Details
| Name / Japanese | Sunny Brian / サニーブライアン |
| Birth Year | 1994 |
| Sex | male |
| Earnings | 340,306,000 yen |
| Races-Win / G1-Win | 10-4 / 2-2 |
| Sire | Brian’s Time |
| Dam (Sire) | Sunny Swift (Swift Swallow) |
| Other site link | JBIS / Umanity / en.netkeiba |
| Awards | JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1997) |
All grade races
| Y D/M |
Track | Race | No. | Pl. |  |
| 1996 17/11 |
Tokyo T1800 |
Fuchu Sansai Stakes (G3) | 2 | 7 | G |
| 1997 02/03 |
Nakayama T2000 |
Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho (G2) | 4 | 3 | G |
| 1997 13/04 |
Nakayama T2000 |
Satsuki Sho (G1) | 18 | 1 | ◆ |
| 1997 01/06 |
Tokyo T2400 |
Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) | 18 | 1 | ◆ |
- Sunny Brian was a horse that couldn’t win much.
In the Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho, he finished in 3rd place and got the right to run in the Satsuki Sho. - Before the Satsuki Sho, his racing results were 2 wins out of 8 races.
He was 11th favorite.
T M King O made a pace and Sunny Brian followed him.
Sunny Brian took the lead in the back stretch.
He won the race without being overtaken by another horse from there.
It was his first G1 win.
It was also his jockey’s first g1 win. - He became the winner of the first classic race.
But many people said such as “これはフロックだ (This victory is Fluke.)” and “フロック馬 (Fluke Horse)” because all favorite horses stayed off the pace.
(The English word “Fluke” was used as a Japanese word.
He may be one of the ones who popularized the word “Fluke” in Japan.
“Fluke” is spelled “フロック” in Japanese, which is pronounced similar to “Flock” or “Frock”.) - Before the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), his jockey, Naohiro Onishi, had a plan in mind.
He later confided, “I don’t want 1st favorite, I want 1st place.”
He was wary of being off the pace as a front runner by Silence Suzuka and being marked by Silk Justice.
He went around saying, such as “I’m going to win the Derby by escaping (as a front runner).” and “Sure to win.”
When people heard him say this, they thought “He walks on air.”, “Tokyo Racecourse has a long stretch, so he won’t be able to win by escaping.” and “No need to mark him in the Derby.” - In the Tokyo Yushun, he was 7th favorite.
(Silk Lightning was exclusion, so it was changed from 7th to 6th.)
Sunny Brian bacame a front runner.
Silence Suzuka didn’t become the front runner and Silk Justice marked on Mejiro Bright, as Onishi intended.
No other horse caught up him.
He won by 1 length.
The TV broadcaster shouted “This is no longer a fluke! Double crown achieved!” - His connections aimed for the Triple Crown but he retired due to an injury.
Stud Career
- There are no successful crops.
He was a failed stallion.
- However despite the poor quality of his crops’ dam, his crops often had one or more win.
It is sometimes said from this that he may have been a good stallion.
Summary
- No one knows his real abilities as a race horse and a stallion.
Tags: Derby Horse, Turf