Karakontie (JPN)
January 30, 2011 – Living
Bernstein (USA) x Sun Is Up (JPN), by Sunday Silence (USA)
Family 20
January 30, 2011 – Living
Bernstein (USA) x Sun Is Up (JPN), by Sunday Silence (USA)
Family 20
Karakontie could be a poster boy for the international character of top-end Thoroughbred racing in the modern world. Foaled in Japan but with a pedigree steeped in the best of North American breeding for generations, Karakontie raced in France and the United States and was a top-level winner in both countries. After following his female family’s tradition by winning the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile (USA-G1), Karakontie remained in America for stallion duty.
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$1,967,102 (includes converted French earnings)
2013:
2014:
2015:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Mile category on the 2014 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 10 pounds below overall highweight Just a Way, who also topped the Mile category.
As an individual
A rather heavy-bodied but well-balanced bay horse with an excellent shoulder, a deep girth, and strong hindquarters, Karakontie stands 16.1 hands. He was determined in a drive and had a good turn of foot.
As a stallion
Karakontie entered stud at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky in 2016. His progeny have the reputation of being honest and willing and have been winners over a variety of surfaces and distances.
Notable progeny
She Feels Pretty (USA), Spendarella (USA)
Connections
Bred and owned by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings, Karakontie was trained by Jonathan Pease. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Mile win by Stéphane Pasquier, who rode him in all but one of his races. Karakontie entered stud in 2016 in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm.
Pedigree notes
Karakontie is inbred 4x5 to the great sire Northern Dancer (the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male) and 5x5 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native. He is a half brother to French listed stakes winner Bottega (by Mineshaft) and stakes winner Sunday Sunrise (by Lemon Drop Kid).
Sun Is Up, the dam of Karakontie, was unplaced in four starts but is a half sister to 2011 Thekwini Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Amanee (by Pivotal). The sisters are out of French listed stakes winner Moon Is Up (by Woodman), one of five stakes winners produced by the great Miesque (Nureyev x Pasadoble, by Prove Out), a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The dam of Group 1 winners Kingmambo (by Mr. Prospector) and East of the Moon (by Private Account), both Classic winners in France, Miesque became a great modern foundation mare whose tail-female descendants include 2005 European champiuon 2-year-old filly Rumpelstiltskin, two-time Japanese champion Loves Only You, 2018 European champion 3-year-old filly Alpha Centauri, and Group 1 winners Alpine Star, Discoveries, Lugal, Real Steel, Study of Man, and Tapestry.
The winner of nine championship titles in England, France, and the United States, Miesque is a full sister to French stakes winner Massaraat, dam of multiple French stakes winner Tessa Reef (by Mark of Esteem); second dam of English Group 2 winners Permian, Silent Honor, and Silkwood; and third dam of 2019 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Old Persian. Miesque is also a full sister to Bravemie, dam of multiple French stakes winner Byzantium (by Gulch), and a half sister to Yogya (by Riverman), dam of 2002 French champion 2-year-old filly and 2003 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Six Perfections (by Celtic Swing) and, through her, second dam of French Group 2 winner Planet Five, Australian Group 2 winner Yucatan, and Grade 3 winner Faufiler.
Books and media
Footage of Karakontie’s win in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6QG5ejp1NE.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken at Gainesway in 2016 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 2, 2024
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$1,967,102 (includes converted French earnings)
2013:
- Won Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix La Rochette (FR-G3, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix Francois Boutin (FR-L, 1400mT, Deauville)
2014:
- Won Poule d'Essai des Poulains (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Prix de Fontainebleau (FR-G3, 1600mT, Longchamp)
2015:
- 3rd Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Mile category on the 2014 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 10 pounds below overall highweight Just a Way, who also topped the Mile category.
As an individual
A rather heavy-bodied but well-balanced bay horse with an excellent shoulder, a deep girth, and strong hindquarters, Karakontie stands 16.1 hands. He was determined in a drive and had a good turn of foot.
As a stallion
Karakontie entered stud at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky in 2016. His progeny have the reputation of being honest and willing and have been winners over a variety of surfaces and distances.
Notable progeny
She Feels Pretty (USA), Spendarella (USA)
Connections
Bred and owned by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings, Karakontie was trained by Jonathan Pease. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Mile win by Stéphane Pasquier, who rode him in all but one of his races. Karakontie entered stud in 2016 in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm.
Pedigree notes
Karakontie is inbred 4x5 to the great sire Northern Dancer (the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male) and 5x5 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native. He is a half brother to French listed stakes winner Bottega (by Mineshaft) and stakes winner Sunday Sunrise (by Lemon Drop Kid).
Sun Is Up, the dam of Karakontie, was unplaced in four starts but is a half sister to 2011 Thekwini Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Amanee (by Pivotal). The sisters are out of French listed stakes winner Moon Is Up (by Woodman), one of five stakes winners produced by the great Miesque (Nureyev x Pasadoble, by Prove Out), a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The dam of Group 1 winners Kingmambo (by Mr. Prospector) and East of the Moon (by Private Account), both Classic winners in France, Miesque became a great modern foundation mare whose tail-female descendants include 2005 European champiuon 2-year-old filly Rumpelstiltskin, two-time Japanese champion Loves Only You, 2018 European champion 3-year-old filly Alpha Centauri, and Group 1 winners Alpine Star, Discoveries, Lugal, Real Steel, Study of Man, and Tapestry.
The winner of nine championship titles in England, France, and the United States, Miesque is a full sister to French stakes winner Massaraat, dam of multiple French stakes winner Tessa Reef (by Mark of Esteem); second dam of English Group 2 winners Permian, Silent Honor, and Silkwood; and third dam of 2019 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Old Persian. Miesque is also a full sister to Bravemie, dam of multiple French stakes winner Byzantium (by Gulch), and a half sister to Yogya (by Riverman), dam of 2002 French champion 2-year-old filly and 2003 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Six Perfections (by Celtic Swing) and, through her, second dam of French Group 2 winner Planet Five, Australian Group 2 winner Yucatan, and Grade 3 winner Faufiler.
Books and media
Footage of Karakontie’s win in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6QG5ejp1NE.
Fun facts
- Karakontie’s name means “flying sun” in the Mohawk language.
- Karakontie was the first Japanese-bred horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race.
- Flaxman Holdings nearly let Sun Is Up get away via the auction ring but ended up buying her back from the 2001 Keeneland November mixed sale for US$700,000. The buy-back proved to be a wise decision, as she became the dam of Karakontie and two other stakes winners for Flaxman.
- The only jockey besides Stephane Pasquier to ride Karakontie was Olivier Peslier, who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile three times aboard Goldikova and was second in Karakontie’s Breeders’ Cup Mile aboard Goldikova’s full brother, Anodin.
Photo credit
Photo taken at Gainesway in 2016 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 2, 2024