.

[This artwork ](https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/130605959)was drawn by [荼無](https://www.pixiv.net/users/88324206), who also designed Oguri Roman's racing costume in this picture, feel free to check out the [full-colored design drawing here](https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/131396340). 



Whenever the name "Oguri" is mentioned, most people immediately think of ***Oguri Cap (オグリキャップ)***, the Gray Cinderella who shone as a beacon of hope during the 1990s. In reality, many "Oguris" have graced the track throughout history, as "Oguri" was the crown name of the owner, *Koichi Oguri (小栗 孝一)*.

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Among them, there was one mare deemed to possess the strength to rival her legendary brother. Her name was ***Oguri Roman (オグリローマン)***. But for her, the name was not just a title. It was a shadow she was chasing.

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# 211R: Sister of the Beast

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**"Oguri! Oguri!"** 

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On December 23, 1990, responding the thunderous cheers of 170,000 spectators, Oguri Cap claimed victory in his final race. After his miraculous performance, three retirement ceremonies were held in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Kasamatsu, marking the end of an era.

At the same time, a new era had dawned. And Oguri Cap's first owner, Kouichi Oguri, had already made preparations to ensure the Oguri name would still stand on the course even after Oguri Cap retired.

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As the owner of Oguri Cap’s mother, ***White Narubi (ホワイトナルビー)***, Kouichi Oguri continued to send her to different stallions every year. These offspring soon drew a lot of attention as "the Ashen Beast's siblings." Although most of them struggled to live up to their brother's legendary success, owner Oguri kept trying to replicate that glory. In 1990, right when Oguri Cap was at the peak of his career, he matched White Narubi with an American stallion called Bravest Roman.

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On May 20, 1991, just five months after her brother's retirement, White Narubi gave birth to a dapple-grey filly at Inaba Farm, the same birthplace as her legendary brother. At the time, she was given the nickname "Aikana (アイカナ)," a name meaning "Perhaps this is love." 

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During her time at Inaba Farm, Aikana was praised as a docile and intelligent filly. Once she reached racing age, she was officially named "Oguri Roman" and sent to Kasamatsu to train under *Masao Sumi (鷲見 昌勇)*, the same trainer who had conditioned Oguri Cap during his early days in Kasamatsu.

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Thanks to her brother’s fame, Oguri Roman was closely followed by racing fans and the media. Reporters hailed her as a foal with immense potential and a "blue-blooded" pedigree, despite the irony that Oguri Cap himself had once been dismissed as a horse with a third-rate bloodline.

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She quickly lived up to the hype, making her debut on July 28, 1993. In that first race, Oguri Roman stormed Kasamatsu Racecourse with a whopping six-length victory, guided by *Katsumi Ando (安藤 勝己)*, the jockey who had once partnered with her brother during his own days in Kasamatsu.

Following her debut, Oguri Roman began racking up victories. By the end of 1993, she had competed in seven races, winning six and finishing second only once. This astounding result immediately drew comparisons to her famous brother, who had secured 10 wins and two runner-up finishes during his 12 races in Kasamatsu.

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# 212R: Chasing the Shadow

Given her dominance in Kasamatsu, the momentum to transfer Oguri Roman to the JRA was unstoppable. Fans were eager to see her follow in her brother's footsteps and compete against the nation's elite. As it turned out, owner Oguri had been well-prepared for this moment ever since Oguri Cap became a national phenomenon.

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Owner Oguri had earned his JRA owner's license in 1989, meaning he wouldn't have to sell her to another owner just to let her compete, as he had been forced to do with Oguri Cap. Furthermore, he had registered Oguri Roman for the JRA Classic races beforehand. He was determined to prevent a repeat of the tragedy that had barred her brother from participating in those prestigious Triple Crown events.

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Thus, owner Oguri was able to announce with ease that Oguri Roman would be transferred to the JRA the following year. She was placed under the training of *Tsutomu Setoguchi (瀬戸口 勉)*, who was the same trainer that conditioned her brother in the JRA. Her first challenge on the central turf was set for the open-class Elfin Stakes.

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Following in the footsteps of her legendary brother, Oguri Roman finally stepped onto the turf of Hanshin Racecourse, the same place where Oguri Cap had won his first graded race during his JRA debut. The jockey on her back was *Yutaka Take (武 豊)*, the talented young star who had guided her brother to victory in his emotional final race.

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However, miracles are not so easily replicated.

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Although she had a smooth run through most of the race, she failed to launch her spurt at the final corner and ultimately finished in last place.

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This result left her owner bewildered because he firmly believed that Oguri Roman possessed the greatest talent among all her siblings. However, trainer Setoguchi and jockey Yutaka Take already suspected why she had failed to show her true strength.

