Sunshine Forever (USA)
March 14, 1985 – January 7, 2014
Roberto (USA) x Outward Sunshine (USA), by Graustark (USA)
Family 4-r
March 14, 1985 – January 7, 2014
Roberto (USA) x Outward Sunshine (USA), by Graustark (USA)
Family 4-r
The beautifully bred Sunshine Forever showed virtually nothing when started out on dirt, but when switched to turf, he was a different horse. After breaking his maiden in his second try on the grass, he put together an impressive resume as a staying turf runner that landed him an Eclipse Award at 3. Nagging physical problems hampered him during his 4-year-old season and he showed only flashes of his previous form before retiring to stud, where he was not a success.
Race record
23 starts, 8 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$2,084,800
1988:
1989:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (1988)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1988, 3 pounds below highweighted Great Communicator (a 5-year-old).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1989, 8 pounds below champion Steinlen.
As an individual
A handsome, imposing dark bay horse, Sunshine Forever stood 16.2 hands. He was well-balanced but was back at the knees. He could handle any type of course but was at his best on firm going. He had something of the dominant Roberto disposition and was rather aloof toward humans but liked having his tongue pulled.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Sunshine Forever sired 250 winners (54.2%) and 7 stakes winners (1.5%) from 461 named foals. In his book Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books), John Sparkman credits Sunshine Forever with 10 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Sunshine Street (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sunshine Forever was bred by John Galbreath and owned by Galbreath's daughter Joan G. Phillips (KY), who raced the colt in the colors of her family's Darby Dan Farm. Sunshine Forever was trained by John M. Veitch. The horse entered stud in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm in 1990 and was sent to Japan in 1995. In Japan, he stood at Hayata Farm and Nitta Farm. Sunshine Forever was repatriated to the United States in late 2004 and spent the remainder of his life as a pensioner at the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky. He was found dead in his paddock in January 2014.
Pedigree notes
Sunshine Forever is inbred 5x5 to four-time American champion sire and 12-time American champion broodmare sire Sir Gallahad III. He is a full brother to Our Dear Sue, dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Don't Read My Lips (by Turkoman) and second dam of 2014 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner V. E. Day, multiple Grade 3 winner Hotstufanthensome, and Grade 3 winner Silver Charades. He is a half brother to Sunshine Above (by Turkoman), dam of Grade 3 winner Aavelord (by Lord Avie), second dam of Grade 3 winner Xtra Luck, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Ducduc; to Dorothy Dear (by Foolish Pleasure), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Deer Lake (by Meadowlake); and to Happy Sunshine (by Secreto), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winners Harry Potter and Hunky and third dam of 2005 Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (ARG-G1) winner Norton and multiple Peruvian Group 3 winners Navarrese and Craps.
Sunshine Forever is out of stakes-placed Outward Sunshine, a full sister to Grade 3 winner Java Moon (second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Memories of Silver and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Winter Memories), stakes winner Sylvan Place and Grade 2-placed Kelley's Day, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and successful sire Brian's Time (by Roberto) and listed stakes winner Ellie's Moment (by Kris S.) and second dam of 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Lane's End (USA-G1) winner Time and Motion. Outward Sunshine is also a full sister to Grade 1-placed Autumn Glory, dam of French Group 3 winners Glorify (by Nijinsky II) and Doree (by Stop the Music) and second dam of European and American champion Ryafan, and to stakes producer Golden Lamb. In addition, Outward Sunshine is a half sister to 1969 Dwyer Handicap winner Gleaming Sunshine (by Never Bend), to stakes-placed stakes producer Meadow Stream (by Native Dancer), and to On the Trail (by Olympia), dam of 1982 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Andover Way (by His Majesty; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and important sire Dynaformer, by Roberto), Grade 2 winner and useful sire Darby Creek Road (by Roberto), and stakes winner Regal Road (by Graustark), dam of stakes winners Rampart Road (by Dixieland Band) and Fappiano Road (by Fappiano). Regal Road is also the third dam of 2001 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Monarchos, multiple Argentine Group 1 winner New Real Deal, 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Energia Davos, and Grade 2 winner Two Trail Sioux.
Outward Sunshine, in turn, is out of Darby Dan foundation mare Golden Trail (by Hasty Road—Sunny Vale, by Eight Thirty), a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winner Grand Canyon (by Rico Monte) and stakes winner Valley (by Ardan). Golden Trail is also a half sister to Secret Valley (by Priam II), dam of Grade 2 winner Triumphant (by Warfare) and stakes winner Make It Easy (by Reneged), second dam of 1990 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner Home At Last and Grade 3 winner Niner's Home, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Spring Beauty (by Full Pocket). Another half sister to Golden Trail, Fun 'n Sun (by Porterhouse) is the dam of 1985 Derby Mexicano (MEX-G1) winner Shining Sun (by Advocator) and the second dam of multiple Mexican Group 3 winner Nacionalista. A third of Golden Trail's half sisters, Dusky Duchess (by Warfare), is the dam of stakes winner Dusky Duke (by Indian Emerald).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Old Friends in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 31, 2024
Race record
23 starts, 8 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$2,084,800
1988:
- Won Budweiser International Stakes (USA-G1, 10FT, Laurel)
- Won Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won Man o' War Stakes (USA-G1, 11FT, Belmont)
- Won Hill Prince Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1, 12FT, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Sword Dancer Handicap (USA-G1, 12FT, Saratoga)
- 2nd Saranac Stakes (USA-G2, 8FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Arlington Million Stakes (USA-G1, 10FT, Woodbine)
1989:
- 2nd Canadian Turf Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Fort Marcy Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Aqueduct)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (1988)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1988, 3 pounds below highweighted Great Communicator (a 5-year-old).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1989, 8 pounds below champion Steinlen.
