There is tremendous mutual respect between Japanese and Australian breeders with some of our very best racemares now calling Japan home including recent Group I Tatts Tiara winner Palaisipan, while Japanese bred sires have made their presence felt in Australia most recently with Brave Smash (Jpn) the current leading first season sire by winners.
Is it any wonder there is always interest in the annual JRHA Select Yearling and Foal Sale (July 10 and 11) which always features a number of entries with Aussie connections.
Sydney based bloodstock agent Satomi Oka will be at that sale and also the Hokaido Selection Sale which follows on July 25 and 26 and showcases around 500 yearlings in a more affordable price range.
“The JRHA Sale is the most famous sale and the majority of yearlings are bred by Shadai group farms with the average price last year approximately AUD700K which is still expensive even if you have a licence to race in Japan,” said Satomi Oka.
“The second sale (HBA Select) average last year was AUD230K and while the horses don’t have the level of pedigree of the JRHA Select Sale, many of them appear constitutionally stronger than their more expensive counterparts that tend to be lighter framed horses favoured by Japanese owners for the JRA circuit.
“A few years ago I took HKJC representatives to see some of the yearlings in this sale and they agreed that yearlings in this sale, compare to the yearlings in the first sale, looked much stronger and better suited to race in Hong Kong, Australia or even in the US- in fact one of the graduates came within a nose of winning in the G1 Santa Anita Derby this year.”
Satomi Oka will be in Japan for inspections from July 8 and has picked out a number of ‘pedigree watch horses’ from the JRHA Select sale with an Aussie perspective.
YEARLINGS
Lot 1 Colt Kizuna x Youngstar, by High Chaparral (IRE)
First foal of Group I Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar, a half-sister to Group I winner Funstar from the family of four-time Group I winner Tofane and Group I winner No Compromise. Youngstar was bought for $1.4million by Katsumi Yoshida at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Lot 22 Colt Real Steel x Seabrook, by Hinchinbrook
First foal of Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Seabrook from the family of Group I winner Aloha , dam of Group winners Libertini and Hawaii Five Oh. Seabrook purchased privately from her Australian owners.
Lot 58 Colt Duramente x Liliside, by American Post
Half-brother to Japanese Horse of the Year and 2019 Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux.
Lot 112 Filly Lord Kanaloa x Hana’s Goal, by Orewa x Matteruze
Fifth foal from Hana’s Goal, who travelled to Sydney in 2014 and won the Group I ATC All Aged Stakes.
Lot 202 Filly Suave Richard x Admire Kirameki, by End Sweep
Half-sister to two time Aussie Group I winner Tosen Stardom and Group II winner Centelleo.
Lot 224 Colt Satono Aladdin x Penkenna Princess, by Pivotal
By a sire that has done exceptionally well shuttling to New Zealand and is more popular in our region than in Japan. He is a half-brother to SW Tricolore Bleu and to the dam of G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa from Group III winner Penkenna Princess.
FOALS
Lot 322 Filly Fastnet Rock x Special Flight, by Bel Esprit
The only entry by champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock and is from an Australian bred daughter of Bel Esprit from an international female family. Consigned by Asrun, who race G1 Australasian Oaks winner Glint of Hope (Deep Impact) and could easily be overlooked in this sale as the previous Lot 321 is the half-sister to two time Japanese Horse of the Year Gentildonna, a candidate to top the sale.
Lot 345 Filly Saturnalia x She Will Reign, by Manhattan Rain
Half-sister to Group II placed winner Danon Tornado from Champion Australian 2YO Filly She Will Reign, winner of Group I ATC Golden Slipper and MVRC Moir Stakes.
Lot 441 Colt Kizuna x Funstar, by Adelaide (IRE)
First foal of Group I ATC Flight Stakes winner Funstar, a half-sister to Group I Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar. Funstar was purchased by Katumi Yoshida for $2.7million through Inglis Online Digital in July 2021.
Lot 467 Filly Kizuna x Set Square, by Reset
Half-sister to two winners in Japan from Group I VRC Oaks winner Set Square.
Also click here for the Hokaido Select Sale on July 25 and 26 which includes yearlings by sires such as Declaration of War, Kitasan Black, Makfi, Bago and Gold Ship which Satomi sees as good candidates for buyers seeking staying prospects for Australia.
This sale produces it's share of Group winning graduates that include:
G1 winner Jack d'Or(JPN) (Maurice) 2019 approx. 430K
G1 2nd Shigeru Pink Dia (Daiwa Major) 2017 approx. AUD200K
G2 winner Deep Bond (Kizuna) 2018 approx. AUD200K
G2 winner North Bridge (Maurice) 2019 approx. AUD400K
Also keep an eye on Lot 290 in this sale, a filly by Real Steel from Australian bred Group III winning High Chaparral mare Top of My List, who was bought by Kimura Farm for $200,000 from Gooree Stud at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. Top of My List had two fillies in Australia before being exported to Japan and her Capitalist two year-old filly Portfolia showed some ability in her first trial for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott back in January.
Satomi Oka can be contacted by email satomi@bloodtock.jp or 0414 414 450