Unlike her brother, Oguri Roman was very sensitive to new environments. She was also easily intimidated and felt nervous whenever she had to run close to other horses. If she could not overcome this problem, it would be difficult for her to compete at the elite level of the Classic races.

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Despite her unexpected defeat, Oguri Roman stuck to her original plan to run in the G3 Tulip Sho. Her team still believed in her talent and decided to give her another chance to prove herself on the big stage. Since Kyoto Racecourse was under renovation, the Tulip Sho was moved to Chukyo Racecourse that year, which felt like a homecoming for her. However, Yutaka Take was unavailable because he had another race in Nakayama. Instead, the reins were handed to *Seiki Tabara (田原 成貴)*, who was another incredibly talented jockey.

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Oguri Roman was the second favorite for the race. She had a great start, but she soon had to manage her biggest weakness. Since she was a late-surging horse, Jockey Tabara guided her to stay at the back of the pack to save her energy for the final stretch. However, the track was slightly muddy that day. Both Oguri Roman and Jockey Tabara were showered with mud during the race, which was a huge disadvantage for a sensitive horse like her.

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As they turned into the final stretch, Oguri Roman was in a perfect position to launch her attack. Jockey Tabara gave her the signal to accelerate, and at first, everything went smoothly. Tabara could finally feel her true power. However, she started to hesitate again as she began to overtake the other horses. By the time she finally fought her way to the front, another horse named ***Agnes Parade (アグネスパレード)*** had already surged ahead to snatch the victory, leaving Oguri Roman in second place.

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Jockey Tabara did not expect her to be so timid, but her second-place finish proved her strength. Most importantly, it earned her a spot in the prestigious G1 Oka Sho. 

This opportunity meant everything to her team, many of whom had been by her brother’s side. Oguri Cap was never allowed to run in the JRA Classic races, and his sister was now stepping onto that stage to shoulder the unfulfilled dreams of her brother and his countless fans. However, was this glory really what she wanted for herself?

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# Break the Spell

In order to make the most of this hard-earned opportunity, trainer Setoguchi trained Oguri Roman with extra care, and her condition was getting better day by day. 

Her jockey next race, Yutaka Take shared the team's dream, but he remained skeptical after their devastating first race together. Despite her improving condition, he wasn't convinced she was ready for the elite competition of the Oka Sho. His concerns grew when she drew the innermost gate, which was a major disadvantage for an easily frightened horse like her.

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This concern was only relieved on the day of the race. As Yutaka Take rode Oguri Roman toward the starting gate. 

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"She feels like a different horse..." 

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It was unclear what had changed during Oguri Roman's trip to Nagoya, but jockey Take felt her newfound confidence. She no longer seemed to fear the other horses. This change gave him a glimmer of hope that they could actually win, as the feeling reminded him of riding her legendary brother.

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>"Oka Sho, a race as fragile as it is beautiful. Under the pale blue sky, eighteen cherry blossoms was well-prepared, whether to bloom or to scatter." 

>「儚くも華やかな桜花賞、薄花色の空の下、咲くもよし散るもまたよし18頭の桜花......。」  
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*--Tetsuji Baba (馬場 鉄志)*, announcer from Kansai Television

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As the poetic words from announcer Tetsuji Baba echoed through the track, the gates of [the first Classic race of the year](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Z5kCJ9bes) opened.

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Living up to her status as the third favorite, Oguri Roman had a decent start in the Oka Sho. Following their strategy, Jockey Take guided her to slow down and preserve stamina for the final showdown. This meant she had to endure intense pressure from the other horses, as she was boxed in from the innermost gate.

As jockey Take had anticipated, Oguri Roman felt unusually relaxed during the race. She hid herself well in the pack while the other horses fought fiercely for a better position.

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At the final stretch, the camera was pinned on the leaders. With only 100 meters left, an ashen horse finally broke free from the pack. However, it was not Oguri Roman. It was ***Twinkle Bride (ツィンクルブライド)***, an 11th-place longshot. She was ridden by *Shoichi Osaki (大崎 昭一)*, a veteran jockey who had never won the Oka Sho in his long career. For a moment, it seemed like the veteran and the underdog would steal the glory.

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But from the bottom of the screen, a white shadow suddenly swept past with unbelievable speed.

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“From the outside comes Oguri! Oguri! Oguri!”

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It turned out that the "white shadow" was Jockey Take’s white hat, leading a determined spirit that was fighting to grab her own glory. That grey figure was now right in front of Oguri Roman, and it was finally time to break free from the shadow. 

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“Oguri Roman is coming! Oguri Roman is in the front!”

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At last, the silver gleam surged ahead in the intense dead heat, crossing the finish line first to win the race by only a nose. 

