Silence Suzuka

Silence Suzuka
Silence Suzuka, November 1, 1998
SireSunday Silence
GrandsireHalo
DamWakia
DamsireMiswaki
SexStallion
Foaled(1994-05-01)May 1, 1994
DiedNovember 1, 1998(1998-11-01) (aged 4)
CountryJapan
ColourChestnut
BreederInahara Bokujho
OwnerKeiji Nagai
TrainerMitsuru Hashida
Record16: 9-1-0
Earnings455,984,000 Yen
Major wins
Takarazuka Kinen (1998)
Mainichi Okan (1998)
Kinko Sho (1998)
Nakayama Kinen (1998)
Kokura Daishoten (1998)
Awards
JRA Special Award (1998)
Last updated on December 18, 2025

Silence Suzuka (Japanese: サイレンススズカ; May 1, 1994 – November 1, 1998) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He is known for winning the 1998 Takarazuka Kinen.

After debuting in 1997, Silence Suzuka's performance stabilized following a tactical shift in late 1997. In 1998, he won five consecutive graded stakes and secured a Grade I victory in the Takarazuka Kinen.

During the 1998 Tenno Sho (Autumn), he suffered a terminal leg fracture and was subsequently euthanized.

Racing career

1997: three-year-old season

Silence Suzuka debuted on February 1, 1997, in a newcomer race at Kyoto Racecourse, winning by seven lengths with a time of 1:35.2.[1][2] Following the win, he was sidelined with periostitis until the Yayoi Sho.[3] In that race, he was delayed by starting gate difficulties and missed the start by approximately 10 lengths, ultimately finishing 8th.[4][3] As a result, he was issued a 20-day suspension and required to retake a gate proficiency test.[5]

After winning a 500m-below-class race in April, he won the Principal Stakes to secure a spot in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).[6] In the Derby, tactical attempts to slow him early in the race was unsuccessful, and he finished 9th.[7][8] Following summer break and a 2nd-place finish in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, he contested the Tenno Sho (Autumn).[9] Despite leading by 10 lengths at the third turn after setting a high pace (1000m in 58.5s), he finished 6th.[10] This was followed by a 15th-place finish in the Mile Championship.[11]

In December, Silence Suzuka traveled to Sha Tin Racecourse for the Hong Kong International Cup. Paired up with jockey Yutaka Take, he led through a 1000m split of 58.2s and finished 5th.[12][13] Following this race, the stable decided to shift away from restraining his speed in favor of an unrestrained front-running style for the following season.[14]

1998: four-year-old season

In 1998, the stable focused on races between 1800m and 2000m. Silence Suzuka won the Valentine Stakes and the Nakayama Kinen before setting a course record of 1:46.5 in the Kokura Daishoten.[15] In the Kinko Sho, he won by 11 lengths in a record time of 1:57.8.[16] In the Takarazuka Kinen, with Katsumi Minai riding as a substitute, he defeated Stay Gold to secure his first Grade I title.[17] Following summer break, he won the Mainichi Okan by 2.5 lengths over El Condor Pasa.[18]

In the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Silence Suzuka recorded a 57.4s split for the first 1000m, leading by approximately 15 lengths.[19] Near the fourth turn, the horse slowed down and veered off track abruptly due to a comminuted fracture of the left carpal bone.[20] The injury was terminal, and Silence Suzuka was subsequently euthanized on November 1.[21]

An anthropomorphized version of Silence Suzuka appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Marika Kōno.[22]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Silence Suzuka (JPN), chestnut horse 1994
Sire

Sunday Silence (USA)

1986

Halo (USA)

1969

Hail to Reason Turn-To
Nothirdchance
Cosmah Cosmic Bomb
Almahmoud
Wishing Well (USA)

1975

Understanding　 Promised Land
Pretty Ways
Mountain Flower Montparnasse
Edel Weiss
Dam

Wakia (USA)

1987

Miswaki (USA)

1978

Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Hopespringseternal Nashua
Rose Bower
Rascal Rascal (USA)

1981

Ack Ack Battle Joined
Fast Turn
Savage Bunny Never Bend
Tudor Jet


See also

References

  1. ^ Anzai, Miho (1999). サイレンススズカ―かけぬけた天才馬 [Silence Suzuka: The Genius Horse that Ran Through] (in Japanese). East Press. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-4872571660.
  2. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ [Silence Suzuka: Beyond the Speed] (in Japanese). IPC. pp. 74–80. ISBN 978-4871984492.
  3. ^ a b Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 81–88.
  4. ^ "週刊100名馬 Vol.74 サイレンススズカ" [Weekly 100 Famous Horses Vol. 74: Silence Suzuka]. Gallop (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 2000. p. 12.
  5. ^ 追悼 サイレンススズカ [In Memory of Silence Suzuka] (in Japanese). Keiba Ten. 1998. pp. 28–30.
  6. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 93–98.
  7. ^ "週刊100名馬 Vol.74 サイレンススズカ". Gallop (in Japanese). 2000. p. 14.
  8. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 99–105.
  9. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 106–111.
  10. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 111–115.
  11. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 115–120.
  12. ^ "Silence Suzuka (JPN) - Race Record". Japan Racing Association. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  13. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 120–122.
  14. ^ Matsunaga, Ikuko (2000). 名馬は劇的に生きる [Famous Horses Live Dramatically] (in Japanese). Kodansha. pp. 28–30. ISBN 978-4062102803.
  15. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ [Silence Suzuka: Beyond the Speed] (in Japanese). IPC. pp. 133–138. ISBN 978-4871984492.
  16. ^ "週刊100名馬 Vol.74 サイレンススズカ" [Weekly 100 Famous Horses Vol. 74: Silence Suzuka]. Gallop (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 2000. p. 18.
  17. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 147–152.
  18. ^ "週刊100名馬 Vol.74 サイレンススズカ". Gallop (in Japanese). 2000. p. 20.
  19. ^ Tsuji, Toshitsugu (1999). サイレンススズカ―スピードの向こう側へ (in Japanese). pp. 176–181.
  20. ^ Shibata, Tetsutaka (2008). 伝説の最速馬サイレンススズカ [The Legendary Fastest Horse Silence Suzuka] (in Japanese). Fusosha. pp. 153–156. ISBN 978-4594056384.
  21. ^ Watanabe, Keiichiro (2004). 星になった名馬たち [Famous Horses That Became Stars] (in Japanese). Kosaido. pp. 12–16. ISBN 978-4331510568.
  22. ^ "サイレンススズカ｜ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト｜Cygames". ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.