Silk Justice (Japanese: シルクジャスティス, Shiruku Jasutisu; 18 March 1994 – 3 June 2019) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He recorded five wins from twenty-seven starts between 1996 and 2000, including the Arima Kinen (GI) and the Kyōto Daishōten (GII) in 1997. He is best known for his victory in the 1997 Arima Kinen, where he defeated Marvelous Sunday and Air Groove, and for his close friendship with his stablemate Erimo Dandy.
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Background
Silk Justice was a chestnut stallion bred in Niikappu, Hokkaido, by the Hayata Farm Niikappu Branch. He was sired by Brian's Time, and his dam was Yuwa Meld, a mare by Satingo. He was owned by Silk Racing and trained by Masaya Okubo at the JRA's Ritto Training Center. His cousin, owned by the same connections, was Silk Lightning, who finished second in the 1997 Satsuki Shō.
Racing career
1996: two-year-old season
Silk Justice debuted on 12 October 1996 in a 2-year-old newcomer race over 1200 metres on turf at Kyoto Racecourse, finishing 11th. He ran twice more that year without winning.
1997: three-year-old season
After three unplaced runs early in the year, he won his maiden race over 1800 metres on dirt at Hanshin Racecourse on 16 March, ridden by Yutaka Take. On 23 March, he finished third in the Mainichi Hai (GIII). He then won the Wakakusa Stakes (Open) and the Kyoto Yonsai Tokubetsu (GIII), the latter becoming the first of many rides aboard him by jockey Shinji Fujita. On 1 June, he contested the Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo Racecourse. Starting 3rd favourite, he closed from the rear to finish second behind Sunny Brian.
In the autumn, he finished eighth in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (GII) before winning the Kyōto Daishōten (GII) at Kyoto, defeating the older mare Dance Partner. He then started 1st favourite in the Kikuka Shō (GI) but finished fifth, and finished fifth in the Japan Cup (GI). On 21 December, he contested the Arima Kinen (GI) at Nakayama Racecourse. Starting 4th favourite, he surged through the middle of the straight to defeat Marvelous Sunday and Air Groove, recording his first Grade 1 victory.
1998: four-year-old season
Silk Justice began the year on 22 March in the Hanshin Daishōten (GII), finishing second by a nose to Mejiro Bright. He then finished fourth in the Tennō Shō (Spring) (GI) and sixth in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI). In the autumn, he finished third in the Kyōto Daishōten, eighth in the Tennō Shō (Autumn) (GI), eighth in the Japan Cup, and seventh in the Arima Kinen.
1999: five-year-old season
He began the year with a sixth in the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (GII) and a fourth in the Hanshin Daishōten. On 2 May, he finished fourth in the Tennō Shō (Spring) behind Special Week. He subsequently suffered a fracture on his left fetlock from fatigue and was sidelined for a year.
2000: six-year-old season
Silk Justice returned on 27 May 2000 in the Kinko Sho (GII) at Chukyo Racecourse, finishing 11th behind Meisho Doto. He was retired from racing immediately after the race.
Race record
The following table details all 27 starts of Silk Justice's racing career based on official JBIS and netkeiba records. Record current as of his final start on 27 May 2000.
Stud career
Silk Justice entered stud in 2001 at CB Stud, before moving to the Niikappu Agricultural Cooperative in 2003 and Yushun Stallion Station in 2004. In 2006, he was transferred to Hatakeyama Farm. He was retired from stud duty in 2010. His most notable offspring was Bashi Ken, who won the Nakayama Daishogai in 2010, shortly after Justice's retirement from stud.
c = colt, f = filly
After stud career
Following his retirement from stud duty, Silk Justice remained at Hatakeyama Farm where he was pensioned. He died of old age on 3 June 2019 at the age of 25.
Pedigree
Silk Justice is outcrossed within the first five generations.