'A great horse forever etched in our hearts' - death of Japanese champion Admire Moon aged 23

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Admire Moon, a three-time Group/Grade 1 winner and top-level-producing sire, has died at the age of 23 due to illness. 

Darley Japan posted on X: "After retiring as a stallion in 2024, Admire Moon, who was spending his remaining years at Dale, passed away peacefully due to illness the other day. During his racing career, he secured three Grade 1 victories at home and abroad, including the Japan Cup and the Dubai Duty Free. 

"The vivid races bring back to life his ferocious fighting spirit. Yet, in a way that's unimaginable from that, in everyday life, he was an incredibly gentle and obedient gentleman. A great horse forever etched in our hearts. May you rest in peace."

Admire Moon: Japanese champion and top-level-winning sire has died aged 23Credit: Edward Whitaker

The son of End Sweep was crowned 2007 Japanese Horse of the Year after landing victories in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba, the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin and then the Japan Cup in Tokyo on his final racecourse appearance. In that Grade 1 win, he defeated top-class rivals including Vodka, Meisho Samson and Fusaichi Pandora. Overall, Admire Moon won ten of his 17 starts. 

He retired to Darley Japan's base in 2008 and among his leading progeny is Fine Needle, a winner of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and Sprinters Stakes for Godolphin who now stands at Darley Japan.

Another of Admire Moon's leading offspring is fellow Takamatsunomiya Kinen scorer Seiun Kosei, as well as Hakusan Moon, who defeated champion sprinter and future top-class sire Lord Kanaloa in the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes and was runner-up to that same rival in the Sprinters Stakes on his following start. 

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