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**"Oguri! Oguri!"**

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The Oguri call had erupted between the audience again, as jockey Take raised his right arm in Oguri Roman's winning run. This time, the Oguri call was not for her brother, but for herself, Oguri Roman, the 1994 Oka Sho winner. 

She became only the second horse from the NAR to win a G1 race on the Triple Tiara path since 1951, and the first horse from the regional to ever won the Oka Sho. In that moment, she also fulfilled the long-held dream of her owner, Koichi Oguri, to finally win a Classic G1 race.

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As she slowed her gallop, the burden of the past was gone. The grey mirage disappeared silently behind the gentle wind and the pastel pink cherry blossom rain.

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# The Ashen Petal

After her glorious coronation, she attempted to claim the next Tiara in [the Japanese Oaks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpXN22nbnPY). Despite being the crowd's top favorite, the 2,400-meter distance proved too much for her. She finished in a disappointing 12th place, as the stamina required for the long stretch was clearly beyond her limits.

As she faced stronger opponents like ***Hishi Amazon (ヒシアマゾン)*** and ***Chokai Carol (チョウカイキャロル)***, she could no longer keep up. From[ the Rose Stakes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ5iUb4uJG0) to [the Queen Elizabeth II Cup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPIouMOpLFI), and even in open-class races like the Port Island Stakes, she struggled to find her form. She could not manage a single top-five finish.

At last, after finishing last in the G2 Hanshin Himba Tokubetsu, Oguri Roman's team planned one final farewell for her in the 1995 Kyoto Himba Tokubetsu. However, fate had other plans. She suffered a fracture around her hock, forcing her into retirement before she could run one last time.

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After retirement, Oguri Roman returned to Inaba Farm, the place where she was born, to begin her second career as a broodmare. She gave birth to ten foals, nine of whom achieved victory on the track. More importantly, most of them secured the chance to pass down her bloodline to future generations.

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She retired from breeding in 2011 and lived out her golden years at Inaba Farm. In 2015, she passed away due to heart failure at the age of 24. 

In the same year she passed away, the NAR presented her with the NAR Special Award to commemorate her historic achievements. In 2021, Oguri Roman was further honored as the featured subject of the [“Portraits of Great Horses” for the Oka Sho](https://www.jra.go.jp/gallery/column/syouzou/pdf/2021-04.pdf). Alongside her portrait, a poem was dedicated to her, capturing the spirit of a mare who ran to outshine a legend.

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>**Go beyond the legend.**

>.

>Countless figures stand in my way,

>blocking the path with an intimidating presence.

>Ah, my apologies, 

>you don’t even enter my sight.

>.

>What I’m looking at

>is a light far beyond the distance.

>To surpass that legend

>is my one and only wish.

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May that silver shimmer continue to cast the light of hope among her descendants.  
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\----------  
My past work:

[Sakura Star O: Spirit of the Ink-Black Cherry Blossom](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1p0a5xa/sakura_star_o_spirit_of_the_inkblack_cherry/)

[Spring Song: Curren Chan's "Big Bro" In Real Life](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1oxk7u6/spring_song_curren_chans_big_bro_in_real_life/)

[Kiseki: A Trail of Miracles and Its Followers](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1oojt1i/kiseki_a_trail_of_miracles_and_its_followers/)

[Hana’s Goal: Make the Flowers of Happiness Bloom Down Under](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1o6nnmq/hanas_goal_make_the_flowers_of_happiness_bloom/)

[Orewa Matteruze: Smile, Because I’m Here!](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1o0edrs/orewa_matteruze_smile_because_im_here/)

[Egao o Misete: Please Keep Smiling, Even After I’m Gone](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1nufscu/egao_o_misete_please_keep_smiling_even_after_im/)

[Resistencia’s Weight-Check Series: 1,231 Days of a Cameraman’s Love Story](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1nn6m2x/resistencias_weightcheck_series_all_pictures/)

[Sushi Train: Horse with a Bizarre Name and a Big Dream](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1ngz2ax/sushi_train_horse_with_a_bizarre_name_and_a_big/)

[Offside Trap: The Winner on the Glorious but Silent Sunday](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1nfpwya/offside_trap_the_winner_on_the_glorious_but/)

[Hokuto Vega: Stardust Scattered in a Foreign Land](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1nblcn4/a_quick_guide_to_hokuto_vega_the_extraordinary/)

[Narita Hayabusa: A Sand Falcon Born in the Wrong Era](https://www.reddit.com/r/UmaMusume/comments/1n0mokm/narita_hayabusa_a_sand_falcon_born_in_the_wrong/)

Oguri Roman: A Silver Bloom in the Shadow (Art by 荼無)