Lys Gracieux Seals Strong 2019 for Stallion Heart's Cry
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Photo: Courtesy of Shadai Stallion Station
Heart's Cry at Shadai Stallion Station
Victory as a stallion in an event that provided his most memorable success as a racehorse capped what has been a wonderful year for Heart's Cry.
It was back in the Arima Kinen Grand Prix (G1) of 2005 that Heart's Cry snapped the winning streak of Japanese sensation Deep Impact as he held off the long odds-on favorite by half a length, having been pipped by Alkaased in the Japan Cup (G1) a month earlier.
Heart's Cry went on to run away with the Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) and claim an honorable third behind Hurricane Run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (G1).
Daughter Lys Gracieux has become his most significant money-earner to date, having also collected the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) in June as well as the Oct. 26 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) in Australia. The 5-year-old, bred by Northern Farm out of French listed winner Liliside, is now expected to be retired to the paddocks.
Lys Gracieux simply blew away an all-star field at Nakayama that not only included Almond Eye but Heart's Cry's Japan Cup hero Suave Richard, who finished well down the field.
The sire was also represented by 2017 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand, who could not build on thirds in the past two renewals of the Arima Kinen but performed with credit in sixth.
Due to stand at Shadai Stallion Station at an elevated ¥10,000,000 next year, the son of Sunday Silence has last week's Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) winner Salios to take him into 2020.
His progeny to date have also included crack miler Just a Way, who topped the world Thoroughbred rankings in early 2014, and 2018 Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Yoshida , who will enter stud at WinStar Farm in 2020.