Japanese and UAE champion and top sire Heart's Cry (Jpn) (Sunday Silence–Irish Dance {Jpn}, by Tony Bin {Ire}) died on Mar. 9, the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) announced on Friday. The 22-year-old was in good health until he passed, due to a sudden inability to stand.
Teruya Yoshida, CEO of Shadai Farm, said in a statement, “Hearts Cry ran out of steam last night [Thursday]. I heard from the person in charge of the Shadai Stallion that he left nobly and without showing any weakness until the very end.
“When training, he had a unique gait, but the difference in the springs shown on the training course was obvious. I had worked on many Sunday Silence progeny before, but the way they bounced, agility, and propulsion were so different that I handed them over to trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi with great confidence.”
Bred by Shadai Farm, the April foal went into training with Hashiguchi and carried the Shadai Racing Horse silks with honour in three countries. Best known for his defeat of paternal half-brother Deep Impact (Jpn) in the 2005 Arima Kinen (video), he showcased his quality on the world stage, taking the 2006 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, and finished a respectable third in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. later that year.
Yoshida added of the dark bay's racing career, “The highlight of my racing life is probably his three races from the end of [his] 4-year-old year to early in his 5-year-old season, especially when he defeated Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen. I was worried that the opponent would be the only rival and Heart's Cry would have a dirty image after that, but the overwhelming victory in the next round of the Dubai Sheema Classic proved that the level of horse racing in Japan has progressed to a tremendous level, and it has been a great opportunity for the officials, fans and media. Everyone was happy.”
Retired to stand at Shadai Stallion Station in 2007 after five wins from 19 starts and over $8 million in earnings, Heart's Cry would spend his entire stallion career there. The sire of 63 black-type winners (44 group), his best runner was versatile mare Lys Gracieux (Jpn), who won the Arima Kinen in 2019, as well as the G1 Cox Plate, G1 Takarazuka Kinen, and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Of his 11 top-tier winners, G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and G1 Yasuda Kinen hero Just A Way (Jpn) also traveled to the deserts of Dubai, and left with a victory in the G1 Dubai Duty Free.
Stateside, his son Yoshida (Jpn) is one of two stakes winners from just four to race. An ¥94,000,000 (£578,299/€653,571/ $696,836) purchase out of the JRHA Select Yearling Sale, the young sire won the GI Woodward S. on dirt and the GI Turf Classic S. on turf. Currently a resident of WinStar Farm, his first 2-year-olds run this year.
Added Yoshida after Heart's Cry was pensioned in 2020, “After retiring as a stallion, he spent his time comfortably on the pasture. I wanted you to enjoy this comfortable life for a longer time, and I wanted you to live forever, but I am sorry that it was a sudden parting. I hope you rest in peace.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the people involved in his life, the fans who supported us, and the breeders who chose us as our compounding partners. Thank you very much for your help so far. Thank you.”
As a broodmare sire, Heart's Cry is responsible for seven stakes winners anchored by Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) and G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa (Aus) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).
Heart's Cry with jockey Christophe Lemaire win the Arima Kinen | Horsephotos
Regular rider Christophe Lemaire tweeted, “Very sad to hear [of] the passing of my champ. It all started with him for me in Japan. Big thoughts to Teruya Yoshida and Shadai Farm staff. Legends never die.”
Out of the dual Japanese stakes winner Irish Dance, Heart's Cry was the best foal of his dam. A half-sister by El Condor Pasa produced G3 Fairy S. heroine Omega Heart Rock (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}). Eclipse Champion Sprinter My Juliet (Gallant Romeo) is under the third dam, as is four-time Grade I winner Stella Madrid (Alydar), GI Ashland S. winner Lilacs And Lace (Flower Alley) and GI Shuvee H. scorer Tis Juliet (Alydar) while his extended family features G1 February S. hero Nonkono Yume (Jpn) (Twining), G1 Irish Oaks victress Winona (Ire) (Alzao), and dual Grade I winner Super Quercus (Fr) (Hero's Honor).
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