# Special Week

Special Week (Japanese: スペシャルウィーク, 2 May 1995 – 27 April 2018) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Between 1997 and 1999 he won ten of his seventeen races including four at Grade I level. After winning his only start as a juvenile he emerged as a top-class performer in the following season: he won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and three other graded races as well as being placed in the Satsuki Sho, Kikuka Sho and the Japan Cup. He performed even better as a four-year-old in 1999 winning the Hanshin Daishoten, the spring and autumn editions of the Tenno Sho, and the Japan Cup. In the last-named race he defeated a strong international field including the winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and The Derby.
He later became a successful breeding stallion siring the Japanese Horse of the Year Buena Vista.

## Background

Special Week was a brown horse with a white blaze standing 16.1¾ hands high, bred in Japan by Hidaka Taiyo Bokujo. He was sired by Sunday Silence, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, before retiring to stud in Japan where he was champion sire on thirteen consecutive occasions. His other major winners included Deep Impact, Stay Gold, Heart's Cry, Zenno Rob Roy and Neo Universe. Special Week's dam Campaign Girl was an unraced daughter of Maruzensky and was a great-granddaughter of the leading Japanese broodmare Shiraoki, whose other descendants have included Vodka, Kodama (Satsuki Sho, Tokyo Yushun), Shin Tsubame (Satsuki Sho), Matikanefukukitaru (Kikuka Sho) and Sister Tosho (Oka Sho). Campaign Girl died shortly after foaling Special Week and the colt had to be hand-fed by stable staff.
During his racing career the colt was owned by Hiroyoshi Usuda, trained by Toshiaki Shirai and ridden in most of his races by Yutaka Take.

## Racing career
### 1997: two-year-old season

On his only appearance as a two-year-old Special Week ran in a maiden race over 1600 metres at Hanshin Racecourse on 19 November. He made a successful debut, beating thirteen opponents headed by Legacy Hunter.

### 1998: three-year-old season

Special Week began his second season by finishing second to Asahi Creek in the Shiraume Sho over 1600 metres at Kyoto Racecourse in January. In the following month was moved up in class and distance for the Grade III Kisaragi Sho over 1800 metres at the same course and recorded his first major win, beating Bold Emperor and thirteen others. In March he was stepped up again for the Grade II Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho (the major trial race for the Satsuki Sho) over 2000 metres at Nakayama Racecourse and won from Seiun Sky and King Halo. In the Satsuki Sho over the same course and distance on 19 April he was unable to reproduce his earlier form and finished third, beaten half a length and a length by Seiun Sky and King Halo. On 7 June, Special Week was one of a field of eighteen colts, also including Seiun Sky and King Halo, to contest the Tokyo Yushun over 2400 metres at Tokyo Racecourse. Special Week won by five lengths from Bold Emperor with Daiwa Superior taking third ahead of Seiun Sky.
After a four-month break, Special Week returned in October for the Grade II Kyoto Shimbun Hai over 2200 metres on 18 October and won from King Halo. On 8 November he faced King Halo, Bold Emperor, Seiun Sky and Daiwa Superior in the Grade I Kikuka Sho over 3000 metres at Kyoto Racecourse. He finished second of the eighteen runners behind Seiun Sky, who won in a course record time of 3:03.2. On his final start of the season Special Week was matched against older horses for the first time in the Japan Cup at Tokyo on 29 November. Ridden by Yukio Okabe, who was substituting for Take as he was serving a suspension at the time due to blocking other horses during Admire Vega's maiden race, the horse started the 2.3/1 favourite in a fifteen-runner field which included challengers from Germany, Canada, the United States and Britain. He was in sixth place entering the straight and made steady progress in the closing stages to finish third behind El Condor Pasa and Air Groove.

