By Daithi Harvey
HOKKAIDO, Japan-Last year the Japan Racing Horse Association's Select Sale of both yearlings and foals celebrated its 20th anniversary and it did so by posting the best set of results so far in its existence. In fact, since 2010 the aggregate at this sale has risen every year with 2017's record breaking figure of ¥17,327,000,000 ($156,248,269/£118,452,489/€134,030,613/A$211,394,384) almost three times the amount achieved in 2010. Given this trend, allied to the general strength of the Japanese racing industry with its enviable purse structure, it is not surprising that hopes are high that this positive momentum can be maintained when the first session, consisting of yearlings, comes under the hammer at Northern Horse Park today.
“At the moment the market for horses is quite hot but the future of Thoroughbred breeding is always uncertain and history shows it is always up and down,” said the JRHA's acting Chairman Teruya Yoshida. “At the moment there is strong demand for owning racehorses in Japan. There are many new buyers entering the market, a lot of them through racing clubs and syndicates. For the beginner, it is a convenient way to experience being an owner and quite a lot of people end up becoming sole owners after this experience. Japanese horses also continue to prove themselves on the world stage and people have confidence to invest in them. The catalogue is improving each year and this one looks the best one assembled so far.”
A very positive point for the future of Japanese racing was made by the JRHA's international representative Naohiro Goda who said, “We are very fortunate in this country that the younger generation are interested in horse racing. Many people in their 20s and 30s are very knowledgeable about pedigrees and so on and you can see it at racetracks also. It's not all about gambling. They are fans of the horses and the jockeys and they build up a genuine affinity with the participants.”
Strength in numbers…
Between them the Yoshida brothers' Northern Farm and Shadai Farm account for 277 (51%) of the horses catalogued over the two days and a few early offerings that could get Northern Farm off to a good start are lot 13, a colt by King Kamehameha (Jpn) out of Argentinian Group 1 winner Miss Serendipity (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}) who confirmed her international ability when winning the GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita in 2014 before adding the GII Yellow Ribbon H. at Del Mar the following year, and lot 21, a Deep Impact (Jpn) colt out of New Zealand champion King's Rose (NZ) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). She won the G1 New Zealand Thousand Guineas and was also a dual Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed in Australia before retiring as a broodmare. Her first produce is the stakes winner Satono Arthur (Jpn) who is a full brother to this colt. Lot 52 from Northern Farm is a colt by Deep Impact out of the prolific racemare Ginger Punch (Awesome Again). She won six Grade Is in America and her breeding record is headed by her daughter Rouge Buck (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}), a MGSW in Japan. Others from the farm that should command a premium are: lot 75, a very attractive filly by Deep Impact out of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies S. and GI Gazelle S. winner Awesome Feather (Awesome of Course); lot 92, a colt by Heart's Cry (Jpn) out of GI Spinaway S. winner So Many Ways (Sightseeing); lot 100, a colt by Deep Impact out of G1 Fillies' Mile winner Listen (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) whose progeny have topped this sale on two occasions already; lot 116, a Deep Impact colt out of the brilliant multiple champion and 11-time Grade I winner Azeri (Jade Hunter) whose seven runners to date are all winners, including the Grade II winner Wine Princess (Ghostzapper); lot 175, a handsome Deep Impact colt and another out of a multiple Group 1 winner in the former German star Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}) and lot 225 a filly by Kizuna (Jpn) out of Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) who won twice at the top level in America and is a half-sister to G1SW Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and the granddam of MGSW War Decree (War Front).
Shadai's lot 40 should be popular; the Daiwa Major (Jpn) colt is out of the GI Spinster S. winner In Lingerie (Empire Maker), while the same farm's lot 65 has plenty going for him both on paper and as a physical. The Mar. 1 born colt is by Screen Hero (Jpn) out of the stakes placed Sing Like Bird (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) who has already produced the G2 Flora S. winner and Grade I placed Sing With Joy (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}). Lot 104 is bred to be a star and this Deep Impact colt out of GI Gamely S. heroine Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), herself a half-sister to Makfi (GB), was taking his showings in his stride, while lot 161 is also a rare offering being a Deep Impact half-brother to a GI Kentucky Derby winner in Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
Small Draft, Big Impact…
At the other end of the scale from a draft numbers point of view is Mishima Farm, who although offering only two yearlings and two foals, their draft is sure to attract interest. Lot 60 represents the first opportunity to purchase a yearling by Golden Horn (GB) at public auction and the filly is out of Pearl Of Africa (Ire) (Jeremy), a dual stakes winning mare when trained in Ireland for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani by Eddie Lynam. Their other yearling is lot 111, a filly by War Front and the first produce of Circling (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was GSP in Ireland before achieving full black-type in America. More significantly, since catalogue publication, Circling's full-sister Easter Lily (Ire) has won the Listed Naas Oaks Trial, her first stakes win and she has an entry in the G1 Darley Irish Oaks at The Curragh July 21. Circling also has her second produce in the foal section on Tuesday, a Deep Impact filly offered as lot 340. The Mishima Farm quartet is completed by another foal whose family have operated with distinction in both Europe and Japan. Lot 415 is a colt by Deep Impact out of G3 Round Tower S winner Lightning Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). The dam's only two runners to date have both won, including her 2018 G3 Athasi S. winning daughter Lightning Quick (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), but more appropriately for the sale concerned, the dam is a full-sister to Satono Crown (Jpn), a Group 1 winner in both Japan and Hong Kong.
Foals of Interest…
A number of the choice foal offerings were mentioned in Sunday's TDN including lot 348, one of two by Frankel (GB), this one a grey colt out of Snow Pine (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and a half-brother to Japanese MGSW Tower Of London (Jpn) (Raven's Pass). Lot 401 is a colt by Black Tide (Jpn) out of Sugar Heart (Jpn) (Sakura Bakushin O {Jpn}), which makes him a full-brother to dual Japanese Horse Of The Year and seven time Group 1 winner Kitasan Black (Jpn); lot 404, a colt by King Kamehameha out of G1 Victoria Mile winner Whale Capture (Jpn) (Kurofune) and lot 422, a colt from the first crop of Maurice (Jpn) out of the European champion sprinter Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) are all likely to find favour. Finally, lot 506 from Taihei Stud Farm is a colt by Lord Kanaloa out of Bloemfontain (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The mare's four winners to date are headed by the graded stakes winners The Miniver Rose (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Belle De Crecy (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}).
The sale commences in Northern Horse Park at 10 a.m. local time.
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