Sound Reason (CAN)
May 25, 1974 – 1992
Bold Reason (USA) x New Tune (CAN), by New Providence (CAN)
Family 21-a
May 25, 1974 – 1992
Bold Reason (USA) x New Tune (CAN), by New Providence (CAN)
Family 21-a
Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba, Canada, has always been a minor track, but racing there has yielded at least one national champion in Sound Reason. After working his way up to become Canada’s champion juvenile male, he added a Classic score in the Queen’s Plate at 3 and trained on to be one of the better Canadian older males at 4. His stud career took an equally unlikely twist as he ended up in New Zealand, where he became a champion sire and broodmare sire.
Race record
36 starts, 13 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, US$387,954 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1976:
1977:
1978:
1979:
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion juvenile male (1976)
Assessments
Highweighted at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 2-year-olds of 1976, 1 pound above Giboulee and Lucky North Man.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1976, 12 pounds below champion Seattle Slew.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1977, 2 pounds below champion 3-year-old male Giboulee and tied with Smiley’s Dream for second.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for sprinters of 1977, 13 pounds below highweighted Pres de Tu and One Pound Sterling.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older horses of 1978, 4 pounds below champion older male Giboulee.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1978, 12 pounds below highweighted Mac Diarmida (the American champion turf horse; a 3-year-old) and 2 pounds below champion 3-year-old male, champion turf horse, and Horse of the Year Overskate (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A big, lengthy, rather coarse dark bay or brown horse, Sound Reason had good rein length and an excellent shoulder. He won stakes races on both dirt and turf.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Sound Reason sired 122 winners (26.3%) and 39 stakes winners (8.4%) from 463 named foals. His records from New Zealand may be incomplete. The reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World credits him with 40 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Candide (NZ), Cologne (NZ), Moonshine (NZ), Senator (NZ), Sound Horizon (NZ), Soundoration (NZ)
Notable progeny of daughters
Final Destination (NZ), Lord Revenir (NZ), Sixty Seconds (NZ), So Casual (NZ), St. Covet (AUS), Tartan Tights (NZ), The A Train (NZ), Yelgun Dawn (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Sound Reason was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Stafford Farm and was trained by Gil Rowntree. He was regularly ridden by Robin Platts. He was exported to England and then to New Zealand in 1979. He stood at Riddlesworth Stud. He died in New Zealand in 1992.
Pedigree notes
Sound Reason is inbred 5x5x5 to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur, an important sire and broodmare sire. He is a half brother to Breezy Stories (by Damascus), dam of 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (USA-G1) winner Desert Stormer (by Storm Cat), second dam of Grade 2 winner Sahara Gold, and third dam of 2021 Korean champion 3-year-old male Hit Yegam, multiple Grade 1 winner Better Lucky, 2010 Fillies’ Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner White Moonstone, Grade 2 winners Casino Host and Independence Hall, and Grade 3 winners Black Onyx and Sahara Heat. Sound Reason is also a half brother to Tune Writer (by Master Willie), dam of multiple stakes winner Robyns Tune (by Robyn Dancer).
Sound Reason is out of Canadian stakes winner New Tune, one of only two foals out of the winning Victoria Park mare Song of Victory. A half sister to Song of Even (by Vimy), who won the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeders’ Stakes in 1961, Song of Victory is also a half sister to Queen’s Song (by Queen’s Own), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Backstretch (by Northern Answer); to Arctic Song (by Nearctic), dam of 1972 Queen’s Plate winner Victoria Song (by Victoria Park); and to Garden Court (by Bull Page), second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Park Dream.
New Tune and her siblings are out of Evensong (by The Phoenix), a half sister to 1955 Jockey Club Stakes winner Nucleus (by Nimbus) and multiple English stakes winner Sanctum (by Solonaway). Produced from the Blandford mare Angelus, Evensong is also a half sister to Church Bell (by Rose Prince), dam of English stakes winners Sonorous (by Sayajirao) and Bellborough (by Mossborough). In addition, she is a half sister to Fair Angel II (by Fairway), dam of multiple hurdle stakes winner Guardian Angel (by Ribot).