### 1999: four-year-old season

Special Week began his third season in the Grade II American Jockey Club Stakes at Nakayama on 24 January and won from Silent Hunter and Mejiro Steed. On 21 March at Hanshin he added another Grade II win when he defeated Mejiro Bright in the 3000 metre Hanshin Daishoten. The Grade I spring edition of the Tenno Sho over the same course and distance saw Special Week matched against eleven opponents including Mejiro Bright (winner of the race in 1998), Matikanefukukitaru, Seiun Sky, Stay Gold, Silk Justice (Arima Kinen). Special Week recorded his second Grade I win as he defeated Mejiro Bright by half a length with Seiun Sky two and a half lengths back in third. In the Takarazuka Kinen over 2200 metres at Hanshin on 11 July, his final start before the summer break, Special Week was matched against Grass Wonder a colt who had been the best of his generation in 1997 but missed most of the 1998 season before returning to win the Arima Kinen in December. Special Week was beaten three lengths into second place by Grass Wonder but finished seven lengths clear of the other ten runners.
On his return to racing in autumn, Special Week finished seventh behind Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi in the Kyoto Daishoten on 10 October. In the Tenno Sho over 2000 metres at Tokyo on 31 October, Special Week attempted to become the second horse to win both the spring and autumn editions of the race in the same year. The race attracted a seventeen-runner field including Mejiro Bright, Silent Hunter, Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi, King Halo, Seiun Sky, Stay Gold, Stinger (Hanshin Juvenile Fillies) and Air Jihad (Yasuda Kinen). In a closely contested conclusion to the race, Special Week prevailed by a neck from Stay Gold, with Air Jihad, Stinger, Seiun Sky and the outsider Embrasser Moi all finishing within two lengths for the winner. The winning time of 1:58.0 was a new record for the race.
On 28 November, in front of a crowd of 155,000, Special Week made his second attempt to defeat international competition in the Japan Cup. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Montjeu started favourite with Special Week the joint-second choice alongside the German horse Tiger Hill, twice winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden. The other European challengers were High-Rise, Borgia and Fruits of Love (Hardwicke Stakes) whilst Hong Kong was represented by their Horse of the Year Indigenous. The best fancied of the other Japanese runners were Rascal Suzuka (third in the Kikuka Sho), Stay Gold and Umeno Fiber (Yushun Himba). Special Week was restrained by Take in the early stages before turning into the straight in sixth place. He took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and won by one and a half lengths and a nose from Indigenous and High-Rise, with Montjeu in fourth. Yutaka Take, who was winning the race for the first time said, "I am very pleased because I could achieve one of my dreams... I am proud to be Japanese."
Special Week ended his racing career when he met Grass Wonder for the second time in the Arima Kinen at Nakayma in December. The race produced a four-way photo finish in which Special Week was beaten a nose by Grass Wonder, with T M Opera O and Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi just behind.
For his efforts over the course of the season, Special Week was given a special award at the JRA Awards for 1999.

## Stud record

Special Week was retired from racing to stand at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido. He later moved to the Lex Stud where he was based in 2015. He died from injuries sustained when he fell in his paddock in April 2018.
The most successful of his offspring was the mare Buena Vista who won six Grade I races including the Tenno Sho and the Japan Cup, Roman Legend (Tokyo Daishoten), Cesario (Yushun Himba, American Oaks) and Toho Jackal (Kikuka Sho).

