A colt from the first crop of Triple Crown hero Contrail (JPN) highlighted a record-breaking foal session of the JRHA Select Sale, which set a cracking pace from go to whoa.
The Contrail (JPN) foals proved highly sought after throughout the session, and when the final gavel fell, twenty foals grossed ?2.6 billion (A$28million) - an average of A$1.4million.
There was little doubt Northern Farm's colt out of the Group 1 winning City Banker mare Conviction (ARG) was the star of the show.
Contrail's former trainer Koji Maeda had the final say at ¥520m (A$5,468,000), and he will head to the barn of the champion's former jockey Yuichi Fukunaga.
"I think Hip#329 and Hip#360 are the best two Contrails in the catalogue," Koji Maeda commented after the purchase. Hence, my brother bought Hip#329 and I bought this one."
Shinji Maeda purchased the ¥330 million (A$3,469,000) colt out of the Galileo mare Bye Baby Baby (IRE).
The winner of the Group III Blue Wind Stakes for Aidan O'Brien, Bye Bye Baby is a sister to Epsom Derby hero Serpentine, Group II winner Wedding Bow, Group II winner Beacon Rock, and Listed winner Bound.
"Although I estimated the price would be 300,000,000yen or more less, I did not want to stop bidding," Koji Maeda continued.
"This colt will be trained by Yuichi Fukunaga, who was the regular rider of Contrail. He quit riding earlier this year and starts operating his stable next March."
Grand Stud bought Bye Bye Baby through Narvick International at Fasig-Tipton November Sale for $3,100,000.
The honour of the top filly of the sale went to the final foal of the blue hen Donna Blini (Bertolini), who also had the top-priced yearling filly.
Hong Kong-based Karson Ka Ching Cheng purchased Donna Blini's foal by Drefong for ¥210m, edging out She Will Reign's ¥200m Saturnalia filly for top spot.
A half-sister to the champion Gentildonna, Group III winner and Group 1 Victoria Mile runner-up Donau Blue, and the stakes-placed winner's Donna Attraente and Suleyman, the chestnut filly is the 14th, and all likelihood the final foal, of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner.
"This is my first visit to JRHA Sale. I am impressed with the wonderful atmosphere and warm hospitality. And I am most impressed with the quality of Japanese-bred foals," Mr Cheng said.
"As I missed out on her half-sister yesterday, I am happy to buy this filly. I plan to keep her in Japan and race her in Japan, though I will have to start working to find a Japanese trainer. I want to make a good start".
The first lot of the foal session was a Kitasan Black colt out of Fadillah (GB), which was a ¥380 million (A$4,000,000) for Interhose.
A winner at Haydock and Nottingham for William Haggas, Fadillah is a sister to Soberania (GER), who was runner-up in the Group 1 German Oaks and a half-sister to the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Seismos (Dalakhani and Group III winner Samba Brazil (Teofilo)
Fadillah was bought by Katsumi Yoshida at Tattersalls December Sale in 2018 for 700,000gns.
Mr Cheng also bought Shadai Farm's colt by Lord Kanaloa out of Contested for ¥200 million.
Overall, 219 of the 231 lots offered were sold for 14,780,000,000yen in total, which is 14.6% increase from 2022.
Average price, 67,488,584yen, is 17.8% increase from 2022 and median price, 41,000,000yen, is 2.5% increase from 2022.
The gross, average price, and median price are new record at foal session, while the clearance rate, 94.8%, is the second best at the foal session, after 2022, when it was 95.3%.
During two days of 2023 JRHA Select Sale, 435 lots, from 453 lots offered, were sold for 28,145,000,000yen, which is 9.2% increase from 2022. Average price, 64,701,149yen, is 12.3% increase from 2022 and clearance rate, 96.0% in 2023, bettered 95.3% in 2022. The gross, average, and clearance rate set new records at JRHA Select Sale.
"I feel there is a strong passion for horse racing in this country", Teruya Yoshida, active chairman of the Japan Racing Horse Association, commented at the conclusion of the sale.
"The first crop by Contrail is obviously one of the factors which boosted the market. I am impressed that his owner and the breeder were so supportive."
"We have many young successful entrepreneurs as new players in this game. Despite being expensive, they are very keen to acquire young talented horses."
