King Halo

King Halo (キングヘイロー, Kingu Heiro) is a character in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby.

Profile
A prideful and resilient horse girl whose motto is “I won’t give up!” She’s a top-class and egotistical lady with fine taste whose jealously often gets the better of her. She holds true to her motto and gives her all whenever she steps foot on the track.

Songs

 * Exercise the Right (Solo song)
 * Make Debut!
 * GIRLS' LEGEND U
 * Honnou Speed
 * Pyoitto♪Halleluyah
 * Winning' 5 -Winning☆Five-
 * Never Looking Back
 * We are DREAMERS!!
 * Gaze on Me
 * Ms. VICTORIA
 * DRAMATIC JOURNEY
 * Everlasting BEATS
 * Umapyoi Densetsu

Special Commentary

 * Requirement: Winning Takamatsunomiya Kinen, entering at least five G1s unwinning so far.
 * Reference: 2000 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, by Keiichi Ueki (Tokai TV)

Trivia

 * She always takes care of her kouhai.
 * Kawakami Princess worships her. She is King Halo's real-life daughter.
 * Haru Urara is her roommate. They have no relationships, however, both desired "one victory" in real life.
 * She was designed as the anime started. Anime producer Junnosuke Ito suggested to add her, as a rival of Special Week or other 1998-Classic horse girls.

Real Life
"In 2000, Takamatsunomiya Kinen. That horse proved his pedigree beyond ten-time defeats. How many times he lost, lost and lost, he never lowered his head. The green hood. The unconquerable soul. That horse's name is ―― King Halo."

- 2012 Takamatsunomiya Kinen TV commercial, by JRA

King Halo is a racehorse in the late 1990s to the early 2000s. He has great pedigree, but he did not win the Classics. He ran almost every G1, what distance it is, even at dirt race, and finally won the eleventh challenge. His stories are also told with his jockey Yuichi Fukunaga.

In 1997 (2 years old)
His father Dancing Brave won four G1s, and mother Goodbye Halo won seven. He was called a "11 crown baby", and was so expected. At first, his name was Asaka Halo, though, his owner Asakawa renamed him King Halo before debut.

As his jockey, Yuichi Fukunaga was chosen. He is a son of great jockey Yoichi Fukunaga. He won three races in a row, including one G3. He "proved his pedigree", too.

In 1998 (3 years old)
He was rated as one of Top Three, with Seiun Sky and Special Week. However, he lost all grade races this year, including Triple Crown.

Especially at the Derby, Fukunaga was stupefied and King Halo lost his control. He ran too fast at the top, and exhausted. He lost in 14th.

Fukunaga could not win any of four G1s, and King's jockey was changed to Yohitomi Shibata.

In 1999 (4 years old)
Shibata won Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3) and Nakayama Kinen (G2). But he lost Yasuda, Takarazuka, Mile Championship, and Sprinters Stakes.

However, Mile CS was in second, and SS was in third. His team began to focus on short distance.

In 2000 (5 years old)
They tried a dirt G1, February Stakes, though, He hated mud on face and lost in 13th. He lost ten G1s in a row.

Finally, at Takamatsunomiya Kinen, He overtook all from outside, and won the first and last G1. In additon, the second was Divine Light, ridden by Fukunaga. Later, he often says it was the most regrettable race of his life.

"(Q30: What was the most regrettable race?) A: Takamatsunomiya Kinen in 2000, that King Halo won. I don't mean because I was the second place. Despite I'd ridden on him, why did I make him win? I felt such regret. But, considering of the horse, I also thought 'That's happy for his winning first title at last.' I felt complicated."

- Yuichi Fukunaga

His last run was Arima Kinen. Most horses surrounded T.M. Opera O not to go first, but he didn't join them and finished in 4th.

After retirement
He was popular as a studhorse. His G1 win was only one, so his mating fee was low for his pedigree.

He sired Three G1/Jpn1 horse including Kawakami Princess, and other grade race winners in JRA or local.

In 2021, his grandchildren continuously won grade races. He is still expected as a broodmare sire.

In 2019, he died at the age of 24, five days before Takamatsunomiya Kinen that he once won. Yuichi Fukunaga won the race with Mr. Melody. "I thought after the race. There was something, I felt King Halo pushed my back."

- 2019 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, by Yuichi Fukunaga


 * He kept his head high while he ran. This running form was reproducted in the anime version.
 * Although he lost, his results at long distances are not so bad. In many horseracing game, his suitable distance is mile or short. But critics says his true ability for distance is still unknown.