Japanese champion and international sire Hat Trick died suddenly Aug. 3 shortly after covering a mare at Haras Springfield in Parana, Brazil, where he's stood since 2017, according to Turf Diario. The son of Sunday Silence was 19.
Bred in Japan by Oiwake Farm, Hat Trick raced for U Carrot Farm and produced his biggest performances at 4. He began 2005 with consecutive wins in the Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai Handicap (G3) and Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3). He would lose form in the middle part of the year but find his stride in grand style by late fall with victories in the Mile Championship Stakes (G1) at Kyoto Race Course and land an even bigger prize in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, a Hong Kong-recognized group 1 at the time. He was named Japan's champion miler in 2005.
Hat Trick would not win another race at 5 or 6, which opened the door for Johnny T.L. Jones III's Walmac International to buy the stallion prospect from Shadai Farm in 2007 and launched his stallion career at $15,000 in 2008.
Hat Trick would become a regular shuttler, going to Independent Stallion Station in Australia for one season, and then to to Argentina in 2009-12. In 2011, Gainesway bought a significant interest in the then-freshman sire stallion, who sired undefeated European champion 2-year-old colt Dabirsim. Hat Trick stood for six seasons at Gainesway before he was sold to a Brazilian syndicate that included Haras Springfield and Haras Santa Rita de Serra.
To date, Hat Trick had sired 34 black-type winners that include 16 graded/group winners and three champions. His top performers included Argentine group 1 winner and champion miler Hat Mario, grade 1 turf winner King David, and multiple turf graded stakes winners Tricky Escape, Secret Message, and Bright Thought, and 14-time Argentine stakes winner Twice Try.
Hat Trick's progeny have earned more than $24.6 million and averaged $44,632 per starter.