### Major winners

c = colt, f = filly
Grade winners :
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
| 2001 | San Valentin | c | Tanabata Sho, Fukushima Kinen |
| 2002 | Cesario | f | Flower Cup, Yushun Himba, American Oaks |
| 2002 | Inti Raimi | c | Kyoto Shimbun Hai, Challenge Cup, Kyōto Daishōten |
| 2002 | Smooth Baritone | c | Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes |
| 2003 | Toho Shine | f | Mermaid Stakes |
| 2004 | Osumi Daido | c | Daily Hai Nisai Stakes |
| 2006 | Buena Vista | f | Tulip Sho, Kyōto Kinen, Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, Victoria Mile, Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup |
| 2006 | Reach the Crown | c | Yomiuri Milers Cup, Kisaragi Sho |
| 2006 | Narita Crystal | c | Niigata Kinen (2010, 2011), Chukyo Kinen, |
| 2006 | Blitzen | c | Lord Derby Challenge Trophy |
| 2006 | Fireflaught | c | Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap |
| 2007 | Gold Blitz | c | Teio Sho, Antares Stakes (2011, 2012), Mercury Cup |
| 2007 | Stellar Lead | f | Hakodate Nisai Stakes |
| 2007 | Tagano Elisabeth | f | Fantasy Stakes |
| 2008 | Roman Legend | c | Tokyo Daishōten, Elm Stakes (2012, 2014), Miyako Stakes |
| 2008 | Queen's Barn | f | Hanshin Himba Stakes |
| 2010 | Arumdapta | c | Hokkaido Nisai Yushun |
| 2011 | Win Full Bloom | c | Kyoto Kimpai |
| 2011 | Toho Jackal | c | Kikuka-shō |
Other winners :
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
| 2001 | Cisalpino | c | 2007 Hikoboshi Sho |
| 2001 | Chaste Wing | c | 2006 October Stakes |
| 2001 | Self Respect | c | 2007 Sounkyo Tokubetsu |
| 2001 | Glitter Rock | c | 2006 Rakusei Tokubetsu |
| 2001 | Win Dignity | c | 2006 TV Yamanashi Hai |
| 2002 | Miyabi Kirara | f | 2005 Katori Tokubetsu |
| 2002 | Makoto Superior | c | 2007 Osu Tokubetsu |
| 2002 | Big Phantom | c | 2005 Azami Sho |
| 2002 | Paris Brest | c | 2005 Crocus Stakes |
| 2002 | Top Seller | f | 2007 Motosuko Tokubetsu |
| 2002 | Dantsu Tiger | c | 2005 Lobelia Sho |
| 2002 | Aino Grace | f | 2004 Poinsettia Sho |
| 2002 | Eye of the King | c | 2007 Ayaku Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Lucky Lips | c | 2006 Nagakute Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Yukino Mermaid | f | 2007 Ozora Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Meine San San | f | 2006 Mimosa Sho |
| 2003 | Nishino Answer | c | 2005 Hopeful Stakes |
| 2003 | Tokken Shobu | c | 2007 Kariya Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Touch the Peak | f | 2006 Kobai Stakes |
| 2003 | Turkey Stone | c | 2007 Minamisoma Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Silk Dragoon | c | 2007 Gold Saddle Trophy |
| 2003 | Sign Gold | f | 2007 Ogori Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Sign of God | c | 2008 Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy |
| 2003 | Cosmo Specially | c | 2007 Kuriko Tokubetsu |
| 2003 | Glorious Week | c | 2005 Kigiku Sho |
| 2003 | Kurino Special | f | 2005 Rindo Sho |
| 2003 | Keen Gale | g | 2007 Ontake Tokubetsu |
| 2004 | Meisho Engine | c | 2011 Ryuto Stakes |
| 2004 | Meine Verona | f | 2008 Ozora Tokubetsu |
| 2004 | Meine Luce | f | 2010 Hakone Tokubetsu |
| 2004 | Hot Fashion | f | 2006 Saffron Sho |
| 2004 | Britomartis | f | 2008 Pearl Stakes |
| 2004 | Black Olive | c | 2008 Horaikyo Tokubetsu |
| 2004 | T O Gang | c | 2008 Sakagawa Tokubetsu |
| 2004 | Danon Vitter | c | 2007 Yumabuki Sho |
| 2004 | Tagano Glamorous | f | 2007 Sapporo Centennial |
| 2004 | Special Float | f | 2008 Doshin Sports Sho |
| 2004 | Silver Stone | c | 2006 Phoenix Sho |
| 2004 | Crown Princess | f | 2009 Yonago Stakes |
| 2004 | Kanetoshi Liberte | f | 2007 Kinugasa Tokubetsu |
| 2004 | El Soldado | c | 2008 Inamuragasaki Stakes |
| 2005 | Mejiro Gaston | c | Kimmokusei Tokubetsu |
| 2005 | Flotation | c | 2007 Hagi Stakes |
| 2005 | Pisa no Juban | f | 2008 TVQ Hai |
| 2005 | Shu Bomber | c | 2009 Takada Jo Tokubetsu |
| 2006 | Lord Latte Art | c | 2011 Esaka Tokubetsu |
