American Champion Horse Nadal Is Headed to Japan

Nadal did retire in May 2020 because of a fracture in his left front lateral condylar bone. This was unfortunate because he had a promising racing career, to the point that he was leader of the Kentucky Derby in terms of points. The injury was not life-threatening in any way but it was career-ending. It is a disappointment to see but health has to come first.

His career only lasted for three and a half months with four victories in four races and $1,053,000 in terms of prize winnings. Nadal was surely to be a big deal in the horse racing campaign but the injury halted his future in the sport. It is a shame that he retired so early but he will be transferred to Japan to start his stud career.

It is interesting to look back at his performances in the four races that he performed in. Because of that, he was seen as one of the favourites in the Kentucky Derby which was a big accolade. That is one of the biggest races in the world and being favoured to win it is significant. However, the pandemic hit the horse racing scene which led to the cancellation of the derby.

Because of this, Nadal was unable to perform at the Kentucky Derby and of course, the injury came. It was a quick turnaround for the American horse racing scene because the one who had the most potential abruptly retired. It will be fun to look forward to who will be the next rising star in the US because they are anxiously waiting for the new top star.

The top spot is up for grabs since then as many horses have traded victories. It is interesting to speculate what could have happened if Nadal was able to perform consistently at a high level. The pandemic did hamper his racing career because it came to a halt when tourneys were not happening. In just four races, he became a top-tier competitor in races and it is one of the greatest what-if stories in recent horse racing history.

His new stud career in Japan will be interesting. If he can produce a similar horse with his genes, it will surely be a physical juggernaut. Nadal was a strong and fast horse but he had a nightmare injury that ended his career. Hopefully, if he does have a successor, it will be exciting to see.

There is also the possibility that when his stud career ends in Japan, he will return to the US. Hopefully, he can have a better time during his time as a stud compared to the end of his racing career.