13 Facts About Admire Vega

Admire Vega was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Admire Vega had some success in a brief stud career before dying at the age of eight.

Admire Vega was a bay horse with a white blaze and a white sock on his left hind leg bred in Japan by the Yoshida family's Northern Farm.

Admire Vega was sired by Sunday Silence, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, before retiring to stud in Japan where he was champion sire on thirteen consecutive occasions.

Admire Vega's dam Vega was an outstanding racemare who won the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba in 1993.

Admire Vega began his racing career by finishing fourth to Mayano Matador in a 1600-metre maiden race at Kyoto Racecourse on 7 November and recorded his first win four weeks later when he won the Erica Sho over 2000 metres at Hanshin Racecourse.

Admire Vega gained his first major success as he won from Matikane Kinnohosi and Osumi Bright.

On his three-year-old debut Admire Vega contested the Grade II Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho over 2000 metres at Nakayama Racecourse on 7 March and finished second to Narita Top Road.

Admire Vega won by a neck from Narita Top Road, with T M Opera O a length and a quarter back in third place.

Admire Vega remained in training as a four-year-old but suffered from ligament problems and did not race again.

Admire Vega was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion at Shadai Stallion Station.

Admire Vega had some success in four seasons at stud, siring the Grade I winners Kiss to Heaven and Blumenblatt.

Admire Vega died suddenly on 29 October 2004 at the age of eight.