Japanese Star, Veteran U.S. Sire Hat Trick Dies In Brazil At Age 19

Hat Trick, a champion in Japan and veteran sire in North and South America, died in his stall shortly after covering a mare Monday at Haras Springfield in Brazil, the South American publication Turf Diario reports.

The 19-year-old son of Sunday Silence was just kicking off the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, which begins in August. He had resided in Brazil since 2017.

Born in Japan, out of the Grade 2-winning Lost Code mare Tricky Code, Hat Trick raced for four seasons, primarily in his native country, where he took the Group 1 Mile Championship and was named Japan’s champion miler of 2005. His international sojourns included a successful trip to Hong Kong for the G1 Hong Kong Mile.

Hat Trick retired to Walmac Farm in Lexington, Ky., for the 2008 breeding season, making him the first son of North American Horse of the Year and Japanese breed-shaper Sunday Silence to stand stateside. His first runners took off quickly, led by Dabirsim, who was named Europe’s champion 2-year-old and France’s Horse of the Year in 2011.

The fast start caught the attention of the Gainesway operation, which bought in heavily on the stallion and moved him across Paris Pike to its own farm for the 2012 breeding season. Hat Trick resided at Gainesway until the conclusion of the 2017 season, when he was sold to stand in Brazil.

Though Dabirsim was by far Hat Trick’s standout runner during his time at stud in the U.S., he was also represented at the highest levels domestically by King David, winner of the G1 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park.

Also noteworthy was the achievement of Bright Thought, who set a world record for a mile and a half in the G2 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita Park in 2013, covering the distance in 2:22.72. The record stood for just a week before being surpassed by Twilight Eclipse in the G2 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where he stopped the clock in 2:22.63.

Hat Trick’s reputation in South America preceded his arrival in Brazil, having shuttled to Argentina for three Southern Hemisphere seasons in 2009, 2010, and 2012.

His Southern Hemisphere-born runners are led by Hat Puntano, who won the G1 Gran Criterium and Argentine 2,000 Guineas before moving to South Africa, where he became a Group 2 winner and sire.