Umamusume Hopes For A New ‘White Wonder’
CyberAgent boss Susumu Fujita spent big at Japan’s Select Sale on a white horse from Sodashi’s family.
BIG-SPENDING OWNER Susumu Fujita was again out in force in Hokkaido and has high hopes for the most ‘special’ of his five yearling purchases at the Select Yearling Sale.
Fujita usually pores over the pedigrees of his purchases but admits he spent big on novelty factor when he bought an all-white colt that he hopes can one day appear in the Umamusume universe.
“Other horses we bought were based on the pedigree and type but this one was just unique; an all-white horse,” Fujita said. “I just want him to be popular, let’s hope he can one day make it into Umamusume.”
Of course, Lot 127, which Fujita paid ¥190 million (US$1.2 million) for, was more than just a head-turning crowd-favourite at the sale and has some serious pedigree. The latest member of Japan’s famous white family to be revealed is by Maurice and out of the white mare Marble Cake, meaning he is from the same Shirayukihime family as the three-time Group 1 winning ‘White Wonder’, Sodashi. The colt became the first all-white horse to sell for more than ¥100 million.
If the new purchase can live up to his price tag and pedigree when he reaches the track then Fujita hopes the colt will join the anime series and mobile phone game that has helped make him one of Japan’s richest men, with a net worth currently listed by Forbes at US$970 million.
Umamusume features ‘horse girl’ characters based on real and noteworthy racehorses of the past but none of Fujita’s horses have made it into the series or game, which is soon to be launched in English.
Fujita splashed a total of ¥850 million (US$5.3 million) on yearlings on the first day of the Select Sale, down somewhat on his massive spends since first appearing on the scene at the 2021 Select Sale.
Since then the 51-year-old has been one of the leading buyers of foals and yearlings in Japan and he was again leading buyer at last year’s Select Sale with purchases of ¥2.369 billion (US$16.7 million).
His best horse so far is Forever Young, which was third in the 2024 G1 Kentucky Derby, and the owner revealed a promising two-year-old, Eri King, in a ‘Newcomer’ race on Takarazuka Kinen day at Kyoto late last month.
Fujita had a host of trainers visiting his table at Northern Horse Park throughout the day, including Yuichi Fukunaga and Hideyuki Mori.
“I have some offers from trainers, but we haven’t decided who will train any of the horses we bought today,” Fujita said.
“I have a good team around me of people that I consult on my horse racing decisions.”
