| Horsename: | Kurifuji |
| Sire: | Tournesol (GB) |
| Grandsire: | Gainsborough |
| Dam: | Kenfuji (JPN) |
| Damsire: | Chapel Brampton (GB) |
| Sex: | Mare |
| Foaled: | 10 March 1940 |
| Colour: | Chestnut |
| Breeder: | Goryō ranch Shimousa |
| Owner: | Kuribayashi Yuuzi |
| Trainer: | Ogata landscape structure |
| Record: | 11: 11 wins |
| Earnings: | 44,200 yen |
| Race: | 1943 Tokyo Yūshun (Japanese Derby) 1943 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) 1943 Kikuka Shō (Japanese St. Leger) |
| Honours: | Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame inductee |
| Updated: | 12 October 2010 |
Kurifuji (also known as Toshifuji) was an undefeated Thoroughbred racemare, whose three classic wins included the Tokyo Yūshun race or Japanese Derby.
She was a chestnut mare that was bred at the Shimofusa Stud in Japan. Kurifuji was by the five times leading sire, Tournesol (GB), her dam Kenfuji was by the imported sire, Chapel Brampton (GB). She was a sister to three other horses including Happy Might who won the Tenno Sho, autumn race over 3,200 metres.[1]
In 1943 Kurifuji was only the second filly to win the Japanese Derby after Hisatomo had done so in 1937. This race attracts top quality horses and many Japanese champions have won it including Deep Impact, Narita Brian, Shinzan and Symboli Rudolf.[2] Kurifuji also won the 1943 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and 1943 Kikuka Shō (Japanese St. Leger). Racing in Japan she had a total of 11 starts for 11 wins.
Known as Kurifuji during her racing career, she was then known as Toshifuji as a broodmare. Her progeny won 55 races and included:
Kurifuji or Toshifuji as she was then known as, died in 1964.[3]
In 1984 Kurifuji was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame.