Sunday Silence

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:09 pm

I was just wondering why he was shipped off to japan for stud duty so early--and looking at his progeny here, it looks like he was sent there immediately.
Why?
And just how badly do we regret that? Thank God for Hat Trick . . .

Turn-To Fan · Postby **Turn-To Fan** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:33 pm

From Wikipedia:

After being ignored by most American breeders, Sunday Silence was eventually sold to Japanese breeder Zenya Yoshida to stand at his Shadai Stallion Station in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. Yoshida had acquired a 25% interest in Sunday Silence early in his 4-year-old season and bought out the other partners for an undisclosed amount.

And I agree on Hat Trick. I can't wait to see his babies.

Mahubah · Postby **Mahubah** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:40 pm

Arthur Hancock couldn't drum up any interest in him from major American breeders and needed to sell to keep Stone Farm going. Less than "pretty" looks (typical Halo) and a weak female family were probably factors in the lack of appeal here. The Japanese got a steal, but at the same time, there's no guarantee he'd have done as well here with the different mare population and racing conditions.

Jorge · Postby **Jorge** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:49 am

I agree because one had to be very faithful to expect above-average greatness from that female strain. So, in that sense, no regrets. But what I find tough to assimilate is why breeders didn't want to correct the "error"
and promote his lineage now. This is not the first time this occurrs. Why? Feelings of shame? Would like to read your Comments?

JYS · Postby **JYS** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:50 am

The Japanese have always been very protective of their best horses, but American breeders have had some opportunities to breed to Sunday Silence sons, the best resumed being Hat Trick in Kentucky and Silent Name now in Canada.

So it's less about American breeders being standoffish as much as not having many options to breed to a class son.

Jorge · Postby **Jorge** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:56 pm

Mahubah wrote:Arthur Hancock couldn't drum up any interest in him from major American breeders and needed to sell to keep Stone Farm going. Less than "pretty" looks (typical Halo) and a weak female family were probably factors in the lack of appeal here. The Japanese got a steal, but at the same time, there's no guarantee he'd have done as well here with the different mare population and racing conditions.

Jorge wrote: agree because one had to be very faithful to expect above-average greatness from that female strain. So, in that sense, no regrets. But what I find tough to assimilate is why breeders didn't want to correct the "error"
and promote his lineage now. This is not the first time this occurrs. Why? Feelings of shame? Would like to read your Comments?

Oh my goodness the sons and grandsons of Sunday Silence are just skyrocketing in importance in Japan and at the international scene.
I am asking to myself: why the cold shoulder on this side of the Atlantic?

xfactor fan · Postby **xfactor fan** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:40 pm

I strongly suspect there was a bit of family dynamic going on between the two brothers, and folks taking sides,. Easy Goer beloved by the KY horsemen, and Sunday Silence from the black sheep brother, trained by a very good California based horseman, Won two legs of the triple crown.

And when he retired, no one would book mares to him. Arthur Hancock didn't have a lot of choice about selling him to the Japanese. In what may have turned out to be a major stroke of genius for Japaneses breeding.

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:58 pm

Mr. Yoshida had a share in Sunday Silence in 1990. He had offered Mr. Hancock a price to purchase the entire partnership. In the Los Angeles Times, Mr. Hancock quoted," that He ( Sunday Silence) will never leave the U.S."
After over who had the most better horse Phipps or Hancock- people thought that Phipps had the horse. I just wish BOTH horses stood in Ky. Then Mr. Hancock let Sunday go to the minority partner Mr. Yoshida. There is a biography on Sunday Silence on book and a DVD with his exercise rider talking about Sunday, what he liked to do, when he left,ect.
But then again, did the Japanese know something that our U.S. breeders and trainers didn't know? Where the champs there raised differently?
K

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:04 pm

Mr Yoshida purchased Sunday Silence share for 2.25 million then offered 10 million to Dr. Gaillard and Mr. Hancock

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/zen ... a/recent/3

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:06 pm

http://books.google.com/books?id=taIfkY ... da&f=false

Jorge · Postby **Jorge** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:07 pm

xfactor fan wrote:I strongly suspect there was a bit of family dynamic going on between the two brothers, and folks taking sides,. Easy Goer beloved by the KY horsemen, and Sunday Silence from the black sheep brother, trained by a very good California based horseman, Won two legs of the triple crown.

And when he retired, no one would book mares to him. Arthur Hancock didn't have a lot of choice about selling him to the Japanese. In what may have turned out to be a major stroke of genius for Japaneses breeding.

I understand the drama and dilemma behind those two great horses but now the Sunday Silence strain belongs to the world, not to a country, or an owner. Perhaps since practically all of his sons weren't foaled on this side of the Atlantic there is lack of confidence. Who knows!

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:08 pm

I still can't believe that they paid close to 200,000 stud fee for him. WOW.

Bast · Postby **Bast** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:32 pm

Have any Sunday Silence sons shuttled to Australia or New Zealand and duplicated their success in those countries?

kimberley mine · Postby **kimberley mine** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:57 am

Bast wrote:Have any Sunday Silence sons shuttled to Australia or New Zealand and duplicated their success in those countries?

Fuji Kiseki shuttled to Australia for a while, and Sunday Silence himself bred mares on SH time who were later exported to Australia. Not very many of those, maybe 25?

FK didn't have quite the success that was hoped. He is tail-female to the dam of Mill Reef and does best when that line is returned to him. Unfortunately in Aussie's case, Mill Reef is very rare, and so after a few seasons he didn't come back.

I have often thought that a one or two year breeding lease to France would be very, very good for Fuji Kiseki.

His best Aussie-bred runner: http://www.pedigreequery.com/sun+classique

Sunday Silence's best Aussie-bred runner: http://www.pedigreequery.com/keep+the+faith3 Couldn't keep a whole campaign together, but is turning into a decent sire.

Patuxet · Postby **Patuxet** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:38 am

On another forum a member posted this informed observation about the current influence and success of Sunday Silence:

March 20
Namura Cresecent wins the G2 Hanshin Daishoten. He is by Yamanin Seraphim, son of Sunday Silence.
Narita Crystal wins the G3 Chukyo Kinen. He is by Special Week, son of Sunday Silence.

March 26
Victoire Pisa wins the G1 Dubai World Cup. He is by Neo Universe, son of Sunday Silence.
Orfevre wins the G2 Fuji TV Sho Spring S. He is by Stay Gold, son of Sunday Silence.
Trend Hunter wins the G3 Flower Cup. He is by Manhattan Cafe, son of Sunday Silence.

Marcy 27
Kinshasa no Kiseki wins the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen. He is by Fuji Kiseki, son of Sunday Silence.
Red Davis wins the G3 Mainichi Hai. He is by Agnes Tachyon, son of Sunday Silence.

That's seven group winners in seven days, each one of them by a different son of Sunday Silence. Plus newby sire Deep Impact, perhaps Sunday Silence's greatest son, had a couple of placers in these races as well. Not bad.