How a 21 million yen colt conquered the Japanese Triple Crown
In short: In 2026, a dark bay colt named Lovcen achieved what few horses ever do: the Japanese Double Crown. Named after a Montenegrin mountain range, this Northern Farm prodigy overcame heavy tracks and fierce rivals to rewrite the record books.
Foaled on April 9, 2023, Lovcen entered the racing world as a highly-valued prospect. Purchased by Kazumacia Kobayashi at the Northern Farm Mixed Sale for 21 million yen, the colt was sired by World Premiere, a winner of both the Kikuka-shō and the Spring Tennō Shō. Trained by Haruki Sugiyama—the same hand behind champions like Daring Tact—Lovcen's ascent began on November 9, 2025, with a commanding three-length victory at Kyoto Racecourse. The dark bay colt, who possesses no white markings, carries a lineage connected to the Canadian Champion Older Female Horse of 2011, Embur's Song. His dam, Songwriting, was a mare that remained winless during her career.
His path to greatness was defined by grit and record-breaking speed. During the Satsuki Shō, Lovcen faced a formidable field of eighteen, winning at 4.0 odds. His performance was so dominant that he broke the race record previously set by Museum Mile in 2025 by half a second. This victory set the stage for the Tōkyō Yūshun (the Japanese Derby), where, despite drawing the outside post of 17, he secured the Double Crown by a single head over Peintre Naif. The race was a fierce duel against the rival Realize Sirius, who fought back during the final stretch. Winning from stall 17, he achieved a feat not seen since Wagnerian.
The horse's versatility was tested across various track conditions and distances. From winning on heavy ground in the Hopeful Stakes to navigating a photo finish in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, Lovcen demonstrated exceptional stamina. His 2026 campaign marked the first time a horse had achieved the Double Crown since Contrail in 2020, cementing his place in racing history through a series of tactical masterclasses by jockey Kohei Matsuyama. In the Kobe Shimbun Hai, he faced the challenge of the innermost gate of 1. He eventually secured a win in a photo finish after passing Altramuz in the final meters.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lovcen (horse)
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