While the yearling session of 2020 Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale started under cool weather with a little rain at Northern Horse Park on Monday, July 13, the market was hot all way through the day.
Hip 36, a Deep Impact filly by Teddy's Promise, was bought by Kieffers Co. Ltd. for 240,000,000 yen (US$2,242,991).
“I think this is the one which I shouldn't miss to buy today,” Masaaki Matsushima representing Kieffers said of the latest recruit. “As always, my dream is to win Arc de Triomphe and this is the one to aim the Arc in 2022.”
Mikio Matsunaga at Ritto Training Center will train the filly out of the winner of Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita.
Masaaka Matsushima has kept some horses in training in Europe recently. One of them is the British-born multiple Group 1 winner Japan, trained by Aiden O'Brien, and Matsushima co-owns the Galileo colt with Coolmore partnership.
A record price at the JRHA yearling session was established when Hip 56, colt by Deep Impact out of Forever Darling, went through the ring.
The consignment from Northern Farm, out of the G2 Santa Ynez Stakes winner, was bought by Masahiro Noda's Danox Co.Ltd for 400,000,000 yen, (US$3,738,318), which surpassed the price of Last Groove, who was bought for 360,000,000 yen in 2011, and The Rest Nowhere, who was bought for 360,000,000 yen in 2019.
“I think there are two outstanding yearlings in the catalog and this is one them,” Yoshiki Okada, racing manager to Masahiro Noda, commented about the colt. “This is big strong colt, which may not be typical progeny by Deep Impact. But he is a very good mover. I visited Northern Farm to inspect yearlings for several time and he always looked fantastic. And Mr. Noda saw him yesterday and decided to buy him. I believe he stays a mile and half, and hope he will be our Derby horse.”
“While I expected high price, as several major owners are interested in this colt, I did not expect the price more than 300 million yen.” said Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the consignor of colt. “Mr. Noda visited Northern Farm yesterday and said this is the pick of day. I would like to express my sincere thanks to owners and trainers who travel to Hokkaido under the current challenging situation.”
As expected, a hot bidding war was seen for Hip 67, colt by Deep Impact and a half-brother to La Cressoniere, the unbeaten winner of French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks, bought by Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co/ Ltd/ for 220,000,000yen, (US$2,056,075). The colt is out of the unplaced Galileo mare Absolute Lady.
“Mr. Kaneko visited our barn this morning and this colt caught his fancy”, said Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm, the consignor of colt. “I am very happy with the price of this colt and very happy with today's market, which is stronger than I expected.”
The record price of Hip 56 lived very shortly – only for two hours – as Hip 114, a colt by Deep Impact out of Sheave, consigned by Northern Farm, was bought for 510,000,000yen, (US$4,766,356), by Tetsuhide Kunimoto.
“I am involved in ownership of racehorses for more than 35 years and I am sure this is one of the best yearlings I have ever seen,” Kunimoto said of the sales topper. “I visited Northern Farm three times to inspect yearlings and went to the barn of Northern Farm at sales ground this morning, when I am determined to buy him. Price is no object with regard to this colt and I hope his quality is as high as his price.”
Sheave, an unraced daughter of Mineshaft, is the dam of 2016 Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia.
Kunimoto also says the colt will be trained by Tomokazu Takano, who trained Shonan Pandora, winner of Japan Cup in 2015, for Tetsuhide Kunimoto.
It is obvious that the second-to-last crop by Deep Impact boosted the market. From 13 yearlings by Deep Impact were offered, 12 of them were sold for 2,497,000,000 yen (US$23,281,187) in total and the average price was 208,083,333yen, (US$1.94 million).
On Monday, 229 lots were sold for 10,428,000,000 yen (US$97,227,161) in total, which is a 2.8 percent decline as compares with 2019. The average price, 45,537,118 yen (US$424,490), marked a 5.9 percent decline. The clearance rate was 92 percent, down slightly from 92.9 percent last year.
“This is amazing market” Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the leading consignor at the session, commented at the conclusion of first day. “I was actually worried about the market, because there were travel restrictions until June 19 in Japan and owners/trainers could not come here to inspect yearlings cataloged until then. I am very happy with the gross sale, which is the second-highest at yearling session, and am more than happy with the clearance rate, 92 percent. I would like to express my sincerely thanks to owners and trainers who supported the market.”
The foal session of the JRHA Select Sale begins Tuesday.
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