# Narita Top Road

Narita Top Road (Japanese: ナリタトップロード) was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1999 Kikuka-shō.

## Racing career
### 1998: Two year old season

Narita Top Road ran his maiden race at the Hanshin Racecourse in December 5, where he finished second behind Meiner Success. Later that month, she won her first race at another maiden race at Hanshin.

### 1999: Three year old season

Narita Top Road won his first graded race when he won that year's Kisaragi Sho. The horse then went on to the Yayoi Sho, where he beat Admire Vega. He was then entered in to the Satsuki Sho, where he finished third behind T M Opera O and Osumi Bright [ja]. The horse also ran in the Tokyo Yushun, where he finished second behind Admire Vega.
After taking the summer off, the horse once again finished second behind Admire Vega at the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. Later, at the Kikuka-shō, the horse took the fourth position in the pack before taking the lead at the fourth corner. Narita Top Road held on to the lead from there and won the race, even as T M Opera O closed the gap. After winning the Kikuka-shō, he was entered in to that year's Arima Kinen but finished 7th.

### 2000: Four year old season

Narita Top Road started the season off with the Kyoto Kinen, where he finished second behind T M Opera O; and later to the Hanshin Daishoten and Tenno Sho (Spring), both of which the horse finished third behind T M Opera O and Rascal Suzuka [ja]. After a summer break, the horse was entered in to the Kyoto Daishoten, where he finished second behind T M Opera O and finished 5th at the Tenno Sho (Autumn). After finishing 4th at the Stayers Stakes, Kunihiko Watanabe [ja], who had been the horse's jockey up to this point, resigned from the position, and the role went to Hitoshi Matoba [ja]. However, the horse could not win the Arima Kinen, which was the horse's next race.

### 2001: Five year old season

Narita Top Road started the season with the Kyoto Kinen, but finished third behind Maquereau. As Matoba retired around this time, Watanabe returned to jockey duty for the Hanshin Daishoten. Narita Top Road won the race with a course record of 3:02.5.
Later that year, the horse ran in the Kyoto Daishoten. However, the horse did not finish the race as Stay Gold made physical contact with the horse, resulting in Watanabe to fall off and injuring both the horse and jockey. Subsequently, Stay Gold was disqualified as a result of this incident.

### 2002: Six year old season

Narita Top Road once again started the season with the Kyoto Kinen, where he managed to win the race after being nearly beaten by Matikane Kinnohosi [ja]. He was then entered in to the Hanshin Daishoten, where he easily beat Jungle Pocket. However, he finished third behind Manhattan Cafe and Jungle Pocket later at the Tenno Sho (Spring).
Following this race, the horse spent the summer off, returning victoriously at the Kyoto Daishoten, but was unable to secure a single victory until his retirement at the Arima Kinen that year.

## Stud career

Following his retirement, Narita Top Road stood stud at the Shadai Stallion Station. His most successful progeny was Bella Rheia [ja], who won the Flora Stakes and finished second in the Yushun Himba in 2007.
Narita Top Road died on November 7, 2005, 6 years to the day after his Kikuka-shō win after suffering a heart failure. He had been recovering from a bladder stone surgery at the time.