| 2006 | Reina Sofia | f | 2011 Kasugayama Tokubetsu |
| 2006 | Rhein Dream | f | 2009 India Trophy |
| 2006 | Bright Issac | c | 2011 Akhalteke Stakes |
| 2006 | Hikari Asthr | c | 2010 Isubuki Tokubetsu |
| 2006 | Triumph March | c | 2009 Capital Stakes |
| 2006 | Tosen Madrona | c | 2010 Takao Tokubetsu |
| 2006 | Delphoi | c | 2012 Uonuma Stakes |
| 2006 | T O Tiara | f | 2011 Gozurempo Tokubetsu |
| 2006 | Danon Fever | c | 2012 Seto Tokubetsu |
| 2006 | Special Queen | f | 2010 Kashihara Stakes |
| 2006 | Sweet Matruh | f | 2012 Kotobuki Stakes |
| 2006 | Kitasan Gaisen | c | 2009 Viola Sho |
| 2007 | Reve d'Orient | c | 2010 Fukujuso Tokubetsu |
| 2007 | La Folle Journee | f | 2011 Kammonkyo Stakes |
| 2007 | Ranunculus | f | 2009 Rindo Sho |
| 2007 | Morning Face | f | 2010 Wasurenagusa Sho |
| 2007 | Bulle Rock | c | 2012 Itami Stakes |
| 2007 | Flapper Wing | f | 2011 Nanko Tokubetsu |
| 2007 | Vital Style | f | 2010 Miharukoma Tokubetsu |
| 2007 | Narita Silk Road | c | 2013 Brilliant Stakes |
| 2007 | Charlevoix | f | 2011 Sanda Tokubetsu |
| 2007 | Grenadines | f | 2011 Murasakigawa Tokubetsu |
| 2007 | Grunewald | f | 2011 Hiryu Tokubetsu |
| 2007 | Croix Rameau | f | 2011 Ujigawa Tokubetsu |
| 2007 | Exelsus | c | 2011 Sarakuyama Tokubetsu |
| 2008 | Yamanin Ripple | f | 2013 Hokuyo Tokubetsu |
| 2008 | Special Piece | f | 2012 Adachiyama Tokubetsu |
| 2008 | Silk Reynolds | c | 2012 Kawamata Tokubetsu |
| 2008 | Side Attack | c | 2012 Chikugogawa Tokubetsu |
| 2008 | Es Canar | f | 2012 Miki Tokubetsu |
| 2010 | La Bravade | c | 2016 Midosuji Stakes |
| 2010 | Sky Cutie | f | 2016 Sunrise Stakes |
| 2010 | A Shin Majesta | c | 2016 Suzaku stakes |
| 2010 | Robe de Soie | f | 2014 Mikage Stakes |
| 2011 | Peisha Felice | f | 2016 Toki Stakes |
| 2012 | Meia Lua | c | 2016 Hiuchigatake Tokubetsu |
| 2012 | Primera Azul | f | 2017 Ohara Stakes |
| 2012 | Bright Voice | c | 2017 Ninoji Tokubetsu |
| 2012 | Bit Rate | f | 2016 Ogori Tokubetsu |
| 2012 | Sky Passion | f | 2017 Murasakigawa Tokubetsu |
| 2012 | Meisho Tachimachi | f | 2018 Popular Tokubetsu |
| 2014 | Pegase | c | 2020 Kasuga Tokubetsu |
| 2014 | Black Jade | f | 2018 Kumano Tokubetsu |
| 2017 | Hope Week | c | |

## Popular culture

Special Week was the inspiration for the main character of the media franchise Uma Musume Pretty Derby, of which the 2018 anime premiered shortly before his death.

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Special Week (JPN), brown horse 1995 :
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Hail to Reason | Turn-To |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Hail to Reason | Nothirdchance |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Cosmah | Cosmic Bomb |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Cosmah | Almahmoud |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Understanding | Promised Land |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Understanding | Pretty Ways |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Mountain Flower | Montparnasse |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Mountain Flower | Edel Weiss |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Maruzensky (JPN) 1974 | Nijinsky | Northern Dancer |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Maruzensky (JPN) 1974 | Nijinsky | Flaming Page |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Maruzensky (JPN) 1974 | Shill | Buckpasser |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Maruzensky (JPN) 1974 | Shill | Quill |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Lady Shiraoki (JPN) 1978 | Saint Crespin | Aureole |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Lady Shiraoki (JPN) 1978 | Saint Crespin | Neocracy |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Lady Shiraoki (JPN) 1978 | Miss Ashiyagawa | Hindostan |
| Dam Campaign Girl (JPN) 1987 | Lady Shiraoki (JPN) 1978 | Miss Ashiyagawa | Shiraoki (Family 3-l) |