THE JRA’s annual fixture list contains just three Group 1 races for juveniles and all three of those championship races are contested in December.

This tends to lead the public attention and interest to remain on the classic generation and older horses for much of the year. Unbeaten three-time winner Sodashi has firmly bucked that trend in 2020.

A debut winner in July, Sodashi confirmed that form by winning the Group 3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes in a record-breaking time. The daughter of the recently pensioned Kurofune placed herself at the front of current juvenile rankings in the JRA with a comprehensive win in the Artemis Stakes.

The Group 3 race held in Tokyo boasts an impressive list of alumni that includes subsequent Group 1 winners Lucky Lilac and Lys Gracieux.

While her race record is impressive her ability on the track is not solely responsible for becoming one of the most widely followed horses in the JRA by racing fans.

Sodashi is officially registered as a white filly, hailing from a famous Japanese family of distinctly coloured horses. She is the first foal out of the white Buchiko, a mare whose name roughly translates as ‘dappled girl’ in English.

A highly capable JRA performer, Buchiko had her own line of merchandise for her fans to purchase including scarves, bags, keyrings, and coats.

Buchiko’s dam, Shirayukihime (meaning snow white princess) by Sunday Silence, has produced 10 foals with just one who was not registered as white on their passport.