Japanese Champion Heart's Cry Retired to Shadai

Heart's Cry, the sole horse to beat star performer Deep Impact in Japan, has been retired from racing to stand at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido. A fee will be announced later.

A 5-year-old son of Sunday Silence, Heart's Cry defeated Deep Impact in last December's Arima Kinen Grand Prix (Jpn-I). In what would be his final race, Heart's Cry ran unplaced in the Nov. 26 Japan Cup (Jpn-I), won by Deep Impact), after which it was determined that he suffered from a throat problem.

A Shadai homebred produced from the Tony Bin mare Irish Dance, Heart's Cry retired with five wins from 19 races and earnings of $8,054,175.

Shadai also retired five-time Japanese group I winner Time Paradox for stallion duty. Eight-year-old Time Paradox (Brian's Time--Jolie Zaza, by Alzao) scored his big win in the 2004 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) and retired with earnings of $8,820,070.

Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation announced fees for three stallions standing at Darley Japan Stallion Complex on Hokkaido. Ten-year-old Fantastic Light (Rahy  --Jood, by Nijinsky II) will stand for ¥3.5 million (approximately $30,000); 6-year-old Alkaased (Kingmambo  --Chesa Plana, by Niniski) will hold court for ¥2.5 million ($21,600); and 5-year-old Rule of Law (Kingmambo--Crystal Crossing, by Royal Academy) will stand for ¥1.5 million ($13,000).

Fantastic Light, who formerly stood at Darley's main farm, Dalham Hall Stud near Newmarket, England, has sired six stakes winners.