melody lane (racehorse)

Named after a Camellia cultivar.

Japanese racehorse. Sired by Orfevre and foaled by Mowen. She is a bay mare with a wide blaze marking that is slanted over the left side of her face, socks on all but her front left leg and is notable for being unusually small as well as being Titleholder's elder sister.

This diminutive thoroughbred is famous for having the record as the JRA's lightest winner of a race - at 338 kg - and usually hovers around 350 kg. Most of her fellow competitors as well as both parents (in their racing years, both were around 450 and 460 kg) are at least a full 100 kg heavier than her. While not a top-level runner, she actually has modest success as a Stayer (a long-distance runner) and is renowned for her exceptional stamina. Her first win was at a 2400 m race, her other wins being above that distance and her only Classics appearence being a respectable 5th place at the Kikuka Sho (3000 m. Two years later, Titleholder would win that race). After a long career running in many of Japan's longest races, Melody Lane retired on December 2024 at age 8 due to a bowed tendon. She returned to Okada Stud to assume broodmare duties.

Unsurprisingly, being an idol horse, she is a popular choice for original Umamusume, often depicted together with her RL sire Orfevre (either in her old design or in her canon version) or a umamusume version of Titleholder. She is usually represented this way with brown hair with a wide blaze marking making the left side of her bangs, an ornament based on her namesake flower or a musical note (Melody Lane) on or around her left ear, and is typically portrayed as much smaller than most other characters.