As an individual
A handsome, imposing dark bay horse, Sunshine Forever stood 16.2 hands. He was well-balanced but was back at the knees. He could handle any type of course but was at his best on firm going. He had something of the dominant Roberto disposition and was rather aloof toward humans but liked having his tongue pulled.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Sunshine Forever sired 250 winners (54.2%) and 7 stakes winners (1.5%) from 461 named foals. In his book Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books), John Sparkman credits Sunshine Forever with 10 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Sunshine Street (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sunshine Forever was bred by John Galbreath and owned by Galbreath's daughter Joan G. Phillips (KY), who raced the colt in the colors of her family's Darby Dan Farm. Sunshine Forever was trained by John M. Veitch. The horse entered stud in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm in 1990 and was sent to Japan in 1995. In Japan, he stood at Hayata Farm and Nitta Farm. Sunshine Forever was repatriated to the United States in late 2004 and spent the remainder of his life as a pensioner at the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky. He was found dead in his paddock in January 2014.
Pedigree notes
Sunshine Forever is inbred 5x5 to four-time American champion sire and 12-time American champion broodmare sire Sir Gallahad III. He is a full brother to Our Dear Sue, dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Don't Read My Lips (by Turkoman) and second dam of 2014 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner V. E. Day, multiple Grade 3 winner Hotstufanthensome, and Grade 3 winner Silver Charades. He is a half brother to Sunshine Above (by Turkoman), dam of Grade 3 winner Aavelord (by Lord Avie), second dam of Grade 3 winner Xtra Luck, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Ducduc; to Dorothy Dear (by Foolish Pleasure), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Deer Lake (by Meadowlake); and to Happy Sunshine (by Secreto), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winners Harry Potter and Hunky and third dam of 2005 Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (ARG-G1) winner Norton and multiple Peruvian Group 3 winners Navarrese and Craps.
Sunshine Forever is out of stakes-placed Outward Sunshine, a full sister to Grade 3 winner Java Moon (second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Memories of Silver and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Winter Memories), stakes winner Sylvan Place and Grade 2-placed Kelley's Day, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and successful sire Brian's Time (by Roberto) and listed stakes winner Ellie's Moment (by Kris S.) and second dam of 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Lane's End (USA-G1) winner Time and Motion. Outward Sunshine is also a full sister to Grade 1-placed Autumn Glory, dam of French Group 3 winners Glorify (by Nijinsky II) and Doree (by Stop the Music) and second dam of European and American champion Ryafan, and to stakes producer Golden Lamb. In addition, Outward Sunshine is a half sister to 1969 Dwyer Handicap winner Gleaming Sunshine (by Never Bend), to stakes-placed stakes producer Meadow Stream (by Native Dancer), and to On the Trail (by Olympia), dam of 1982 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Andover Way (by His Majesty; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and important sire Dynaformer, by Roberto), Grade 2 winner and useful sire Darby Creek Road (by Roberto), and stakes winner Regal Road (by Graustark), dam of stakes winners Rampart Road (by Dixieland Band) and Fappiano Road (by Fappiano). Regal Road is also the third dam of 2001 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Monarchos, multiple Argentine Group 1 winner New Real Deal, 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Energia Davos, and Grade 2 winner Two Trail Sioux.
Outward Sunshine, in turn, is out of Darby Dan foundation mare Golden Trail (by Hasty Road—Sunny Vale, by Eight Thirty), a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winner Grand Canyon (by Rico Monte) and stakes winner Valley (by Ardan). Golden Trail is also a half sister to Secret Valley (by Priam II), dam of Grade 2 winner Triumphant (by Warfare) and stakes winner Make It Easy (by Reneged), second dam of 1990 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner Home At Last and Grade 3 winner Niner's Home, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Spring Beauty (by Full Pocket). Another half sister to Golden Trail, Fun 'n Sun (by Porterhouse) is the dam of 1985 Derby Mexicano (MEX-G1) winner Shining Sun (by Advocator) and the second dam of multiple Mexican Group 3 winner Nacionalista. A third of Golden Trail's half sisters, Dusky Duchess (by Warfare), is the dam of stakes winner Dusky Duke (by Indian Emerald).
Fun facts
- Sunshine Forever was the first stallion retired from breeding duty in Japan to be pensioned at Old Friends.
- At Old Friends, Sunshine Forever's pasture buddies were Grade 1 winners Awad and Kiri's Clown, who had nearby paddocks. The three routinely spent hours together, each in the corner of his paddock closest to the other two.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Old Friends in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 31, 2024