Horse To Follow: Denkmal

1st of 11, 2YO Newcomer
1800m (Turf), Tokyo
Monday October 14


Denkmal’s name was already well-known among Japanese racing fans before his debut in a Newcomer race at Tokyo on October 14. During his final pre-race workout, the two-year-old colt finished two lengths ahead of Lemon Pop, the reigning dirt mile champion set to run in the Jpn1 Mile Championship Nambu Hai that same week.

Most fans, however, were more concerned about Lemon Pop being outpaced by unraced two-year-olds than they were about Denkmal’s existence. Nonetheless, the six-year-old horse from the Hiroyasu Tanaka stable did successfully defend his title by winning the Nambu Hai, showing there was no cause for alarm.

Perhaps because of that reputation, Denkmal was sent off as the 1.4 odds-on favourite in the race. After a sharp break he took the lead due and set a steady pace in front. Even as the field entered the home stretch, jockey Christophe Lemaire didn’t have to move a muscle as he held off Taiyono Kisetsu – owned by Susumu Fujita – who is known for his connection to the popular game ‘Umamusume’. Denkmal finished three and a half lengths ahead of the second-placed horse and five and a half lengths ahead of third.

Denkmal’s physique is extraordinary and he produced a performance to match.

Lemaire praised the Hiroyasu Tanaka-trained chestnut after the race: “The horse broke well, so we led the race,” he said. “He’s easy to ride and ran calmly. He’s big and fast out of the gate, so the mile should suit him best. He still feels a bit heavy, but he’ll sharpen up and has room to improve.” 

The winning time of the race was 1:47.7, and only four horses have ever run under 1:48 in a Newcomer race over 1800 meters at Tokyo Racecourse. Among those horses is Tastiera, who went on to win the 2023 Japanese Derby.

Tastiera wins Tokyo Yushun
TASTIERA, DAMIAN LANE / G1 Tokyo Yushun // Tokyo /// 2023 //// Photo by Shuhei Okada

Last year Shin Emperor, who recently placed a commendable third in this year’s G1 Irish Champion Stakes, also made his debut under the same conditions with a time of 1:48.1. While Shin Emperor posted an impressive time, Denkmal managed to surpass it with an even faster performance.

Additionally, Denkmal recorded the fastest closing three furlongs in 33.7 seconds. While it wasn’t an aggressive front-running pace, and he likely had some reserves left entering the stretch, the fact that he logged the fastest closing time by 0.3 seconds ahead of the second-place horse is noteworthy.

Also of note is his weight of 544kg on race day, an exceptionally large frame for a two-year-old horse. If he continues to grow it will be interesting to see just how big he becomes in the future.



Denkmal’s sire, Maurice, was a celebrated miler, winning six Group 1 races, including three in Hong Kong. As a stallion he has already produced several Group 1 winners, including Pixie Knight and Jack d’Or. He has also shuttled to Arrowfield Stud in Australia, where his progeny, such as Hitotsu and Mazu, have won Group 1 races.

Denkmal’s dam Lily Noble was a runner-up in the 2018 Oaks and herself placed in three Group 1 races. A rival of Almond Eye, Lily Noble struggled with injuries and retired as an ‘unfinished talent’. She was a large mare herself, sometimes weighing over 500kg during her racing career, and it’s believed that Denkmal inherited his imposing frame from her.

As for Denkmal’s future, it seems likely that his next target will be the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m) in December. However, if he wins there, the Classics will certainly come into view. Given his calm demeanour in the race, there is also hope that he could handle a step up in distance.

From the ‘unfinished talent’ that was his mother, perhaps the next great talent has emerged. With his large frame Denkmal is already a ‘monster’ and his potential might just be on par with his size. 

Future Outlook: While it remains uncertain whether his best trip will be a mile or middle distance, this is a horse with the potential to win a Group 1 race ∎

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