Japan’s Select Sale starts today and features Australian, NZ presence
Group 1 winners Kirramosa, Southern Speed and More Than Sacred among the list of dams for the yearlings and foals auction
The focus of the bloodstock world turns to Japan this week, with the Japan Racing Horse Association (JRHA)’s Select Sale the latest live auction to take place amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
This afternoon will see 250 yearlings go through the sales ring at Northern Horse Park, while tomorrow features 230 weanlings. However, just like the other live auctions in recent weeks, it will take place under a cloud of uncertainty with precautionary measures in place and the strength of the Japanese market yet to be tested.
“It will be a different sale to years gone by, just due to Covid-19,” Kate Hunter, president of the Japan-based Marugai Racing, told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday. “They originally tried to cut the number of people by 50 per cent, but they only managed to cut it by 40 per cent because of the number of people that ended up needing to go. There was a slight decrease from last year in the number of registered buyers, but it’s still more registered buyers than in 2018. This year, there is also no day-of registration, so anyone who wants to bid will have to have registered already, just so they can keep an eye on numbers.
“They don’t have any kind of online bidding, but they do have two telephone lines set up, including an English line. There are no foreign buyers on site either – no foreigners can get into the country at the moment due to the pandemic. The two registered foreign buyers are John Ferguson and Sheikh Fahad, they both have agents who are based here in Japan and so they are likely to be active; Sheikh Fahad’s also selling, he’s got a very established Japan presence.”
The sale has produced many of Japan’s best gallopers including late stallions Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) and King Kamehameha (Kingmambo) as weanlings, both who will be represented by lots over the next two days, as well as Australian Group 1 winners Admire Rakti (Heart’s Cry), Fierce Impact (Deep Impact) and Tosen Stardom (Deep Impact).
Others of note to have gone through the ring in the last five years have been Group 1 winners Admire Mars (Daiwa Major), Danon Fantasy (Deep Impact), Daring Tact (Epiphaneia), Deirdre (Harbinger), Glory Vase (Deep Impact), Loves Only You (Deep Impact), Normcore (Harbinger), Roger Barows (Deep Impact), World Premiere (Deep Impact) and Yoshida (Heart’s Cry).
Given so many Japanese horses are produced and raced by the Yoshida family and their various operations, including racing clubs like U Carrot Farm (the Lys Gracieux colours), Sunday Racing (the Delta Blues silks) and Silk Racing (Almond Eye’s owners), there is always a surplus that allows for other Japanese owners to get involved.
“They are still holding on to a lot,” Hunter said. “Northern Farm is approaching 1000 broodmares alone. Between the four clubs, where they put in 40 to 50 horses each year, and private sales, as well as those they race alone, it takes up quite a bit of their stock but there’s still a lot left over. That’s why the majority of horses are offered by Northern Farm, because they have that much surplus. They always focus on buying the best broodmares wherever they are and so, now they have so many, they have to evaluate the stock and figure out where they are best placed.
“Looking at some of the reserves, my personal opinion is that there is some concern about the strength of the market. When you consider some of the pedigrees, there might be some great opportunities there, especially when you consider that on a per capita basis, there is more black type in these pedigrees than anywhere in the world.
“Most of these horses will sell for two, three, four times their reserve, even more than that at times, so it might be taken with a grain of salt but it’s something to monitor. There are at least the same numbers of buyers as there were in 2018, more even, so that might create a strong buying bench. There are some new buyers and some potential owners in there who will have licences in a year or so, that might bolster the market too.”
The most significant Australian representation comes through VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Kirramosa (Alamosa), who has both a Heart’s Cry (Sunday Silence) yearling filly and a Lord Kanaloa (King Kamehameha) weanling colt.
Kirramosa, who was sold to Northern Farm in late 2015, had her first foal – a filly by Heart’s Cry – sell to owner Riichi Kondo for ¥62 million (A$835,000) as a weanling in 2017. Named Admire Mimosa, she won an 1800-metre maiden at Niigata in May.
Also among the yearlings is the second foal of two-time Group 2 winner Lumosty (Fastnet Rock), a chestnut filly by Duramente (King Kamehameha), as well as the third foal out of New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready), a Just A Way (Heart’s Cry) filly.
Deep Impact will have what could be his final yearlings offered at public auction in Japan, with the sire only producing 20-odd foals from his final season last year. Among the 13 are half-brothers to Prix de Diane (Gr 1, 2100m) winner La Cressonniere (Le Havre), Belmont Stakes (Gr 1, 12f) victor Palace Malice (Curlin) and Kentucky Oaks (Gr 1, 9f) conqueror Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss), as well as the second foal out of Team Valor’s Grade 1 winner Euro Charline (Myboycharlie).
“I’d be surprised if any more Deep Impact yearlings go through the sales ring,” Hunter said. “He hasn’t had many foals born this year, not many more than 15, and a number of them were out of foreign-owned mares like Vegas Showgirl, the dam of Winx. Only a handful remain and they will likely be spread around the racing clubs and so I don’t think they will be commercially available. They are a rare commodity, that’s for sure.”
Hunter made mention of a couple of lots that had particularly caught her eye during inspections in Hokkaido: “I was really impressed with Lot 98 , the half-brother to Irish Oaks winner Covert Love, I think he will have a lot of people interested. Lot 176 was a real eyecatcher, a Drefong colt out of a half-sister to the dam of Makahiki. Drefong was a real powerhouse, I’m sure his yearlings will impress a lot of people.
“The Kizunas have really caught my eye, but I have to make mention of the Satono Aladdins as well. I know he was supposed to go back to New Zealand and that’s been put on hold due to this pandemic, but I think those that will have his yearlings going through the ring down there in the coming months will be thrilled with what he’s produced in Japan. Across the board, the comment has been, ‘What a great physical.’ Hopefully he can return to Rich Hill Stud once we are on the other side of this virus.”
The weanlings will see the first stock of sires like Satono Diamond (Deep Impact), Satono Crown (Marju) and Mind Your Biscuits (Posse). However, Hunter – who is yet to see the youngsters – is excited to examine the first foals by Dubai Turf (Gr 1, 1800m) winner Real Steel (Deep Impact), who stood last season at Arrowfield Stud and is due to produce his first southern hemisphere foals in the upcoming season.
“All the reports have been promising so far and I’m looking forward to seeing them this week,” she said. “It’s an exciting time of year and those I know who have been working with them have said only good things.”
Another weanling likely to receive interest is a bay colt out of Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Southern Speed (Southern Image), from the first crop of top sprinter Red Falx (Swept Overboard).
Like the rest of the live auctions that have been held in Australia, the UK and the US in recent weeks, special measures will be taken with Covid-19 in mind.
“There is a special entrance where you must disinfect your hands and have your temperature checked when you enter,” Hunter said. “They are doing different things with serving food, there are seat separators and masks are mandated – you simply won’t be allowed anywhere near the complex without a mask.
“It’s the world we live in these days, but we are just grateful to have a live auction at all.”
Today’s yearling session will begin at 10am local time (11am AEST). Click here for the full catalogue.