Symboli Kris S, a Kentucky-bred son of deceased U.S. stallion Kris S., was named Japan's Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year. A maternal grandson of Seattle Slew, Symboli Kris S won the Arima Kinen (Jpn-I) and Tenno Sho (Jpn-I) and placed third in the Japan Cup (Jpn-I) in three of his four outings in 2003. Symboli Kris S, who also was named top older male, will enter stud at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station at age five.
Sunday Silence, a North American Horse of the Year before rewritting the Japanese stallion record books, came through with four champions: Neo Universe (3-year-old male), Still in Love (3-year-old filly), Believe (older female), and Durandal (short distance runner).
Two other stallions with a champion to their credit have close ties to North America. Timber County, an Eclipse Award winner and Preakness (gr. I) victor, sired champion dirt runner Admire Don, and Zagreb, a Kentucky-bred Irish champion for Allen Paulson, sired champion 2-year-old male Cosmo Sunbeam.
Following is a list of 2003 Japanese champions and other award winners:
Horse of the Year and champion older male: Symboli Kris S
Champion 2-year-old colt: Cosmo Sunbeam (Zagreb)
Champion 2-year-old filly: Yamanin Sucre (Tokai Teio)
Champion 3-year-old colt: Neo Univers (Sunday Silence)
Champion 3-year-old filly: Still in Love (Sunday Silence)
Champion older female: Believe (Sunday Silence)
Champion bred by a domestically-bred sire: Hishi Miracle (Soccer Boy)
Champion short-distance runner: Durandal (Sunday Silence)
Champion dirt runner: Admire Don (Timber Country)
Trainers:
Most wins, highest winning rate, and earnings: Kazuo Fujisawa (63 wins)
Best skilled trainer: Hideyuki Mori
Jockey:
Most wins, highest winning rate, and earnings: Yutaka Take
(204 wins- JRA record)
Highest earning owners:
1) Shadai Race Horse (¥3,235,732,000)
2) Thoroughbred Club Rufian
3) Sunday Racing
* Best three were horse owners clubs
Highest earning breeders:
1) Shadai Firm (¥4,818,512,000)
2) Northern Farm
3) Shiraoi Farm
* Best three are owned by Yoshida family
