By Dr. Toku Veterinarian & Horse Racing Analyst
Before he was the energetic, high-spirited protagonist of the global phenomenon Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Special Week was a colt born into sorrow who grew into a national icon.
In the lore of Japanese horse racing, few narratives rival the emotional arc of Special Week (1995–2018). He was the horse that finally fulfilled the dreams of Japan’s greatest jockey, Yutaka Take, and served as the anchor for the legendary “Golden Generation” of 1998. Whether you know him as the “General of Japan” or the determined anime character chasing a promise, his story is one of resilience, rivalry, and redemption.
The Miracle Survivor: A Tragic Beginning
To understand the heart of the Special Week horse, one must look at his origins. Born on May 2, 1995, in Hokkaido, his arrival was marked by immediate tragedy. His mother, Campaign Girl, died shortly after giving birth to him.
Orphaned before he could stand, Special Week was raised by a heavy-draft wet nurse—a cart horse—and human caretakers who hand-fed him. This upbringing made him unusually fond of humans, a trait reflected in the cheerful, friendly personality of his Umamusume counterpart.
Despite his rough start, his pedigree was royal. He was a son of the legendary sire Sunday Silence, the stallion that single-handedly revolutionized Japanese breeding. On his dam’s side, his grandfather was Maruzensky, the “Supercar” of the 1970s.
Profile Summary: Special Week
| Attribute | Details |
| Birth Year | 1995 |
| Sire | Sunday Silence (USA) |
| Dam | Campaign Girl (JPN) |
| Dam’s Sire | Maruzensky (JPN) |
| Trainer | Toshiaki Shirai |
| Primary Jockey | Yutaka Take |
| Career Record | 17 Starts: 10 Wins, 4 Seconds, 2 Thirds |
| Total Earnings | ¥1,092,623,000 (approx. $10M USD) |
The 1998 Golden Generation
The year 1998 is hallowed ground in JRA history. It introduced a crop of thoroughbreds so talented that they are collectively known as the “Golden Generation.”
Special Week was not alone; he was surrounded by titans:
- Grass Wonder: The foreign-bred monster who would become his greatest wall.
- El Condor Pasa: The international traveler who conquered Europe.
- Seiun Sky: The trickster escape artist who stole the classic titles.
- King Halo: The noble-blooded sprinter/miler who refused to give up.
In the Umamusume anime, these relationships form the core dynamic of Season 1. In reality, their battles were even more intense.
In the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho, Special Week finished third, unable to catch the fleeing Seiun Sky. But the team had their eyes on a bigger prize: The Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby).
The Dream Fulfilled: Yutaka Take’s First Derby
By 1998, Yutaka Take was already considered a genius jockey, yet a curse seemed to hang over him: he had never won the Japan Derby, the most prestigious race in the country.
On June 7, 1998, the atmosphere at Tokyo Racecourse was electric. Special Week entered the gates as the favorite. When they hit the long straight of Tokyo, Take unleashed the colt. The acceleration was devastating. Special Week tore away from the pack, winning by five lengths.
The curse was broken. As they crossed the line, Yutaka Take, usually cool and composed, dropped his whip in a rare display of overwhelming emotion. He had finally won the Derby, and Special Week was the partner who took him there.
“I remember thinking, ‘Is it really okay to be this happy?’ He made my dream come true.”
— Yutaka Take on Special Week
1999: The Rivalry with Grass Wonder
If 1998 was about potential, 1999 was about war. The rivalry between Special Week and Grass Wonder defines this era.
The Takarazuka Kinen Humiliation
In the mid-year Grand Prix, Special Week was favored to win. However, Grass Wonder, returning from injury, marked him the entire race. When Special Week moved, Grass Wonder moved faster, crushing him by three lengths. It was a complete defeat that left fans stunned.
The Redemption: Japan Cup
Later that year, Special Week faced a new challenge: the Japan Cup. This time, he wasn’t just facing local rivals; he was facing the world, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Montjeu.
Most had written Special Week off after a poor showing in a warm-up race. But Yutaka Take believed. In a masterful ride, Special Week threaded the needle and held off the charging international horses to claim victory, earning the nickname “The General of Japan.”
The Final Heartbreak: Arima Kinen
The 1999 Arima Kinen was Special Week’s retirement race. It ended in one of the most famous photo finishes in history. Special Week made a furious charge from the back, catching Grass Wonder at the line. Yutaka Take pumped his fist, convinced he had won.
However, the photo revealed a cruel truth: Grass Wonder had held on by a nose—a mere 4 centimeters. It was a heartbreaking, yet poetic end to a legendary career.
Rivalry Breakdown
| Rival | Key Battles | The Dynamic |
| Seiun Sky | Satsuki Sho, Kikuka Sho, Tenno Sho (Spring) | The tactical rival. Seiun Sky denied Special Week the Triple Crown, but Special Week overpowered him as an older horse. |
| Grass Wonder | Takarazuka Kinen, Arima Kinen | The nemesis. Special Week never defeated Grass Wonder in their direct match-ups, creating a tragic “hero vs. monster” narrative. |
| El Condor Pasa | 1998 Japan Cup | The standard. El Condor Pasa defeated Special Week in their only meeting, pushing Special Week to become stronger the following year. |
Connecting to Umamusume: Pretty Derby
For millions of new fans, Special Week is best known as the protagonist of Umamusume. Cygames masterfully adapted the horse’s real history into the character’s lore.
- The Second Mother: In the anime, Special Week has two mothers (one human, one horse who died). This mirrors his real life being raised by a wet nurse and human staff.
- The Promise: The anime character’s drive to become “The Best Horse Girl in Japan” mirrors the high expectations placed on him as a son of Sunday Silence.
- Silence Suzuka: In the show, Special Week and Silence Suzuka are roommates and soulmates. In reality, they were stablemates trained by the same man, Toshiaki Shirai. They never raced against each other, but their bond in the anime represents the “what if” dream of fans who wished to see the two greats compete.
- The Glutton: Anime Special Week is famous for eating massive amounts of food. This is a nod to the real horse’s weight fluctuations and healthy appetite, which the trainer often struggled to control.
Legacy and Death
Retired to stud, Special Week proved he wasn’t just a flash in the pan. He sired Buena Vista, a mare who became a legend in her own right, winning six G1 races and captivating fans much like her father did.
Special Week passed away on April 27, 2018, following a paddock accident. In a twist of fate seemingly written for a movie, his death occurred just days after the airing of the Umamusume Season 1 finale, where his character achieves her ultimate dream.
Why Special Week Matters
Special Week was not the fastest horse in history, nor was he invincible. He lost to Grass Wonder. He lost to El Condor Pasa. But his vulnerability is exactly why he is beloved.
He was the horse of the people—born from tragedy, rising to glory, breaking curses for his jockey, and fighting until the very last inch of the wire. Whether you are analyzing his pedigree for the Japan Derby or watching him sprint through the opening sequence of Pretty Derby, the spirit of the “General” lives on.
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