So, you’re scrolling through the roster in Uma Musume Pretty Derby and you start noticing something specific. Beyond the Japanese legends that dominate the spotlight, there is this persistent, high-quality thread of Southern Hemisphere talent. Specifically, New Zealand. It’s kinda weird when you think about it—a game steeped in Japanese horse racing culture obsessed with mares and stallions from a small island nation thousands of miles away. But if you know anything about actual Thoroughbred history, it makes perfect sense.
New Zealand Uma Musume characters aren't just filler. They represent some of the most "broken" stamina and distance builds in the game. This isn't by accident.
Cygames is surprisingly meticulous about how real-world breeding and racing styles translate into character stats. When a character has New Zealand roots, they usually come with a terrifying amount of grit. They are the grinders. The stayers. The ones who ruin your day in the final 200 meters of a long-distance G1 race.
The Kiwi Connection: Why New Zealand Matters in Uma Musume
Let’s be real for a second. Most casual players just look at the cute outfits and the voice acting. That’s fine. But if you’re trying to win the Champions Meeting, you have to look at the "bloodlines." In the real world, New Zealand has been a powerhouse for breeding staying power. Horses like Horlicks and Oguri Cap’s rivals didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
The game reflects this by giving Kiwi-linked characters insane stamina modifiers. Take Fine Motion, for example. While she’s technically associated with Irish breeding, her lineage and the way her "sister" relationship is portrayed in-game often nods to that global reach of top-tier sire lines that New Zealand eventually perfected.
But the real star of the show when we talk about New Zealand Uma Musume is undoubtedly Oguri Cap. Wait, you’re thinking, "Oguri Cap is the pride of Kasamatsu!" And you’re right. He’s the ultimate Japanese underdog story. However, his sire, Dancing Cap, brings in that vital international DNA. The game treats Oguri as a universal powerhouse because his real-life counterpart was a freak of nature with "hybrid vigor."
Then you have characters like Sirius Symboli. While Sirius is deeply tied to the Symboli ranch’s European ambitions, the Southern Hemisphere influence on the broader "Symboli" philosophy in real-world breeding often involved testing endurance in ways that New Zealand-bred horses were famous for.
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The "Stamina Meta" and Southern Hemisphere Grit
Why does this matter for your training runs? Basically, New Zealand-associated horses in the game tend to favor the "Between" or "Trailing" (Sashi/追い上げ) strategies.
They don't just sprint. They endure.
I’ve spent hours—honestly, probably too many hours—trying to max out stamina on distance builds. If you’re using a character with New Zealand heritage, you’ll notice their growth rates often favor the Guts (根性) and Stamina (スタミナ) stats. In the current 2026 meta, where the "New Era" scenarios emphasize late-game recovery, these "Kiwi" traits are gold.
Think about Super Creek. Her mother, Nice Day, has a pedigree that traces back to some serious staying power. Creek is the ultimate "Mama" character, but on the track? She’s a monster. Her "Maestro" skill is essentially the gold standard for not collapsing before the finish line. That’s the New Zealand legacy: not being the fastest out of the gate, but being the only one still running at full speed when everyone else is gassing out.
Real Facts: The Horlicks Factor
If we want to talk about the absolute peak of New Zealand influence, we have to talk about Horlicks.
For the uninitiated: Horlicks was a New Zealand-bred mare who came to Japan in 1989 and absolutely shattered the world record for 2400 meters at the Japan Cup. She beat Oguri Cap. Read that again. She went into the backyard of the greatest Japanese horse of the era and took the crown.
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While Horlicks hasn’t been officially released as a playable "Girl" in the same way others have, her presence looms large over the lore. Whenever you see a reference to the "World’s Fastest" or the high-speed battles of the late 80s in the game’s story modes, you’re feeling the shadow of that Kiwi mare.
- Fact: The 1989 Japan Cup time was 2:22.2.
- Impact: This specific race redefined how Japanese trainers looked at international breeding.
- Game Translation: This is why characters from that era have such high "Speed" caps in the game’s URA and Grand Live scenarios.
Navigating the Gacha: Should You Pull for New Zealand Influenced Characters?
Honestly, it depends on your current stable. If you’re heavy on Short and Mile racers like Sakura Bakushin O, you probably don’t need more New Zealand influence. You’re already fast.
But if you are struggling with the Arima Kinen or the Tenno Sho (Spring), you need that Southern Hemisphere DNA. Look for characters that mention "International" pedigrees or those with connections to the 1980s-90s boom.
One thing people get wrong: they think all New Zealand horses are just "sturdy." Not true. They have a specific kind of tactical flexibility. In the game, this translates to having a wider "A" rank compatibility across multiple distances. You can take a horse with these roots and flex them from a Mile to a Long distance with just a few inheritance factors. It's incredibly efficient for F2P players.
How to Maximize Your New Zealand Traits
To get the most out of these characters, you need to focus on Inheritance.
- Look for the "Blue" Stamina 3-star factors. 2. Focus on "Power" as a secondary. New Zealand racers in the real world had to deal with varying turf conditions, often much softer than the lightning-fast tracks in Tokyo. In Uma Musume, this means they perform exceptionally well on "Heavy" or "Rough" track conditions.
- Don't ignore the "Guts" stat. It was a meme stat for a long time, but with recent balance patches, Guts is vital for the "Last Spurt" phase. Kiwi characters thrive here.
It’s easy to get lost in the flashier designs of the newer characters. The ones with the glowing hair and the futuristic outfits. But the backbone of a winning team is often the "Old Guard" with the deep, international roots.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Training Session
Stop treating stamina as a secondary stat. If you're running a character with links to the great NZ stayers, you should be aiming for at least 1000 Stamina before you even hit the Senior Year.
Use Support Cards that offer "Recovery" skills early. Characters like Rice Shower (Power SSR) or Super Creek (Stamina SSR) are non-negotiable here. They synergize with the natural hidden modifiers of these high-endurance breeds.
Check the "Family Tree" in the character bio. If you see a history of cross-continental racing, prioritize "Inner Course" and "Cornering" skills. These horses were bred for the tight turns of tracks like Moonee Valley and Ellerslie, which translates in-game to better positioning during the crucial third corner.
The depth of Uma Musume is what keeps people playing. It’s not just a gacha game; it’s a love letter to the history of the sport. And New Zealand’s contribution to that history is written in the stamina bars of some of the game's most iconic girls. Next time you see a character that looks a bit more "rugged" or talks about the "world stage," check their history. You might just find the secret weapon for your next Room Match.
Final thought: Watch the 1989 Japan Cup replay on YouTube. It’ll make you appreciate Oguri Cap—and his New Zealand rival—on a whole different level. It’s the best "strategy guide" you’ll ever find.
To optimize your current roster, start by auditing your 3-star inheritance factors to see how many trace back to the endurance-heavy lines of the 80s international era. Focus on pairing these with the "New Era" support cards to bridge the gap between classic stamina and modern speed requirements. Check your inventory for any "Stamina Greed" or "Cool Down" skill books; these are best utilized on your Kiwi-adjacent stayers to ensure they don't bottom out during the final straight of a Long-distance G1.