Japanese-bred Derby contender Master Fencer has Kentucky connections

Master Fencer will become the first Japanese-bred to start in the Kentucky Derby. But the colt, who is looking to become the first non-North American-bred to win the classic since British-born Tomy Lee in 1959, is not without Kentucky connections.

Master Fencer is from the first crop of Japanese champion Just a Way, a grandson of Sunday Silence, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Breeders’ Cup Classic and went on to become a breed-shaping sire in Japan. Just a Way won or placed in 12 group stakes while racing in Japan, France, and Dubai, with Group 1 victories in the Tenno Sho Autumn – at 1 1/4 miles – Yasuda Kinen, and Dubai Duty Free. He was also second in the Japan Cup at 1 1/2 miles.

Master Fencer is out of the Deputy Minister mare Sexy Zamurai, who was bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud. She was consigned to the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale by Taylor Made Sales as agent and was a $110,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshizawa. Sexy Zamurai, a half-sister to Grade 2 Rampart Stakes winner One Caroline, was a winning sprinter but has already produced Top Divo, a stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles and stakes-placed at up to 1 1/2 miles in Japan.

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Deputy Minister has plenty of classic connections as a broodmare sire, as his daughters have produced the likes of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches, Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman, and multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted.

Hat Trick made an impact

Sunday Silence spent his entire stud career in Japan, and the late stallion’s legacy has been continued on by sons including Deep Impact, Heart’s Cry, Stay Gold, Zenno Rob Roy, and many others.

Precious few of his sons have made their way back to the continent of his birth. The only son of Sunday Silence currently advertised at stud in the U.S. or Canada is Silent Name, standing at Adena Springs North in Canada.

Sunday Silence’s son Hat Trick stood 10 seasons in Kentucky before being sold to Haras Springfield in Brazil in 2017. However, in his time here, he sired Win Win Win, who will start in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

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Hat Trick won three group stakes in Japan in 2005, led by the Group 1 Mile Championship, and also won the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile to earn championship honors as Japan’s outstanding miler. He stood his first season at stud at Walmac Farm in 2008 and later moved to Gainesway Farm for the 2012 season after that operation purchased a majority interest in him.

Hat Trick has had stakes winners worldwide, led by European champion Dabirsim, a multiple Group 1 winner in France. His 38 stakes winners also include Osman, a champion in Ecuador; Argentinian Group 1 winners Giant Killing, Hat Mario, Hat Puntano, and Zapata; German group stakes winner Peace in Motion; and stakes winners in additional countries including Italy and Mexico.

Along with stakes winner Win Win Win, Hat Trick’s top runners in the U.S. include Grade 1 winner King David; Grade 2 winner Bright Thought; Grade 3 winners Dressed in Hermes, Howe Great, Secret Message, Three Hearts, and Tricky Escape; and stakes winners Fire Tricks, Monster Bea, Patriotic Diamond, Silent Citizen, Tricky Hat, Triple Chelsea, We Deer You, and Wolf Pack Jack.