) | 16 | 14th | 2:00.0 | Masami Matsuoka | 1.1 | Reframing | [3] |
| Sep 1 | Turf 2600 m (Good) | Thailand Cup | Open | Sapporo | 88.4 (13th) | 14 | 13th | 2:44.5 | Yuji Tannai | 3.0 | Shonan Bashit | [3] |
In popular culture
Meiner Fanrong appeared as the horse "Winged Yell" in the first episode of the television drama Passing the Reins, broadcast on TBS in October 2025. Jockey Yutaka Take, who appeared in a cameo role, rode the horse in the scene.[8]
In 2024, Meiner Fanrong won the "Idol Horse Audition 2024" conducted by the JRA Public Relations Center, receiving 13,469 votes in the active horse category. A plush toy of the horse was subsequently produced.[9]
Pedigree
| Sire Stay Gold (JPN) 1994 |
Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 |
Halo | Hail to Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmah | |||
| Wishing Well | Understanding | ||
| Mountain Flower | |||
| Golden Sash (JPN) 1988 |
Dictus | Sanctus | |
| Doronic | |||
| Dyna Sash | Northern Taste | ||
| Royal Sash | |||
| Dam Meiner Theresia (JPN) 2007 |
Roses in May (USA) 2000 |
Devil His Due | Devil's Bag |
| Plenty O'Toole | |||
| Tell a Secret | Speak John | ||
| Secret Retreat | |||
| Meiner Nouvelle (JPN) 2000 |
Brian's Time | Roberto | |
| Kelley's Day | |||
| Meiner Pretender | Zabeel | ||
| Giladah |
- Meiner Fanrong is inbred 3 × 5 to Halo and 4 × 5 to Hail to Reason.[2]
- His half-sister Uberleben (by Gold Ship) won the 2021 Yūshun Himba (GI).[2]
- His half-brother Meiner Emperor (by Gold Ship) won the 2025 Nikkei Shō (GII).[2]
- His dam Meiner Nouvelle won the 2003 Flower Cup (GIII).[2]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "マイネルファンロン (Meiner Fanrong) - Profile & Race Record". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "マイネルファンロン - 5代血統表". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 "マイネルファンロン 競走成績". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ "【新潟記念】（新潟）マイネルファンロンが外ラチ一杯から差し切り重賞初制覇" (in Japanese). Radio Nikkei. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ "近況（所属馬情報）マイネルファンロン". Ruffian Turfman Club (in Japanese). 1 September 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- 1 2 "2021年新潟記念Vマイネルファンロンが引退、今後は誘導馬を目指す". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- 1 2 "古豪マイネルファンロンが競走馬登録を抹消 今後は新潟競馬場で乗馬に". netkeiba (in Japanese). 6 September 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ "日曜劇場、武豊の"馬"にネット騒然「まさか俳優デビューするとは」 人気馬マイネルファンロン". ENCOUNT (in Japanese). 14 October 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ "「アイドルホースオーディション2024」最終結果". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 July 2026.