Jump to content

Nice Nature

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Onel5969 (talk | contribs) at 10:54, 20 July 2023 (clean up, typo(s) fixed: in June 2, 2017 → on June 2, 2017, May 30, 2023 → May 30, 2023, (2)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Nice Nature
Nice Nature in the paddock
SireNice Dancer
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamUrakawa Miyuki
DamsireHabitony
SexStallion
FoaledApril 16, 1988
Died30 May 2023(2023-05-30) (aged 35)
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederWatanabe Ranch
OwnerMasao Toyoshima→
Taizo Toyoshima
TrainerMatsunaga Yoshiharu（Rittō）
Record41: 7-6-8
Earnings623,585,600 yen
Major wins
Kokura Kinen (1991)
Kyoto Shimbun Hai (1991)
Naruo Kinen (1991)
Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1994)
Last updated on May 30, 2023

Nice Nature (Japanese: ナイスネイチャ, April 16, 1988 – May 30, 2023) was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse. From his debut in 1990 to his retirement in 1996, Nice Nature had a record of 41 starts and 7 wins, including 4 major wins. With a long GI racing career and often placing third, Nice Nature gained popularity as the "Bronze Collector". Nice Nature consecutively placed third in the 1991, 1992, and 1993 Arima Kinen. As of April 2021, Nice Nature was the oldest living stallion to have a JRA major win.[1]

Background

Nice Nature was born in 1988 at the Watanabe Ranch in Urakawa, Hokkaido. His sire, Nice Dancer, had six major wins in Canada, and his dam, Urakawa Miyuki, had three wins, including the 1984 open of what would become the Tulip Sho. Nice Nature's to-be owner Toyoshima Masao[a] made a deposit at Watanabe Ranch.[2] According to the owner of the ranch Watanabe Kazuma,[b] Nice Nature was average as a foal, nor did he stand out in the training ranch. However, Watanabe vaguely alluded that he felt that Nice Nature might be just as good as Nice Nice Nice, also out of Nice Dancer and the winner of the 1989 Kisaragi Sho and 1990 Kyōto Kinen.[2] Nice Nature's to-be trainer Matsunaga Yoshiharu quickly embraced the impression of a "good horse", saying that he felt that things were moving in a "good direction" as he looked at Nice Nature's growth.[3]

After reaching the racing age of three years in 1990, Nice Nature transferred to the Rittō Training Center in Rittō, Shiga under Matsunaga.[2] After Nice Nature's older sister suffered a career ending injury, Nice Nature was trained cautiously[2] and debuted relatively late in December.

Racing career

Nice Nature won 4 major races, the Kokura Kinen, the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, and Naruo Kinen, all in 1991, as well as the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in 1994. Nice Nature has also started in a total of 34 group races throughout his career, including 16 GI races, which was a record at the time.[4]

Post-retirement

Nice Nature was retired from racing in late 1996 in spite of initial plans to have the horse run in that year's Arima Kinen due to problems on his right forearm. The horse was sent to Hidaka Stallion Station to stand at stud, but retired in 2001 after siring a total of 17 registered horses.[5] Alongside standing at stud, Nice Nature also became the poster character announcing the introduction of Quinella Place betting in JRA races in 1999.

Nice Nature spent the remainder of his life pensioned at the Watanabe Ranch, the same farm where he was bred.[6][7][8]

Nice Nature was the inspiration for the character of the same name in the franchise Uma Musume Pretty Derby.[9] Consequently, players of Uma Musume have raised tens of millions of yen each year in celebration for Nice Nature's birthday donation.[10][11] The developers of the Uma Musume game, as well as Kaori Maeda, who played Nice Nature in the franchise, were among those who sent their condolences upon Nice Nature's passing.[12][13]

Death

Nice Nature died on May 30, 2023, at the age of 35.[6][14][8]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Nice Nature (JPN), bay stallion, 1988
Sire
Nice Dancer (CAN)
b. 1969 		Northern Dancer (CAN)
b. 1961 		Nearactic (CAN) Nearco (ITY)
Lady Angela (GB)
Natalma (USA) Native Dancer (USA)
Almahmoud (USA)
Nice Princess (USA)
ch. 1964 		Le Beau Prince (FR) Fontenay (FR)
Quillerie
Happy Night (FR) Alizier (FR)
Happy Grace (GB)
Dam
Urakawa Miyuki (JPN)
b. 1981 		Habitony (IRE)
b. 1974 		Habitat (USA) Sir Gaylord (USA)
Little Hut (USA)
Courteous Lady (USA) Gallant Man (GB)
Fleurlea (USA)
Kenmaru Midori (JPN)
b. 1971 		Kenmaru Chikara (JPN) Hindostan (GB)
Mikazuki (JPN)
Ken Midori (JPN) Guersant (FR)
Velvet (FR)

Family No.: F20-c

Inbreeding within 5 generations: None

Retrieved from Nice Nature's profile on JBIS (Japan Bloodstock Information Database)

Nice Nature's dam Urakawa Miyuki passed away on June 2, 2017, at the age of 36, making her the longest lived female thoroughbred in Japan to have been properly documented.[15]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: 豊嶌正雄
  2. ^ Japanese: 渡辺一馬

Citations

  1. ^ 谷川, 井崎 2001, p. 11.
  2. ^ a b c d 『優駿』2003年8月号、p.57
  3. ^ 『優駿』1999年9月号、p.94
  4. ^ 週間100名馬　Vol.41　ナイスネイチャ (Gallop臨時増刊) (in Japanese). Japan: Sankei Shimbun. 2001. pp. 9–11. ASIN B00WCSBUJ8.
  5. ^ "Stallion Reports:Statistics | Nice Nature(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  6. ^ a b "訃報 ナイスネイチャ号". 認定NPO法人 引退馬協会 (in Japanese). 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  7. ^ "渡辺牧場（引退馬の養老牧場）". www13.plala.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  8. ^ a b Cho, Uhyon (2023-06-04). "「ずっとそばにいてくれて、ありがとう」ナイスネイチャ35歳の大往生を見届けた渡辺牧場の思い…引退馬支援を支えた"共感を得る力"". Number Web (in Japanese). Bungei Shunju. Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  9. ^ "キャラクター一覧 | ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト". ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト (in Japanese). Cygames. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  10. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (2023-06-07). "Uma Musume Fans Pull Through, Raise US$329,000 for Retired Horse". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  11. ^ "大往生ナイスネイチャ 集めた引退馬支援の寄付金は1億6000万円超 「ウマ娘」追い風に仲間救う". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2023-05-30. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  12. ^ 希望, 本江 (2023-05-30). "有馬３年連続３着「ブロンズコレクター」ナイスネイチャ死す ウマ娘公式も反応". 産経ニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  13. ^ "「ウマ娘」声優・前田佳織里がナイスネイチャ死亡を悼む「言葉では言い表せないほど私も大切に思っていました」". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2023-05-30. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  14. ^ "ナイスネイチャ逝く ３５歳大往生 有馬３年連続３着の個性派". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). Daily Sports. 2023-05-30. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  15. ^ ウラカワミユキ死す　３６歳　ナイスネイチャの母 スポーツニッポン 2017年6月17日。

References

  • 谷川, 井崎 (2001), 週刊100名馬 Vol.41ナイスネイチャ, 産経新聞社
    • the book on Amazon
    • Note: No authors were listed on Amazon. The authors listed here are taken from the bibliography section of the Japanese Wikipedia and are presumably the authors of sections in the book.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nice_Nature&oldid=1166255751"