G2 Stayers Stakes winner Silver Sonic retires from racing
Thursday, 30 May, 2024 20:02
Silver Sonic and Damian Lane after Red Sea Turf Handicap (C)netkeiba
Silver Sonic, winner of the 2022 G2 Stayers Stakes and the 2023 Red Sea Turf Handicap, was deregistered from the active racehorse list by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) on the 29th. He will transition to a new career as a riding horse at Shadai Farm in Chitose, Hokkaido, as announced on the JRA website.
Silver Sonic, sired by Orfevre out of the mare Air Thule with Tony Bin as the damsire, debuted in January 2019 in Kyoto. Despite finishing second in his first three races, he secured his first victory in his fourth start, quickly moving up to the Pre-Open Class with a three-race winning streak. However, his journey thereafter was challenging, often finishing without wins but never experiencing significant defeats.
His perseverance paid off in the June Stakes of 2021, marking his return to the winner's circle and entering the Open Class. He made his graded stakes debut in the Stayers Stakes the same year, finishing third. Consistently performing well in long-distance graded stakes, he also placed third in the Listed Manyo Stakes and the G2 Hanshin Daishoten. However, his first G1 race, the Tenno Sho (Spring), was marred by a rider fall shortly after the start, leading to his disqualification from the race. Subsequently, injuries forced him into a lengthy recuperation.
Returning to competition after nearly seven months off, Silver Sonic achieved his first graded stakes victory in the Stayers Stakes under jockey Damian Lane. The following year, he continued his success by winning the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia. Despite these triumphs, recurring leg issues persisted, and after a year-long break, his performance declined, culminating in a 16th-place finish in the Tenno Sho (Spring). A severe ligament injury was diagnosed thereafter. Silver Sonic retired with a career record of 24 starts, 6 wins (including one JRA graded stakes win and one international graded stakes win).
Silver Sonic, sired by Orfevre out of the mare Air Thule with Tony Bin as the damsire, debuted in January 2019 in Kyoto. Despite finishing second in his first three races, he secured his first victory in his fourth start, quickly moving up to the Pre-Open Class with a three-race winning streak. However, his journey thereafter was challenging, often finishing without wins but never experiencing significant defeats.
His perseverance paid off in the June Stakes of 2021, marking his return to the winner's circle and entering the Open Class. He made his graded stakes debut in the Stayers Stakes the same year, finishing third. Consistently performing well in long-distance graded stakes, he also placed third in the Listed Manyo Stakes and the G2 Hanshin Daishoten. However, his first G1 race, the Tenno Sho (Spring), was marred by a rider fall shortly after the start, leading to his disqualification from the race. Subsequently, injuries forced him into a lengthy recuperation.
Returning to competition after nearly seven months off, Silver Sonic achieved his first graded stakes victory in the Stayers Stakes under jockey Damian Lane. The following year, he continued his success by winning the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia. Despite these triumphs, recurring leg issues persisted, and after a year-long break, his performance declined, culminating in a 16th-place finish in the Tenno Sho (Spring). A severe ligament injury was diagnosed thereafter. Silver Sonic retired with a career record of 24 starts, 6 wins (including one JRA graded stakes win and one international graded stakes win).