Zenno Rob Roy Heads Japanese Champions

Zenno Rob Roy Heads Japanese Champions
Photo: Associated Press
Zenno Rob Roy, Japan's Horse of the Year, winning the Japan Cup.
Zenno Rob Roy, whose three group I wins included a score in the Japan Cup, was named Horse of the Year and champion older male by the Japan Racing Association. A son of deceased Japanese stallion Sunday Silence, Zenno Rob Roy closed out the year with earnings of $8,994,210 from two years of racing.

Zenno Rob Roy was one of five champions sired by Sunday Silence, who was 1989 North American Horse of the Year. Sunday Silence's other champions were Shonan Peintre, 2-year-old filly; Dance in the Mood, 3-year-old filly; Admire Groove, older female; and Durandal, sprinter.

Sunday Silence's son, Dance in the Dark, chipped in with a champion. His son, Delta Blues, was named best runner sired by a domestically-bred stallion.

Four other sires of champions have ties to North America. Kingmambo, who stands at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., was represented by 3-year-old male King Kamehameha. Chief Bearhart, an Eclipse and Sovereign Awards winner, sired 2-year-old male Meiner Recolte. Timber County, an Eclipse winner, sired dirt runner Admire Don. Zagreb, a Kentucky-bred, was represented by Cosmo Bulk, who was voted a special award.

The JRA also named Kazuo Fujisawa top trainer and Yutaka Take top jockey.

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