Last updated: June 10, 2024
Race record
36 starts, 13 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, US$387,954 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1976:
- Won Winnipeg Futurity (CAN, 6FD, Assinboia Downs)
- Won Swynford Stakes (CAN, 5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Victoria Stakes (CAN, 5.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Summer Stakes (CAN, 8FT, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Coronation Futurity (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Cup and Saucer Stakes (CAN-R, 9FT, Woodbine)
1977:
- Won Queen's Plate Stakes (CAN-R, 10FD, Woodbine)
- Won Queenston Stakes (CAN-R, 7FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Friar Rock Stakes (CAN, 6.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Toronto Cup Handicap (CAN, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd Plate Trial Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Marine Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
1978:
- Won New World Handicap (USA, 8FD, Hazel Park)
- Won Canadian Maturity Stakes (CAN-R, 10FT, Woodbine)
- Won Connaught Cup Stakes Handicap (CAN-R, 9FD, Fort Erie; by disqualification)
- Won Jacques Cartier Stakes (CAN-R, 7FD, Greenwood)
- 2nd Durham Cup Handicap (CAN-R, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Hazel Park Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hazel Park)
- 3rd Grosse Pointe Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hazel Park)
- 3rd Mohawk Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Fair Play Stakes (CAN, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
1979:
- 3rd Jacques Cartier Stakes (CAN-R, 7FD, Greenwood)
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion juvenile male (1976)
Assessments
Highweighted at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 2-year-olds of 1976, 1 pound above Giboulee and Lucky North Man.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1976, 12 pounds below champion Seattle Slew.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1977, 2 pounds below champion 3-year-old male Giboulee and tied with Smiley’s Dream for second.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for sprinters of 1977, 13 pounds below highweighted Pres de Tu and One Pound Sterling.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older horses of 1978, 4 pounds below champion older male Giboulee.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1978, 12 pounds below highweighted Mac Diarmida (the American champion turf horse; a 3-year-old) and 2 pounds below champion 3-year-old male, champion turf horse, and Horse of the Year Overskate (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A big, lengthy, rather coarse dark bay or brown horse, Sound Reason had good rein length and an excellent shoulder. He won stakes races on both dirt and turf.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Sound Reason sired 122 winners (26.3%) and 39 stakes winners (8.4%) from 463 named foals. His records from New Zealand may be incomplete. The reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World credits him with 40 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 5th on the New Zealand broodmare sire list in 2009/10.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the New Zealand general sire list in 1987/88; 2nd in 1993/94 and 1995/96; 3rd in 1986/87; 4th in 1990/91 and 1991/92; 5th in 1992/93; 7th in 1988/89; 9th in 1994/95; 10th in 1989/90.
- Led the New Zealand broodmare sire list in 2001/02; 3rd in 1994/95; 4th in 1998/99 and 2002/03; 6th in 2003/04; 7th in 1997/98, 1999/2000, and 2000/01; 8th in 1996/97; 10th in 2004/05.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the New Zealand general sire list in 1987/88.
Notable progeny
Candide (NZ), Cologne (NZ), Moonshine (NZ), Senator (NZ), Sound Horizon (NZ), Soundoration (NZ)
Notable progeny of daughters
Final Destination (NZ), Lord Revenir (NZ), Sixty Seconds (NZ), So Casual (NZ), St. Covet (AUS), Tartan Tights (NZ), The A Train (NZ), Yelgun Dawn (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Sound Reason was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Stafford Farm and was trained by Gil Rowntree. He was regularly ridden by Robin Platts. He was exported to England and then to New Zealand in 1979. He stood at Riddlesworth Stud. He died in New Zealand in 1992.
Pedigree notes
Sound Reason is inbred 5x5x5 to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur, an important sire and broodmare sire. He is a half brother to Breezy Stories (by Damascus), dam of 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (USA-G1) winner Desert Stormer (by Storm Cat), second dam of Grade 2 winner Sahara Gold, and third dam of 2021 Korean champion 3-year-old male Hit Yegam, multiple Grade 1 winner Better Lucky, 2010 Fillies’ Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner White Moonstone, Grade 2 winners Casino Host and Independence Hall, and Grade 3 winners Black Onyx and Sahara Heat. Sound Reason is also a half brother to Tune Writer (by Master Willie), dam of multiple stakes winner Robyns Tune (by Robyn Dancer).
Sound Reason is out of Canadian stakes winner New Tune, one of only two foals out of the winning Victoria Park mare Song of Victory. A half sister to Song of Even (by Vimy), who won the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeders’ Stakes in 1961, Song of Victory is also a half sister to Queen’s Song (by Queen’s Own), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Backstretch (by Northern Answer); to Arctic Song (by Nearctic), dam of 1972 Queen’s Plate winner Victoria Song (by Victoria Park); and to Garden Court (by Bull Page), second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Park Dream.
New Tune and her siblings are out of Evensong (by The Phoenix), a half sister to 1955 Jockey Club Stakes winner Nucleus (by Nimbus) and multiple English stakes winner Sanctum (by Solonaway). Produced from the Blandford mare Angelus, Evensong is also a half sister to Church Bell (by Rose Prince), dam of English stakes winners Sonorous (by Sayajirao) and Bellborough (by Mossborough). In addition, she is a half sister to Fair Angel II (by Fairway), dam of multiple hurdle stakes winner Guardian Angel (by Ribot).
Last updated: June 10, 2024