Sunday Silence passed away in August 2002, but everyone has high expectations for his last two crops. Still, it is obvious to all that he was truly a great stallion that has left a huge mark on the horse breeding industry of Japan. Looking at the history of stallions brought to Japan for breeding, one immediately finds Northern Taste (CAN), who was the leading sire for 11 successive seasons from 1982 to 1992. Racehorses sired by him have won a record total of 1,749 races in Japan so far. But Northern Taste retired as a stallion in 2000, and his record looks about to be broken by Sunday Silence. At the close of 2003, Sunday Silence runners had won 1,746 races, and it is virtually certain that we will see a new record set early in 2004. His offspring will continue to play a central role in the future of Japanese horseracing for some time yet to come.

[3-year-olds]

  Horses sired by Sunday Silence won almost all of the big spring races for 3-year-olds, for colts and fillies. Neo Universe (JPN) won the Satsuki Sho (GI, Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Tokyo Yushun (GI, Japanese Derby). He was ridden by the Italian Mirco Demuro, the first foreign jockey ever to win the Japanese Derby. As for the fillies, Still in Love (JPN) won the Oka Sho (GI, Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the Yushun Himba (GI, Japanese Oaks).

  Both of these runners tried for Triple Crown and Triple Crown for fillies, at the Kikuka Sho (GI, Japanese St. Leger) and the Shuka Sho for 3-year-old fillies only (GI, Kyoto Racecourse) in the autumn. Still in Love was the only one to achieve the feat. It was first time the JRA Triple Crown Series for fillies has been won in 17 years. She even entered the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (G1), which is for 3-year-old fillies & up, aiming to make a clean sweep of GI races for fillies, only to come up short by a nose to Admire Groove (JPN), her rival since the spring.

  Admire Groove (JPN) was sired by Sunday Silence out of Air Groove (JPN), who is famous as the winner of the Japanese Oaks (GI) (1996) and the Tenno Sho [Autumn] (GI) (1997) and runner-up in the Japan Cup in both 1997 and 1998. Her granddam Dyna Carlye (JPN) also won the Japanese Oaks in 1983 Admire Groove (JPN) has become a rare third generation GI filly winner.

  The Kikuka Sho (GI) is the Japanese St. Leger and the final race in the Triple Crown. It was won by That's the Plenty (JPN), who had finished 3rd in the Japanese Derby. The Derby winner, Neo Universe (JPN) had to be content with 3rd place. That's the Plenty thus repeated the feat of his sire, Dance in the Dark (JPN), winner of the 1996 Japanese St. Leger (JPN), as both the sire and progeny have won the Japanese St. Leger (GI). Dance in the Dark (JPN) was also sired by Sunday Silence.

  The NHK Mile Cup (GI), a race that decides the best 3-year-old miler, was won by a dark horse, Win Kluger (JPN). His sire, Taiki Shuttle (USA) won the Prix Jacques le Marois (FR GI), as well as the JRA's Yasuda Kinen (GI) and Mile Championship (GI) in 1998, Taiki Shuttle was the first miler to be named Horse of the Year in JRA history.

  The 3-year-old dirt category had Utopia (JPN), and excellent colt, who had been invited to run in the UAE Derby (UAE GII), but had to be pulled out with the breakout of war in Iraq War. He has won the Unicorn Stakes (GIII).

  The Musashino Stakes (GIII) In the autumn, was won by Silent Deal (JPN). This horse also ran well in the Japanese Derby (GI), finishing 4th, but has shown his true mettle in dirt racing. This is supported by his bloodline, as he is a full brother to To the Victory (by Sunday Silence out of Fairy Doll), runner-up to Captain Steve in the 2001 Dubai World Cup (UAE GI). Both of these horses ran in the Japan Cup Dirt (GI, Tokyo Racecourse, Nov. 29th, 2100m Dirt) and were quite popular in the betting. They both were unable to perform well and lost rather badly, due to an extremely sloppy going and a daunting line-up in the field of older horses.

[4-Year-olds & Up]

  2002 Horse of the Year Simboli Kris S (USA) was beaten back to 4th place in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI) in the spring, but returned strong to win the Tenno Sho [Autumn] (GI) and the Arima Kinen (GI), also in the autumn. He finished 3rd in the Japan Cup (GI). Curiously, he finished his racing career at the Arima Kinen with exactly the same autumn results as in the previous year. He was further honored by being named 2003 Horse of the Year for the second year running.

  Another horse, who like Simboli Kris S, won two GI races this year was Hishi Miracle (JPN), winner of the Japanese St. Leger (GI) in 2002. He won the Tenno Sho [Spring] (GI), JRA's oldest long-distance race and the Takarazuka Kinen (GI), which was elevated to International GI status in 200l. Strangely, this horse has never been among the punters' favorates. Whenever he won, it was called a "Miracle", in reference to his name. Much was expected of him in the autumn schedule, but he injured a leg, which will require a rather long-term recuperation.

