Six of the best for Sunday Silence
Courtesy Tony Arrold, Thoroughbreds, The Australian - 22 August 2005
Sunday Silence missed his biggest win in Europe when Zenno Rob Roy, Japan’s reigning Horse of the Year, was beaten by a neck in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes (2100m) at York.
Even success at York would not have measured up against the amazing feat on the home front two days beforehand by the legendary Japanese stallion. Sunday Silence has not stopped setting new marks throughout his magnificent stud career in Japan but his performance in the Group 3 Queen Stakes staggered even his most ardent fans.
For this 1800m feature on grass at Sapporo, Sunday Silence had the odds heavily in his favour, fielding eight of the 14 fillies and mares that took part.
So it proved, with not only the winner, but all first fix being daughters of the now-deceased son of Halo.
At York, Zenno Roy Roy’s connections were downcast with his narrow loss, believing that the shifting ground had affected the horse¹s confidence to stride out on his European debut.
Although Zenno Rob Roy has an entry in the Irish Champion Stakes (2000) next month as well as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2000m) early in October, his main mission is the year-end Group 1 treble (Tenno Sho-Japan Cup-Arima Kinen) he won in Japan last year.
Sunday Silence, with a handful of runners in Europe, notched a Group 3 win thanks to Layman at Salisbury, England, adding to his record from a handful of European runners.