Agnes World (28 April 1995 – 20 August 2012) was an American-bred, Japanese-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, best known for his performances over sprint distances in Europe.
He remained in training as a five-year-old and again showed his best form in Europe, becoming the first Japanese-trained horse to win a race in the United Kingdom when he won the July Cup.
[2] Agnes World's dam Mysteries failed to win a race but showed high-class form when finishing third to Snow Bride in the Musidora Stakes.
In July he was stepped up in class for the Grade III Hakodate Futurity Stakes over the same course and distance and won again, beating Saratoga Beauty in a record time of 1:09.8.
After the mid-season break, the colt returned to contest Japan's most prestigious race for two-year-olds, the Grade I Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes over 1600 metres at Nakayama Racecourse and finished fourth behind Grass Wonder.
[6] On his three-year-old debut, Agnes World finished second to Dantsu Sirius in the Grade III Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto Racecourse in January, but was subsequently injured and missed the rest of the season.
[6] After his wins at Kokura, Agnes World, accompanied by his stablemate Dojima Muteki, was sent to Europe to be prepared for a run in the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp Racecourse on 3 October.
The Godolphin colt Bertolini started favourite ahead of Sainte Marine (Prix du Gros Chêne) and Imperial Beauty (World Trophy) with the Japanese duo next in the betting on 6.8/1.
At Kokura in November he recorded his first major win in Japan for sixteen months when he defeated Masa Lucky by half a length in the Grade II CBC Sho.
[6] On his first run as a five-year-old Agnes World made his second attempt to win the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and finished third, beaten a neck and the same by King Halo and Divine Light.
At Royal Ascot on 20 June, a week after his arrival in Britain, he started a 16/1 outsider in a twenty-three runner field for the King's Stand Stakes and finished second, one and a half lengths behind Nuclear Debate.
[12] Agnes World returned to Japan for the Sprinters' Stakes on 1 October in which he finished strongly to take second, one and a half lengths behind the front-running 257/1 outsider Daitaku Yamato.