## Racing form

The following form is based on information available on JBIS Search and netkeiba.
| Date | Track | Race | Grade | Distance (condition) | Entry | HN | Odds (favored) | Finish | Time | Margin | Jockey | Winner (Runner-up) |
| 1998 – two-year-old season |||||||||||||
| Dec 5 | Hanshin | 3yo Newcomer | | 2000m (good) | 11 | 9 | 2.6 (1st) | 2nd | 2:06.2 | 0.0 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Meiner Success |
| Dec 27 | Hanshin | 3yo Newcomer | | 2000m (firm) | 13 | 12 | 1.9 (1st) | 1st | 2:04.0 | -0.2 | Kunihiko Watanabe | (Miracle Gift) |
| 1999 – three-year-old season |||||||||||||
| Jan 10 | Kyoto | Fukujuso Tokubetsu | 1 Win | 2000m (firm) | 15 | 8 | 4.5 (3rd) | 3rd | 2:02.3 | 0.4 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Thrilling Sunday |
| Feb 7 | Kyoto | Kisaragi Sho | GIII | 1800m (firm) | 15 | 5 | 4.6 (2nd) | 1st | 1:49.1 | 0.0 | Kunihiko Watanabe | (Eishin Cameron) |
| Mar 7 | Nakayama | Yayoi Sho | GII | 2000m (good) | 15 | 12 | 4.0 (2nd) | 1st | 2:03.5 | -0.2 | Kunihiko Watanabe | (Admire Vega) |
| Apr 18 | Nakayama | Satsuki Sho | GI | 2000m (firm) | 17 | 8 | 3.3 (2nd) | 3rd | 2:00.7 | 0.0 | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| June 6 | Tokyo | Tokyo Yushun | GI | 2400m (firm) | 18 | 11 | 3.9 (1st) | 2nd | 2:25.4 | 0.1 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Admire Vega |
| Oct 17 | Kyoto | Kyoto Shimbun Hai | GII | 2200m (firm) | 18 | 8 | 2.8 (1st) | 2nd | 2:12.3 | 0.0 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Admire Vega |
| Nov 7 | Kyoto | Kikuka-shō | GI | 3000m (firm) | 15 | 1 | 4.1 (3rd) | 1st | 3:07.6 | -0.1 | Kunihiko Watanabe | (T M Opera O) |
| Dec 26 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | GI | 2500m (firm) | 14 | 1 | 6.8 (4th) | 7th | 2:37.8 | 0.6 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Grass Wonder |
| 2000 – four-year-old season |||||||||||||
| Feb 20 | Kyoto | Kyoto Kinen | GII | 2200m (firm) | 11 | 9 | 2.6 (2nd) | 2nd | 2:13.8 | 0.0 | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| Mar 19 | Hanshin | Hanshin Daishoten | GII | 3000m (good) | 9 | 5 | 2.9 (3rd) | 3rd | 3:09.8 | 0.4 | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| Apr 30 | Kyoto | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | 3200m (firm) | 12 | 11 | 3.5 (2nd) | 3rd | 3:17.8 | 0.2 | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| Oct 8 | Kyoto | Kyoto Daishoten | GII | 2400m (firm) | 12 | 10 | 2.6 (2nd) | 2nd | 2:26.0 | 0.0 | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| Oct 29 | Tokyo | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | 2000m (soft) | 16 | 3 | 4.9 (3rd) | 5th | 2:00.5 | 0.9 | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| Dec 2 | Nakayama | Stayers Stakes | GII | 3600m (firm) | 11 | 3 | 1.3 (1st) | 4th | 3:45.9 | 0.3 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Hot Secret |
| Dec 24 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | GI | 2500m (firm) | 16 | 4 | 7.6 (3rd) | 9th | 2:35.1 | 1.0 | Hitoshi Matoba | T M Opera O |
| 2001 – five-year-old season |||||||||||||
| Feb 17 | Kyoto | Kyoto Kinen | GII | 2200m (firm) | 14 | 11 | 2.3 (1st) | 3rd | 2:12.5 | 0.2 | Hitoshi Matoba | Maquereau |
| Mar 18 | Hanshin | Hanshin Daishoten | GII | 3000m (good) | 12 | 3 | 2.5 (1st) | 1st | R3:02.5 | -1.3 | Kunihiko Watanabe | (Erimo Brian) |
| Apr 29 | Kyoto | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | 3200m (firm) | 12 | 12 | 3.4 (2nd) | 3rd | 3:16.4 | 0.2 | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| Oct 8 | Kyoto | Kyoto Daishoten | GII | 2400m (firm) | 7 | 4 | 2.4 (2nd) | DNF | | | Kunihiko Watanabe | T M Opera O |
| Nov 25 | Tokyo | Japan Cup | GI | 2400m (firm) | 15 | 10 | 14.4 (5th) | 3rd | 2:24.4 | 0.6 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Jungle Pocket |
| Dec 23 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | GI | 2500m (firm) | 13 | 4 | 7.5 (4th) | 10th | 2:33.9 | 0.8 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Manhattan Cafe |
| 2002 – five-year-old season |||||||||||||
| Feb 16 | Kyoto | Kyoto Kinen | GII | 2200m (firm) | 9 | 9 | 5.1 (3rd) | 1st | 2:11.8 | 0.0 | Kunihiko Watanabe | (Matikane Kinnohosi) |
| Mar 17 | Hanshin | Hanshin Daishoten | GII | 3000m (good) | 9 | 4 | 1.9 (1st) | 1st | 3:07.9 | -0.3 | Kunihiko Watanabe | (Jungle Pocket) |
| Apr 28 | Kyoto | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | 3200m (firm) | 11 | 5 | 2.7 (1st) | 3rd | 3:19.6 | 0.1 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Manhattan Cafe |
| Oct 6 | Kyoto | Kyoto Daishoten | GII | 2400m (firm) | 8 | 1 | 1.7 (1st) | 1st | 2:23.6 | -0.4 | Hirofumi Shii | (Tsurumaru Boy) |
| Oct 27 | Nakayama | Tenno Sho (Autumn) | GI | 2000m (firm) | 18 | 1 | 4.9 (2nd) | 2nd | 1:58.6 | 0.1 | Hirofumi Shii | Symboli Kris S |
| Nov 24 | Nakayama | Japan Cup | GI | 2200m (firm) | 16 | 13 | 3.9 (2nd) | 10th | 2:13.1 | 0.9 | Hirofumi Shii | Falbrav |
| Dec 22 | Nakayama | Arima Kinen | GI | 2500m (good) | 14 | 11 | 10.6 (4th) | 4th | 2:33.4 | 0.8 | Kunihiko Watanabe | Symboli Kris S |
Legend:
 Turf

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Narita Top Road :
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dictus 1967 ch. | Sanctus | Fine Top |
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dictus 1967 ch. | Sanctus | Sanelta |
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dictus 1967 ch. | Doronic | Worden |
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dictus 1967 ch. | Doronic | Dulzetta |
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dyna Sash 1979 b. | Northern Taste | Northern Dancer |
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dyna Sash 1979 b. | Northern Taste | Lady Victoria |
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dyna Sash 1979 b. | Royal Sash | Princely Gift |
| Sire Soccer Boy 1985 d.ch. | Dyna Sash 1979 b. | Royal Sash | Sash of Honour |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Affirmed 1975 ch, | Exclusive Native | Raise a Native |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Affirmed 1975 ch, | Exclusive Native | Exclusive |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Affirmed 1975 ch, | Won't Tell You | Crafty Admiral |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Affirmed 1975 ch, | Won't Tell You | Scarlet Ribbon |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Rare Lady 1974 dk.b. | Never Bend | Nasrullah |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Rare Lady 1974 dk.b. | Never Bend | Lalun |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Rare Lady 1974 dk.b. | Double Agent | Double Jay |
| Dam Floral Magic 1985 dk.b. | Rare Lady 1974 dk.b. | Double Agent | Conniver |

## In popular culture

An anthropomorphized version of the horse makes an appearance in Uma Musume Pretty Derby, with the horse being the featured character in the anime Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top.