Umamusume Pretty Derby Adds Legendary G1 Winner “Titleholder”
Cygames has officially introduced another new addition to the ever-expanding Umamusume: Pretty Derby roster, revealing Titleholder as the latest horse girl set to join the franchise.
The newly announced character will be voiced by voice actress Yui Hananari and brings a personality unlike many of the runners currently attending Tracen Academy.
According to her character profile, Titleholder is a horse girl training with a singular objective in mind: becoming the strongest living being.
Before turning her attention to racing, she reportedly made a name for herself in the world of mixed martial arts, where she honed her strength through intense competition and rigorous training.
Everything changed when Titleholder witnessed the running style of another horse girl whose overwhelming speed and power left a lasting impression on her.
Determined to master what she viewed as the ultimate form of running, she enrolled at Tracen Academy in pursuit of that goal.
Like all members of the Umamusume cast, Titleholder is based on a real-life racehorse whose achievements earned a dedicated following among racing fans.
The real Titleholder was born on February 10, 2018, and was sired by Duramente out of the mare Merveille.
His name was chosen to convey the meaning of “championship holder,” reflecting the high expectations surrounding his racing career.
After winning on his debut on October 4, 2020, Titleholder quickly progressed through Japan’s highly competitive classic racing circuit.
He followed his debut success with a second-place finish in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes before placing fourth in the Hopeful Stakes.
His breakthrough at graded level arrived in the Yayoi Sho, where he secured his first major title by leading from start to finish in dominant fashion.
Titleholder then exceeded expectations in the Satsuki Sho, finishing second despite entering the race as only the eighth betting favorite.
Some of the most memorable victories of his career came during a period when renovations at Kyoto Racecourse forced major races to be held elsewhere.
During that stretch he captured victories in the Kikuka Sho, Tenno Sho (Spring), and Takarazuka Kinen.
Those wins helped him establish an extraordinary record of three G1 victories at Hanshin Racecourse.
Titleholder continued racing as a five-year-old and remained a prominent competitor among Japan’s elite stayers.
However, his 2023 campaign suffered a major setback when lameness in his right foreleg forced him to be withdrawn during the Tenno Sho (Spring).
Although a new generation of horses began to emerge and he subsequently suffered three consecutive defeats, Titleholder delivered one final display of determination in his farewell appearance.
In the 2023 Arima Kinen, he produced a spirited front-running performance to secure third place and close out his racing career on a memorable note.
By the time of his retirement, Titleholder had compiled a record of seven victories from 19 starts and amassed career earnings of ¥1,068,751,000 (approx. $7.3 million USD/ £5.4 million GBP).
His accomplishments were further recognized in 2022 when he received the JRA Award for Best Older Colt or Horse.
With the announcement of Titleholder’s Umamusume counterpart, fans can now look forward to seeing one of modern Japanese racing’s most celebrated champions brought to life within the franchise’s ever-growing cast of horse girls.
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