Maurice Named Japanese HOY

Kazumi Yoshida's Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), undefeated in six starts in 2015 and a three-time Group 1 winner at home and abroad, received 215 out of a possible 291 first-place votes to be named Japanese Horse of the Year Wednesday.

Purchased for ¥10.5 million (about US$88,600 at the current exchange) at the 2013 Hokkaido 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Maurice earned his first group victory in the G3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy at Nakayama last April, then powered home to register a narrow success in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in June (video). He belied 5 1/2 months of inactivity to record a 1 1/4-length tally in the G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto Nov. 22 (video) and closed his wildly successful campaign with a 3/4-length score in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 13 (video). Maurice was also named the country's champion sprinter/miler.

Though he missed out on the top award, Kaneko Makoto Holdings' Lovely Day (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) was crowned Japan's top older male on the strength of six wins from 10 starts, highlighted by the G1 Takarazuka Kinen and the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) (video). He was also third in the G1 Japan Cup to Shonan Pandora (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was named champion older female (video).

Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) provided his successful sire with a second champion, landing the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (video) and a powerful tally in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (video) en route to 3-year-old male honors. He is unraced since, but is expected to train on in 2016. His female counterpart was Mikki Queen (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a ¥105 million (about US$886,000) JRHA Select Yearling Sale acquisition who annexed this year's G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (video) and G1 Shuka Sho (video).

Leontes (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) secured champion 2-year-old male honors courtesy of a late-closing score in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity (video), while Major Emblem (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) validated favoritism in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies' S. (video) to lock up that division. Copano Rickey (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) successfully defended his title in the G1 February S. (video) and was named the country's champion dirt horse.