Special Week

{{Infobox racehorse

| horsename = Special Week

| image = File:Special Week 19991031.jpg

| caption =

| sire = Sunday Silence

| grandsire = Halo

| dam = Campaign Girl

| damsire = Maruzensky

| sex = Stallion

| foaled = 2 May 1995{{cite web|url=https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=4416264®istry=T&horse_name==Special%20Week%20(JPN)&dam_name==Campaign%20Girl&foaling_year=1995&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|title=Special Week pedigree |website=Equineline|date= |accessdate=}}

| country = Japan

| colour = Dark bay or brown

| breeder = Hidaka Taiyo Bokujo

| owner = Hiroyoshi Usuda

| trainer = Toshiaki Shirai

| record = 17: 10-4-2

| earnings = ¥1,092,623,000

| race =

Kisaragi Sho (1998)
Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho (1998)
Tokyo Yushun (1998)
Kyoto Shimbun Hai (1998)
American Jockey Club Cup (1999)
Hanshin Daishoten (1999)
Tenno Sho (spring) (1999)
Tenno Sho (autumn) (1999)
Japan Cup (1999)

|awards= JRA Special Award

|honours =

|updated=

}}

Special Week ({{langx|ja|スペシャルウィーク|link=no}}, 2 May 1995 – 27 April 2018){{cite web |date=2018-04-27 |title=スペシャルウィーク号が死亡 |url=http://jra.jp/news/201804/042706.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427183714/http://jra.jp/news/201804/042706.html |archive-date=2018-04-27 |access-date=2023-08-07 |work=Japan Racing Association |language=Japanese}} was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. From 1997 to 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.jrha.or.jp/stallion_e/horse/?name=Special_Week|title=Special Week – Stallions in Japan 2015|work=Japan Horse Racing Association}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/465637/sunday-silence|publisher=Racing Post|title=Sunday Silence – Stud Record}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family3l.htm|title=Mayonaise – Family 3-L|work=Thoroughbred Bloodlines}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.jbis.jp/horse/0000293624/record/|title=Race Records:Lifetime Starts – Special Week|work=Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/315/tokyo/1998-06-07/253981|title=Tokyo Yushun result|date=7 June 1998|work=Racing Post}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/504/kyoto/1998-11-08/259248|title=Kikuka Sho result|date=8 November 1998|work=Racing Post}} 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,{{Cite book |title=週刊100名馬 : Gallop selection-平成を彩った名馬たち v.92 (アドマイヤベガ) |publisher=Sankei Shimbun |year=2000 |pages=5–6 |language=ja}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/504/kyoto/1999-05-02/267511https://www.racingpost.com/results/315/tokyo/1999-10-31/274384|title=Tenno Sho (spring) result|date=2 May 1999|work=Racing Post}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/315/tokyo/1999-10-31/274384|title=Tenno Sho (autumn) result|date=31 October 1999|work=Racing Post}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/540340.stm|title=Dettori misses out on Japan Cup|publisher=BBC News}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/315/tokyo/1999-11-28/275225|title=Japan Cup result |publisher=Racing Post|date=28 November 1999}} 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."{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/special-week-takes-prize-1.255599|title=Special Week takes prize|date=29 November 1999|newspaper=The Irish Times}}

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.{{cite tweet|number=989801506550493184|user=nikkankeiba|title=スペシャルウィークの死亡について|date=27 April 2018|language=Japanese}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}

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).{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/487194/special-week|publisher=Racing Post|title=Special Week – Stud Record}}

=Major winners=

c = colt, f = filly

class="wikitable"

|+Grade winners

style="background:#eee;"

! Foaled

! Name

! Sex

! Major Wins

2001

|San Valentin

|Tanabata Sho, Fukushima Kinen

2002

| Cesario

| f

| Flower Cup, Yushun Himba, American Oaks

2002

|Inti Raimi

|Kyoto Shimbun Hai, Challenge Cup, Kyōto Daishōten

2002

|Smooth Baritone

|Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes

2003

|Toho Shine

|Mermaid Stakes

2004

|Osumi Daido

|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

|Yomiuri Milers Cup, Kisaragi Sho

2006

|Narita Crystal

|Niigata Kinen (2010, 2011), Chukyo Kinen,

2006

|Blitzen

|Lord Derby Challenge Trophy

2006

|Fireflaught

|Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap

2007

|Gold Blitz

|Teio Sho, Antares Stakes (2011, 2012), Mercury Cup

2007

|Stellar Lead

|Hakodate Nisai Stakes

2007

|Tagano Elisabeth

|Fantasy Stakes

2008

| Roman Legend

| c

| Tokyo Daishōten, Elm Stakes (2012, 2014), Miyako Stakes

2008

|Queen's Barn

|Hanshin Himba Stakes

2010

|Arumdapta

|Hokkaido Nisai Yushun

2011

|Win Full Bloom

|Kyoto Kimpai

2011

| Toho Jackal

| c

| Kikuka-shō

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

|+ Other winners

style="background:#eee;"

! 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,{{Cite web |title=スペシャルウィーク |url=https://umamusume.jp/character/detail/?name=specialweek |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=ウマ娘プリティーダービー公式ポータルサイト |publisher=Cygames |language=ja}}{{Cite web |last=Loo |first=Egan |date=2018-02-25 |title=Uma Musume Pretty Derby Anime Reveals Cast, Theme Song, Visual |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-25/uma-musume-pretty-derby-anime-reveals-cast-theme-song-visual/.128248 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622101428/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-25/uma-musume-pretty-derby-anime-reveals-cast-theme-song-visual/.128248 |archive-date=2018-06-22 |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Anime News Network}} of which the 2018 anime premiered shortly before his death.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-28 |title=アニメ『ウマ娘』スペシャルウィークを追悼 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2110510/full/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623063613/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2110510/full/ |archive-date=2023-06-23 |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=ORICON NEWS}}