  The number of runners in the Japan Cup (GI) was increased from 16 to 18, from 2003. The 2003 field included nine runners from four other countries. These were all racehorses of proven quality, including Breeders' Cup Turf (GI) winner Johar (USA), Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (GI) winner Ange Gabriel (FR), and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) winner Islington (IRE). They provided a starting line-up for the race was the best in recent years.

  However, the going was not good after a heavy rain on the previous day. Japanese-owned Tap Dance City (USA) set the going and galloped home comfortably to finish a full nine lengths ahead of the field. Although he was subsequently well beaten by Simboli Kris S in the Arima Kinen (GI), the finale of the racing season, the three races contested by these two horses (including the Takarazuka Kinen) were the real highlights of JRA's racing year.

  Eishin Preston (USA), Loehengrin (JPN) and Telegnosis (JPN) were particularly successful overseas In 2003. Eishin Preston notched a third triumph in Hong Kong at his favored Sha-tin Racecourse, winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI). Loehengrin (JPN), runner-up in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1), was sired by Singspiel (IRE), winner of the Japan Cup (G1) and the Dubai World Cup (UAE G1), out of French Oaks winner Carling (FR)．His performance in France followed wins at the Nakayama Kinen (GII) and the Milers Cup (GII). He also rode well in the Hong Kong Mile (GI) in December, finishing a strong third.

  Telegnosis (JPN) won the Keio Hai Spring Cup (GII) before finishing 3rd in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1), performing on a par with the European horses. In the sprint mile category, Durandal (JPN), sired by Sunday Silence, won both the Sprinters Stakes (GI) and the Mile Championship (GI). This was the first such feat since that of Taiki Shuttle, mentioned above.

  Believe (JPN), another filly sired by Sunday Silence, won the Sprinters Stakes in 2002 and in 2003, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (GI), making her a sprint GI winner for two years in a row. Agnes Digital (USA), though not quite as strong as before, won the Yasuda Kinen (GI), becoming a GI winner for the third year in succession. He performed exceptionally well in a variety of categories.

  The dirt category saw Gold Allure (JPN), sired by Sunday Silence named the JRA's Best Dirt Horse in 2002, win the February Stakes (GI). He followed this with wins in the Antares Stakes (GIII), in which he beat last year's Japan Cup Dirt winner Eagle Café(USA) by eight lengths. He looked likely to take all honors in 2003, but unfortunately contracted a respiratory disease and had to be retired in the summer.

  In his place came Admire Don (JPN), champion 2-year-old in 2001. He was sired by Timber Country (USA) out of Vega (JPN), famed winner of the Japanese 1000 Guineas(G1) and Japanese Oaks(G1) in 1993 (winning her the title of "Best 3-year-old Filly" that year). Admire Don(JPN)comes with a superb pedigree. His half-brother Admire Vega (JPN) also won the 1999 Japanese Derby. If anything, he is more suited to dirt than turf and won the JBC Classic (GI) in 2002. He also took the 2003 Mile Championship Nambu Hai (GI), followed by a second successive triumph in the JBC Classic at Ohi Racecourse in 2003. These earned him honors as the JRA Best Dirt Horse.

  The Japan Cup Dirt (GI) was won by one of the two entrants from the USA. In awful conditions with torrential rain and sloppy going, Fleetstreet Dancer (USA) topped Admire Don(JPN) by a nose. This was the first time a horse from overseas had won the race in its fourth year of running. A G1 winner of horses belonging to NAR, was Name Value(JPN) who won the Teio Sho(G1) at Ohi Racecourse.

[Steeplechase]

  A highlight in steeplechasing was the Nakayama Grand Jump (GI). This Japanese field for this International Invitational Race was joined by six entrants from Britain, Australia, France, New Zealand and the UK. Last year's winner St. Steven (NZ), trained in Australia, was looking to retain the trophy, but could only finish 3rd. The winner was Big Taste (JPN). Another big jump race, the Nakayama Daishogai (GI), had to be postponed due to snow. It will be re-scheduled for 2004.

  This completes this summary of JRA horseracing for 2003. But, a final point needs to be mentioned. Japan's top jockey Yutaka Take won 204 JRA races in calendar 2003. This is a new JRA record and brings his career total to 2,268 (excluding wins in racing overseas and in NAR). The current record-holder in career wins is Yukio Okabe with 2,880 wins.

2003 Top Five Jockey's Records (by winners, JRA races only)

2003 Top Five Trainer's Records (by winners, JRA races only)

2003 JRA Award (Racehorse)