Silence Suzuka

Silence Suzuka

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. Following the win, he was sidelined with periostitis until the Yayoi Sho. In that race, he was delayed by starting gate difficulties and missed the start by approximately 10 lengths, ultimately finishing 8th. As a result, he was issued a 20-day suspension and required to retake a gate proficiency test.

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

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. 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.

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. In the Kinko Sho, he won by 11 lengths in a record time of 1:57.8. In the Takarazuka Kinen, with Katsumi Minai riding as a substitute, he defeated Stay Gold to secure his first Grade I title. Following summer break, he won the Mainichi Okan by 2.5 lengths over El Condor Pasa.

On November 1, 1998, during the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Silence Suzuka recorded a 57.4s split for the first 1000m, leading by approximately 15 lengths. Near the fourth turn, the horse slowed down and veered off track abruptly due to a comminuted fracture of the left carpal bone. He was transported by horse ambulance to the track clinic. Veterinarians deemed that the injury was irreparable, and Silence Suzuka was euthanized shortly thereafter at the age of 4.

Racing form

Silence Suzuka

Silence Suzuka had won nine races out of 16 starts. The data available is based on JBIS, netkeiba and HKJC.

<table><thead><tr><th>Date</th><th>Track</th><th>Race</th><th>Grade</th><th>Distance (Condition)</th><th>Entry</th><th>HN</th><th>Odds (Favored)</th><th>Finish</th><th>Time</th><th>Margins</th><th>Jockey</th><th>Winner (Runner-up)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1997 – three-year-old season</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 1</td><td>Kyoto</td><td>3yo Newcomer</td><td></td><td>1,600 m (Firm)</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>1.3 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>1:35.2</td><td>–1.1</td><td>Hiroyuki Uemura</td><td>(Pulsebeat)</td></tr><tr><td>Mar 2</td><td>Nakayama</td><td>Yayoi Sho</td><td>2</td><td>2,000 m (Firm)</td><td>14</td><td>8</td><td>3.5 (2)</td><td>8th</td><td>2:03.7</td><td>1.5</td><td>Hiroyuki Uemura</td><td>Running Gale</td></tr><tr><td>Apr 5</td><td>Hanshin</td><td>3yo Allowance</td><td>1W</td><td>2,000 m (Soft)</td><td>12</td><td>5</td><td>1.2 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>2:03.0</td><td>–1.1</td><td>Hiroyuki Uemura</td><td>(Long Miguel)</td></tr><tr><td>May 10</td><td>Tokyo</td><td>Principal Stakes</td><td>OP</td><td>2,200 m (Firm)</td><td>16</td><td>11</td><td>2.3 (2)</td><td>1st</td><td>2:13.4</td><td>0.0</td><td>Hiroyuki Uemura</td><td>(Matikanefukukitaru)</td></tr><tr><td>Jun 1</td><td>Tokyo</td><td>Tokyo Yushun</td><td>1</td><td>2,400 m (Firm)</td><td>17</td><td>8</td><td>8.6 (4)</td><td>9th</td><td>2:27.0</td><td>1.1</td><td>Hiroyuki Uemura</td><td>Sunny Brian</td></tr><tr><td>Sep 14</td><td>Hanshin</td><td>Kobe Shimbun Hai</td><td>2</td><td>2,000 m (Firm)</td><td>11</td><td>8</td><td>2.1 (1)</td><td>2nd</td><td>2:00.2</td><td>0.2</td><td>Hiroyuki Uemura</td><td>Matikanefukukitaru</td></tr><tr><td>Oct 26</td><td>Tokyo</td><td>Tennō Shō (Autumn)</td><td>1</td><td>2,000 m (Firm)</td><td>16</td><td>9</td><td>17.6 (4)</td><td>6th</td><td>2:00.0</td><td>1.0</td><td>Hiroshi Kawachi</td><td>Air Groove</td></tr><tr><td>Nov 16</td><td>Kyoto</td><td>Mile Championship</td><td>1</td><td>1,600 m (Firm)</td><td>18</td><td>10</td><td>19.1 (6)</td><td>15th</td><td>1:36.2</td><td>2.9</td><td>Hiroshi Kawachi</td><td>Taiki Shuttle</td></tr><tr><td>Dec 14</td><td>Sha Tin</td><td>The Hong Kong International Cup</td><td>2</td><td>1,800 m (Firm)</td><td>14</td><td>13</td><td>21.0 (7)</td><td>5th</td><td>1:47.5</td><td>0.3</td><td>Yutaka Take</td><td>Val's Prince</td></tr><tr><td>1998 – four-year-old season</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 14</td><td>Tokyo</td><td>Valentine Stakes</td><td>OP</td><td>1,800 m (Firm)</td><td>12</td><td>12</td><td>1.5 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>1:46.3</td><td>–0.7</td><td>Yutaka Take</td><td>(Horse's Neck)</td></tr><tr><td>Mar 15</td><td>Nakayama</td><td>Nakayama Kinen</td><td>2</td><td>1,800 m (Firm)</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>1.4 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>1:48.6</td><td>–0.3</td><td>Yutaka Take</td><td>(Rosen Kavalier)</td></tr><tr><td>Apr 18</td><td>Chukyo</td><td>Kokura Daishoten</td><td>3</td><td>1,800 m (Firm)</td><td>16</td><td>14</td><td>1.2 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>R1:46.5</td><td>–0.5</td><td>Yutaka Take</td><td>(Tsurumaru Gaisen)</td></tr><tr><td>May 30</td><td>Chukyo</td><td>Kinko Sho</td><td>2</td><td>2,000 m (Firm)</td><td>9</td><td>5</td><td>2.0 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>R1:57.8</td><td>–1.8</td><td>Yutaka Take</td><td>(Midnight Bet)</td></tr><tr><td>Jul 12</td><td>Hanshin</td><td>Takarazuka Kinen</td><td>1</td><td>2,200 m (Firm)</td><td>13</td><td>13</td><td>2.8 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>2:11.9</td><td>–0.1</td><td>Katsumi Minai</td><td>(Stay Gold)</td></tr><tr><td>Oct 10</td><td>Tokyo</td><td>Mainichi Okan</td><td>2</td><td>1,800 m (Firm)</td><td>9</td><td>2</td><td>1.4 (1)</td><td>1st</td><td>1:44.9</td><td>–0.4</td><td>Yutaka Take</td><td>(El Condor Pasa)</td></tr><tr><td>Nov 1</td><td>Tokyo</td><td>Tennō Shō (Autumn)</td><td>1</td><td>2,000 m (Firm)</td><td>12</td><td>1</td><td>1.2 (1)</td><td>DNF</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>Yutaka Take</td><td>Offside Trap</td></tr></tbody></table>

In popular culture

Silence Suzuka

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

Pedigree

Silence Suzuka

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 (FNo: 9-a)	Miswaki (USA) 1978	Mr. Prospector	Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Hopespringseternal	Buckpasser
Rose Bower
Rascal Rascal (USA) 1981	Ack Ack	Battle Joined
Fast Turn
Savage Bunny	Never Bend
Tudor Jet