Heart’s Cry has died at the age of 22, the Japanese Racing Authority (JRA) announced on Friday morning.

The son of Sunday Silence had stood at Shadai Stallion Station since his retirement from racing in 2008, siring luminaries such as Lys Gracieux, Just A Way, Do Deuce, Cheval Grand and Suave Richard.

Lys Gracieux’s wins at the highest level included victories in the Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth II Cup, while Just A Way’s big-race haul took in the Dubai Duty Free as well as the Tenno Sho and Yasuda Kinen. Heart’s Cry was a top-class performer on the track, shelving his maiden tag at three before a win in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai that spring.

He defeated none other than the mighty Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen at four, and at five struck in the Dubai Sheema Classic as well as finishing third to Hurricane Run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot that summer.