15 Facts About Neo Universe

Neo Universe was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Neo Universe was retired from racing after winning once in 2004 and became a successful sire of winners.

Neo Universe was a bay horse standing 16.2 hands high with a white star and white socks on his hind feet, bred and raced by the Shadai Farm.

Neo Universe was sired by Sunday Silence, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, before retiring to stud in Japan where he was champion sire for thirteen consecutive seasons.

Neo Universe's dam was the British-bred mare Pointed Path, making him a close relative of the European Group One winners Helen Street and Shamardal.

Neo Universe began his racing career in November 2002 when he defeated seventeen opponents in a seven furlong maiden race at Kyoto Racecourse with Yuichi Fukunaga as his jockey.

Neo Universe began his three-year-old season with five consecutive victories.

The race attracted a crowd of 134,000 and Neo Universe was made clear favourite in a field of eighteen.

Four weeks later, Neo Universe was matched against older horses for the first time when he was one of seventeen runners invited to contest the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse.

Neo Universe finished third behind That's The Plenty and Lincoln, beaten three quarters of a length and a neck.

Neo Universe finished fourth behind Tap Dance City, That's The Plenty and Symboli Kris S, well ahead of the Breeders' Cup winners Islington and Johar as well as the Cox Plate winner Fields of Omagh.

Neo Universe remained in training as a four-year-old but made only two appearances.

Neo Universe sustained an injury to his right foreleg and was retired from racing at a ceremony at Sapporo Racecourse in September 2004.

Neo Universe was retired to become a breeding stallion at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido.

Neo Universe has become a leading sire in Japan, His first crop of foals produced Logi Universe and Unrivaled while his second included the Arima Kinen and Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa.