sodashi (racehorse)
Allegedly from Sanskrit with the meanings "pure" and "bright". Probably derived from śuddha (Sanskrit word with the same meanings), "Shodashi"; an epithet for Tripura Sundari but also from "Sodashi", a brand of skin care products with the same given etmyology.
Real-Life Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Kurofune and foaled by Buchiko (Who was named after her unusual "white speckled with brown" coat). The first white horse to have ever won a G1 race (in 2020, at the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies) and winner of the 2021 Oka Sho and the 2022 Victoria Mile.
Sodashi has an uniformly white coat with a few spots of dark skin around her eyes. By aging, she seemingly gained a few tiny dark spots on her body. She either runs with a white or a owner-colored ("Kaneko" colors: black with a yellow top third with a zig-zag pattern and the ears are blue) hood.
Sodashi is from an auspicious lineage. Her granddam, Shirayukihime (lit. "Snow White"), from whom she ultimately takes her white coat, is born from two non-white parents, one of them just happens to be Sunday Silence. While she was herself a not particularly impressive racer, she became the progenitor of one of the largest families of white throroughbreds as she foaled more sucessful offspring with Kurofune or King Kamehameha (or even both in succession, as they foaled more successful offspring as well), eventually culminating with Sodashi. While they were all somewhat popular, Sodashi became a superstar not just for being white but also for being genuinely successful. Another important member is Meikei Yell, a non-white member who is also individually successful as a sprinter.
While she was the favorite in the Oaks and the Shuka Sho after her win in the Oka Sho, she ended up losing both races for a reason or another, from lack of stamina in the Oaks to somehow injuring herself with the gate and eventually fold in the Shuka Sho, leaving the way for her rivals Uberleben and Akaitorino Musume respectively.
She retired on October 1st, 2023 due to ongoing leg issues, after it was decided by her owner to pass the torch to her full little sister Mama Cocha, who won the Sprinters Stakes on the same day. Sodashi will stand stud at her breeding farm, Northern Farm, from 2024.
While she's a favourite subject for original umamusume, she is unlikely to become an official one due to her owner refusing his involvement with the franchise. In fact, this refusal led to King Kamehameha and Deep Impact not being implemented, with other prospects (Kurofune among many others) being locked out as well.
Original umamusume versions typically give her white hair and at least a mole under an eye (if not facial markings around her eyes) to represent the black spots around her eyes. She is typically given a cherry blossom motif due to her victory at the Oka Sho. Whatever marking accessory should be on or around the left ear.
See Also
- Imanami Takatoshi - Groom
- Gold Ship - Senpai horse of the Sugai stable, with them sharing the same groom