Umamusume’s Gold Ship amuses fans, reflecting the real horse’s chaotic racing history

Gold Ship has become a fan-favourite in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, with players enjoying her unpredictable behaviour and humorous presence in the game.  

Her in-game antics, from refusing to train to causing chaos for other characters, align closely with the real-life racehorse with the same name that she is based on.

The racehorse Gold Ship was known for his unpredictable performances, sometimes refusing to race seriously and other times winning with ease. 

His career includes a significant moment referred to as the “12 billion yen incident” during the 2015 Takarazuka Kinen, where bettors lost an estimated 12 billion yen after he unexpectedly underperformed despite high expectations.

Gold Ship’s racing strategy often involved starting at the back of the field and making a sudden surge to win, a trait mirrored in his Umamusume portrayal. 

The horse earned nearly 1.4 billion yen (around $9.6 million) during his career, with experts suggesting these earnings could have been higher if he consistently chose to compete seriously.

Clips of Gold Ship years after retirement show him energetically chasing butterflies and displaying high energy, reflecting a character who did not always focus on racing but retained remarkable potential.

The developers of Umamusume have integrated many references to the real racehorse’s history, contributing to Gold Ship’s popularity among Western audiences discovering the game. 

Fans appreciate how her in-game personality mirrors the horse’s tendency to defy expectations and perform on her own terms.