Rulership (Japanese: ã«ã¼ã©ã¼ã·ãÂÂãÂÂ, foaled May 15, 2007) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion best known for his victories in the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, American Jockey Club Cup, 2010 Naruo Kinen, 2011 Nikkei Shinshun Hai, and Kinko Sho.
His name translates to "Position of Ruler, Authority of Governance."
Rulership was born to the legendary mare Air Groove, by Tony Bin, who won the 1996 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and 1997 Tenno Sho (Autumn), earning her the 1997 Japanese Horse of the Year title. As a broodmare, her first foal was Admire Groove, by Sunday Silence, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Rulership, her second foal, sired by King Kamehameha, the 2004 Tà Âkyà  Yà «shun (Japanese Derby) winner, was highly anticipated due to his elite bloodline.
Owned by Sunday Racing Co., Ltd., he was syndicated for ÃÂ¥180 million (ÃÂ¥4.5 million ÃÂ 40 shares). At nine months old, he weighed 470 kg. He began training at Northern Farm in August 2008 but developed swelling in his right hind hock in February 2009.
Rulership debuted on December 27, 2009, in a 2-year-old maiden race at Hanshin Racecourse over 2000 meters of turf under jockey Yasunari Iwata. Starting as the favorite, he won by three and a half lengths over the runner-up.
He opened 2010 as the favorite in the Wakagoma Stakes on January 23. Despite a troubled stretch run, he lost by one and a half lengths to Hiruno d'Amour, finishing second.
Planned starts in the Saintpaulia Sho and Sumire Stakes were canceled due to fever and phlegmon, respectively. He instead contested the Armeria Sho on March 7 as the favorite. Despite interference from Tamuro Sky, who veered inward in the stretch, he rallied to win by one and a half lengths. In the Mainichi Hai, a poor start and a neighboring horseâÂÂs breakdown led to a fifth place finish behind Danon Chantilly, dashing his Satsuki Shà  (Japanese 2000 Guineas) aspirations.
After a brief break, he returned in the Principal Stakes on May 8 with jockey Norihiro Yokoyama, substituting for Iwata. Closing with a field-fastest final 600m in 33.7 seconds, he won by four lengths, earning a Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) entry. In the Tokyo Yushun, ridden by Hirofumi Shii, he tracked mid-pack in a good position but lost momentum after being cut off in front by Gestalt, finishing fifth behind Eishin Flash.
He returned to race in the Naruo Kinen on December 25 under Iwata, defeating Hiruno d'Amour by half a length for his first group win. He concluded the year with a 6th-place finish in the Arima Kinen under Christophe Lemaire.
RulershipâÂÂs 2011 campaign began with the Nikkei Shinshun Hai on January 16, ridden by Umberto Rispoli. Despite initial plans to skip the race, he dominated as the second favorite, defeating Rose Kingdom and Hiruno d'Amour by two lengths for his second group title.
In the Dubai Sheema Classic with Christophe Soumillon, he broke off to a good start positioned up front early but faded to 6th in the final straight. Returning to Japan, he won the Kinko Sho on May 28 under Yuichi Fukunaga, overcoming a slow start to catch Captain Thule in the stretch.
In the Takarazuka Kinen on June 26, ridden by Norihiro Yokoyama, he started as the second favorite. In the race, he closed from the rear but lacked his usual acceleration, finishing 5th. Skipping the Tenno Sho (Autumn) due to hoof issues, he ended the year with a 4th-place finish in the Arima Kinen under Ioritz Mendizabal, clocking the fastest final 600m in 33.2 seconds.
Rulership started his five-year-old season in the American Jockey Club Cup on January 22 under Yuichi Fukunaga. Rallying from the rear, he won by three lengths over Nakayama Knight for his fourth graded stakes title. In the Nikkei Sho on March 24, he finished 3rd behind Neko Punch, who led wire-to-wire.
On April 29, he triumphed in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong. Tracking third early, he drew clear in the stretch to win by 3.75 lengths over Thumbs Up, securing his first group one title. The race featured elite rivals, including Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) winner Irian and Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach, who was trained by Aidan O'Brien. His strong performance was praised not only in Hong Kong but also in Europe.
In the Takarazuka Kinen on June 24 under Craig Williams, he closed from mid-pack but lost by two lengths to Orfevre. In the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on October 28, he rallied with a field-fastest final 600m (33.1 seconds) but finished 3rd behind Eishin Flash.
In the Japan Cup on November 25, despite a slow start and a blistering final 600m (32.7 seconds), he finished 3rd behind Gentildonna and Orfevre. His final start, the Arima Kinen on December 23, was marred by a 10-length delay at the gate after he stood up in the gate. Rallying from last, he managed to catch up with the pack, finishing 3rd behind Gold Ship and Ocean Blue. This was his third consecutive third-place finish.
Rulership retired on December 26, 2012, to stud at Shadai Stallion Station.
Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search, NetKeiba, and Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Legend: <br/>
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His first crop in 2013 included 208 mares. Notable progeny include Ibuki who was his first winner in 2016 and Kiseki who won the 2017 Kikuka-shà Â, his first group one winner. He ranked 12th in 2017, 8th in 2018, and 5th in 2019 on the JRA Leading Sire list.
Below data is based on JBIS Stallion Reports.
c = colt, f = filly<br>bold = grade 1 stakes
An anthropomorphized version of Rulership appears in ', voiced by Mizutama Umino.