Silver Train dies of colic in Brazil

Silver Train, winner of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, died suddenly on Dec. 29 after suffering a bout of colic while shuttling back to the U.S. from Brazil.

The 11-year-old son of Old Trieste had recently completed his second Southern Hemisphere season at Siquiera & Mercadante in Parana, Brazil, and was returning to Northview PA in Peach Bottom, Pa. Owned by HnR Horseracing LLC, Silver Train was to stand the 2014 season at Northview for $5,000.

"This is truly a solemn day with the unexpected passing of such a promising young sire, it is with a heavy heart we look towards the new year,” said Carl McEntee, agent for HnR Horseracing.

Silver Train has sired four crops of racing age. His leading progeny include Grade 3 winner J J’s Lucky Train, stakes winner and 2012 Preakness fourth Zetterholm, Scandinavian champion and Italian stakes winner Silver Ocean, Mexican stakes winners Enaitz and King Tomate, and Panamanian champion Lady Oil.

Silver Train was purchased by HnR Horseracing in 2011, after beginning his stallion career at Vinery in Lexington, Ky., and stood his first season as a Pennsylvania stallion in 2012.

“Silver Train was all class, the consummate professional and will be sorely missed,” said HnR Horseracing majority shareholder Hank Nothhaft. “Given his proclivity for producing winners, we expected big things from Silver Train for years to come. Given our expansive plans for him in 2014, his sudden passing was a real shock.”

On the racetrack, Silver Train won six of 17 career starts for earnings of $1,259,345, highlighted by his win in the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Belmont Park. The following year, he added the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap to his résumé. He also won two Grade 2 stakes.

Bred in Kentucky by Joe Mulholland Sr., Joe Mulholland Jr., and John Mulholland, Silver Train was out of the stakes-placed Cormorant mare Ridden in Thestars, who produced seven winners from as many foals.