by Kate Hunter
Darley sent Hard Spun to Japan in 2014 for what ended up being a one-season trip for the son of Danzig before returning to the U.S. after a banner year for his American-born progeny. At Tuesday's HBA Hokkaido Training Sale for 2-year-olds, he sired the sale-topping colt, lot 231 bought by Hong Kong's Yeung Kin Man for ¥55,080,000 ($492,910/£380,273/€440,708) and the highest-priced filly, lot 168 bought by Northern Farm for ¥22,680,000($202,931/£156,583/€181,452). Henny Hughes's first Japan-bred crop was also highly prized, and his four lots grossed ¥58,860,000.
Of the 208 lots to go through the ring, 151 sold grossing ¥1,285,092,000 with an average of ¥8,290,916 and median of ¥6,480,000. All three are records for this sale. Since the purchase of eventual six-time Group 1 winner and 2015 JRA Horse of the Year Maurice at the 2013 HBA Hokkaido Training Sale, Japan's largest training sale has been reinvigorated, showing steady increases across the board. The gross jumped from ¥879,562,800 in 2014 to ¥1,089,504,000 in 2015 and increased by ¥100,000,000 in 2016. The average has increased by ¥3,000,000 since Maurice's success on the track began, and the median was up exactly ¥1,000,000 from last year.
Another milestone for the HBA Hokkaido Training Sale was the number of foreign buyers in attendance and the top lot going to an overseas buyer. While a few foreign buyers have always made it a point to attend the sales in Japan, this year brought a record 10 separate groups of buyers from all over Asia looking to cash in on Japan's increasing international success.
In 2012, Maurice was purchased for ¥1,575,000 at the HBA Summer Sale before being sent to the HBA Training Sale in 2013. Word spread quickly around the pavilion that Northern Farm was out to buy the powerful son of G1 Japan Cup victor Screen Hero (Jpn). Eventually, Northern Farm made one bid of ¥10,000,000 and no one challenged. Maurice's racetrack success has been well documented, but the impact he has had on the small breeders and consigners of the Hidaka region of Hokkaido has been much more meaningful to the everyday horseman of Japan.
The Hokkaido Training Sale is hosted by the Hidaka Breeders Association (HBA) and held at Sapporo Racecourse just after the Japanese Oaks every May. HBA is Japan's largest sales company, hosting four sales annually: May's Hokkaido Training Sale, July's Selection Sale, August's Summer Sale, and October's Autumn Sale. Click here for the full results of the HBA's Hokkaido Training Sale.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
