== In popular culture ==
== In popular culture ==
An [[Moe anthropomorphism|anthropomorphized]] character based on the horse appears in ”[[Uma Musume Pretty Derby]]”.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ヴィルシーナ |trans-title=Verxina |url=https://umamusume.jp/character/detail |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト |publisher=[[Cygames]] |language=ja |archive-date=2022-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130105714/https://umamusume.jp/character/detail/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=”Inside Games”>{{cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=『ウマ娘』アニメ3期で新ウマ娘「ヴィルシーナ」「ヴィブロス」登場！シュヴァルグランの姉妹で勝気&小悪魔なお嬢様たち |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2023/11/16/150111.html |accessdate=26 January 2024 |publisher=Inside Games}}</ref>
An [[Moe anthropomorphism|anthropomorphized]] character based on the horse appears in ”[[ Pretty Derby]]”.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ヴィルシーナ |trans-title=Verxina |url=https://umamusume.jp/character/detail |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト |publisher=[[Cygames]] |language=ja |archive-date=2022-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130105714/https://umamusume.jp/character/detail/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=”Inside Games”>{{cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=『ウマ娘』アニメ3期で新ウマ娘「ヴィルシーナ」「ヴィブロス」登場！シュヴァルグランの姉妹で勝気&小悪魔なお嬢様たち |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2023/11/16/150111.html |accessdate=26 January 2024 |publisher=Inside Games}}</ref>
== Pedigree ==
== Pedigree ==
Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse
Verxina (born on March 5, 2009) is a Japanese retired race horse sired by Deep Impact, and out of Halwa Sweet.[2][3] She is owned by a former professional baseball player, Kazuhiro Sasaki.[4]
Verxina, a black mare, was foaled on March 5, 2009, by Deep Impact out of Halwa Sweet. She was bred by Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido, Japan. Verxina’s dam, Halwa Sweet, who was famous for being born without a tail, went on to birth two other successful racehorses, Cheval Grand and Vivlos, both of which are also owned by Sasaki.[5] Her sire, Deep Impact, was a champion racehorse known for winning the Japanese Triple Crown and earning a title in the Japanese Racing Association Hall of Fame.
She began her racing career as a 2-year-old, but debuted as a 3-year-old at the Daily Hai Queen Cup. Her major wins were at the Queen Cup, and twice at the Victoria Mile. During her time as a racer, Verxina represented the stables she resided in, Yasuo Tomomichi, twice.[6]
Verxina was ridden by Hiroyuki Uchida for most of her races.[7]
At age 3, Verxina won the Daily Hai Queen Cup in Japan. She placed second at the Yushun Himba, Oka Sho and the Shuka Sho, all to her paternal half-sister Gentildonna. She also came in second in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, and Kansai Telecasting Corporation Sho Rose Stakes.[3]
Verxina won the Victoria Mile twice, once as a 4-year-old and again a year later. She was favored both times.[7] Both the Tokyo Shimbun Hai and the Hanshin Himba Stakes had a major defeat with 11 landings, and although Victoria Mile was welcomed as the 11th most popular despite becoming champion the previous year. After the Victoria Mile, she went to Takarazuka Kinen.
Her rating was 8th most popular. However, in the race that Yuichi Fukunaga switched to, she ran away in the same way as before, dropping to a super slow pace of 1000 meters passing 62 seconds. Although replaced by the Gold Ship and Karen Milotick at the last line, Verxina showed a good fight, entering 3rd.
In autumn Verxina went to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Arima Kinen, but lost both races.[4] Verxina retired at age 5 to become a breeding mare at the Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido.[4]
As of 2023, Verxina has foaled 5 offsprings.[8] Of these, her most successful progeny is Bravas, by King Kamehameha, who won the Niigata Kinen in 2020,[9] and Divina, by Maurice, who won the 2023 Fuchu Himba Stakes.[10]
An anthropomorphized character based on the horse appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Kaya Okuno.[11][12]
