Durandal (デュランダル, Hepburn: Durandaru, 25 May 1999 – 7 July 2013) was a Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was known for his success in sprint or mile races. In his racing career from 2001 to 2005, he won 8 races, notably the G1 grade races Sprinters Stakes and the Mile Championship consecutively. He was then awarded the JRA Award for Best Sprinter or Miler for 2003 and 2004. His total earnings were 503,232,000 JPY.
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Background
Durandal was born on May 25, 1999, in the Shadai Farm, foaled by Sawayaka Princess, one of Northern Taste's foals. He was sired by Sunday Silence, the leading sire in Japan for 13 consecutive years. His temperament was described as restless, but not aggressive towards people.
He was named after the legendary sword Durandal and was referred to as the "Holy Sword of the Turf".
Racing Record
Durandal's racing statistics taken from both netkeiba and JBIS are shown below.
Death
He later died on July 7, 2013, in his stable presumably because of a heart attack.
In popular culture
An anthropomorphized version of Durandal appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Kana Nogi. This version depicts Durandal as a knightly, chivalrous character who models herself after medieval knights and views her races as “wielding a holy sword,” seeking to develop her late-race spurt into a “keenly-cutting blade.”