Breeding buffs will have spotted this, but it caught my interest so it might also catch yours.
Undefeated three year-old filly Daring Tact kept her record perfect when winning the Group I Japanese Oaks (2400m) on Sunday earning a place in history as the first Group I winner anywhere in the world to carry a double cross of Japanese super sire Sunday Silence.
You would think given the dominance of Sunday Silence and his myriad sire sons and broodmare daughters in Japan that there would be a growing avalanche of stakes-winners bred this way, but that is not the case.
Arion statistics show there have been 1598 runners worldwide with a double cross of Sunday Silence and 820 have won, so 51.3% winners to runners.
Of those winners, just eight are stakes-winners now headed by Daring Tact with the stakes-winner to runner strike rate a dismal 0.5%.
Danehill, who was foaled in the same year as Sunday Silence 1986, is an interesting comparison.
There have been 7004 runners worldwide with a double cross of Danehill and 3663 have won so 52.3% winners to runners.
Of his winners, 192 are stakes-winners and include 16 Group I winners highlighted by current Group I stars Farnan, Bivouac, Verry Elleegant, Alizee, Beat the Clock and the recently retired Sunlight.
The Danehill double cross runs at 2.7% stakes-winners to runners which is markedly better than that of Sunday Silence.
Danehill lived a year longer than Sunday Silence and as a result of his years of shuttling produced a greater number of foals that have excelled in both hemispheres, whereas the main body of Sunday Silence offspring and descendants have achieved their success largely in Japan.
As more grand-sons of Sunday Silence go to stud we can expect to see the statistics for line breeding to the legendary son of Halo improve and it’s interesting that three of those eight stakes-winners to date bred on the double cross are current season three year-olds.
