Maruzensky

"Trainer, you seem like you'd be fun to tease... Hehe♪"

- Maruzensky

Maruzensky (マルゼンスキー, Maruzensukī) is a supporting character in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby.

Personality
Maruzensky is a cool, serene girl. She is like a 'big sister' figure to others and a role model for younger horse girls. Regardless of her charming character, she has an interest in car-racing activities.

Appearance
She is a busty brunette with long, curly hair that is tied with a black ribbon on the back. She also has a blue ribbon tied to her right ear that matches her calming blue eyes.

Songs

 * Kindan Burning Heart (Solo song)
 * UNLIMITED IMPACT
 * ENDLESS DREAM!!
 * Make Debut!
 * Grow Up Shine!
 * Special Record!
 * GIRLS' LEGEND U
 * Nigekiri! Fallin' Love
 * BLOW my GALE
 * We are DREAMERS!!
 * Gaze on Me
 * Umapyoi Densetsu

Special Commentary

 * Requirement: Being at the homestretch with over ten lengths to the second at Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
 * Reference: 1976 Asahi hai 3-year-old Stakes, by Kazuhiko Okawa (Fuji TV)

Trivia

 * She belongs to a famous horse girl clan in the United Kingdom because of her overwhelming speed.
 * She is only horse girl that ran in the 1970s. She talks with old-fashioned words from the 60s-90s.
 * Almost all Tracen Academy students must be in dormitories, but she is one of the exceptions. She lives alone.
 * Most horse girls are in the dormitory same as real-life training center. Maruzensky had not enter any TC in real life.
 * As for now, 7 horse girls are real-life descendants of Maruzensky. That's the highest number among all Uma Musume characters.
 * Sakura Chiyono O is son of Maruzensky, Special Week, Rice Shower, Winning Ticket and Mejiro Bright are grandsons, Curren Chan is great-granddaughter, while Daring Tact is great-great-great-granddaughter.
 * In the game version, some of her races are based on real-life episodes.
 * At Spring Stakes, only 5 runners enter. It comes from the episode in an open race.
 * At Japanese Derby, Maruzensky always get placed in #18 gate, as "his" jockey said.

Real Life
"Farewell, Maruzensky. We will hand down your strength."

- A banner at Maruzensky's retiring ceremony

Maruzensky was a racehorse in the 1970s. His speed was called "The Supercar", however, a foreign-bred horse restriction at that time prevented him from running in big races.

At birth
Kokichi Hashimoto, a cattle buyer, was the owner of Maruzen Hashimoto Farm. He bought a pregnant mare Shill in the Keenland Sale. Shill bore the foal in Japan.

Because of this, Maruzensky was treated as a mochikomi-ba (brought-in horse). In 1971-1983, mochikomi-ba were bound by foreign-bred horse restriction despite Japanese-bred. Until about 2000s, foreign-bred horses could not enter the Classics and both Tenno Sho. He could only enter Arima Kinen of the Eight Majors.

In 1976 (2 years old)
Maruzensky entered Shigehiko Kondo Stable in Tokyo Racecourse. At the maiden race, he won by 10 lengths to the second. Though he was categorized in "frontrunner", in fact his ability was too overwhelming that other horses couldn't reach.

At Asahi Hai 3-year-old Stakes, Maruzensky lengthened the difference to the second Hishi Speed, and finished by over ten lengths.

He won the JRA Award for Best 3-year-old Colt.

In 1977 (3 years old)
He could not enter Japanese Derby because of restrictions, but most fans wanted that. His jockey Seiichi Nakanowatari did, too. he said "It is okay he is the outermost gate. I don't want rewards. I won't prevent other horses. I just want to try this horse's power. Let him run the Derby."

His team aimed for Arima Kinen, only he can enter of the Eight Majors. At first, he entered an open race. But other horses avoided fearing for taking timeover penalty. The race was almost cancelled, however, Masatoshi Hattori trainer had two horses enter to prevent the cancellation.

He entered Nippon Tampa Sho, nicknamed as "Unfortunate Derby ". He defeated Press Toko by seven lengths, despite Press Toko was strong enough to win Kikka Sho afterward.

Just before Arima Kinen, he got bowed tendon and cancelled the race. His injury was light though, major races he could enter were only Takarazuka and Arima Kinen. The team decided to retire him.

Fans expected him to fight with TTG, Tosho Boy, Ten Point, and Green Grass. But that didn't come true.

After retirement
He foaled a lot of G1 horses. Especially, Sakura Chiyono O won the Derby that his father couldn't enter.

Also as a broodmare sire, many G1 horses were born, such as Special Week, Rice Shower, Winning Ticket, and Mejiro Bright.

He died of a heart attack in 1997, at the age of 23. His owner Kokichi Hashimoto mourned him as his son.
 * "Maruzen" named after his farm and his father Nijinsky II.
 * Kokichi's daughter Seiko was a speedskate player . She put a gold medal she won at the World Champiomship in Maruzensky's coffin.
 * Horse girl Maruzensky's voice actor Lynn loves horseracing. She bet on his descendant Lei Papale at 2021 Osaka Hai and won the trifecta, x106.2 odds.