Retired Sunday Silence Going to Japan After All

Sunday Silence won’t be spending the rest of his days in Paris, Ky., after all.

The sale of the 1989 horse of the year to Zenya Yoshida, who had bought a 25% interest in the 4-year-old son of Halo last March, was announced Monday, and Sunday Silence will be moved to Yoshida’s Shadai Farm in Tokyo. Shadai is the longtime leading breeder in Japan.

No price was disclosed, but Yoshida paid a reported $2.25 million when he bought his share from Arthur Hancock, trainer Charlie Whittingham and Dr. Ernest Gaillard about six months ago.

Yoshida had attempted to buy total control at that time, but Hancock, Sunday Silence’s principal owner, declined. “This horse is not leaving Kentucky,” he told a reporter. “This horse will die in Kentucky.”

Because of a ligament injury in his left foreleg, Sunday Silence was retired while preparing for the Arlington Challenge Cup early last month. The 1989 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner raced only twice this year.