(16th Oct 17)

DEIRDRE wins the Shuka Sho to give the trainer Mitsuru Hashida JRA's 11 G1 victories

Running the 22nd G1 Shuka Sho, the final leg of the Japanese filly's triple crown took place over 2000m turf at Kyoto racecourse on October 15th. Over the yielding track for the first time in the race's history, the JRHA Select Sale graduate Deirdre has succeeded to be undefeated in three starts and clinched her first G1 title. Trainer Mitsuru Hashida from Ritto Training Centre won the first G1 race in the decade and 11 G1 wins in JRA overall. Deirdre, who was purchased at 2015 JRHA Select Yearling Sale for 21,000,000yen, US$169,355 at the exchange rate of the sale's day, started off the gate slow and raced fifth from last under her first time partner Christophe Lemaire. The Harbinger-sired filly closed with every stride in the stretch and gained the command at last 100meters before she pulled away to win by 1.1/4 lengths. Winning jockey Christophe Lemaire commented, "The turn of foot she showed in the stretch was amazing. We had to race further back than I had expected, but she was in top condition today and the rain might work for us." Deirdre took 5 wins in 14 starts.

Deirdre

Sire: Harbinger
Dam: Reizend
Sire of Dam: Special Week
M3
Consigned: Northern Farm

(16th Oct 17)

TOSEN STARDOM(JPN) landed the first G1 triumph in Australia

The graduate from 2012 JRHA Select Yearling Sale, Tosen Stardom finally grabbed the G1 triumph in the Toorak Handicap (1600m, turf) at Caufield on October 14th. The Deep Impact sired six-year-old Tosen Stardom showed strong stretch run and raced to victory by one length. Bought for 250,000,000yen, which was US$ 3,086,420 at the exchange rate of the sale's day, Tosen Stardom was imported to Australia last summer and has been trained by Darren Weir. The dual G3 winner in Japan is out of Admire Kirameki (by End Sweep), who is a half sister to the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn winner Tosen Jordan(by Jungle Pocket), and had yet to win in the previous six starts since he had arrived Weir's stable.

Tosen Stardom

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Admire Kirameki
Sire of Dam: End Sweep
H6
Consigned: Northern Farm

(10th Oct 17)

YOSHIDA(JPN) captures his first Graded Stakes

The Hill Prince Stakes, Graded 3 event at Belmont Park on Saturday 7th October, is won by Yoshida(JPN) and the Japanese-bred son of Heart's Cry(JPN) captures his first Graded Stakes.
Yoshida, ridden by Manny Franco, tracked leaders until the nine runners' field turned into homestretch, found tight room on the rail, and moved up to win the 9 furlongs turf race by neck.
Yoshida, bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm, is the second foal out of Hilda's Passion, winner of five Graded States in the United States including G1/Ballerina Stakes, whom Yoshida bought at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2011 for $1,225,000.
Yoshida was offered at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2014 and bought by WinStar Farm through John McCormack Bloodstock for 94,000,000yen, $758,064 at the exchange rate of sales day.
Yoshida, trained by Bill Mott, won the 9 furlongs turf maiden at Keeneland on April 9th by four lengths, which was his second start, and won LR/James Murphy Stakes at Pimlico by four lengths on May 20th. He was supported as the 2 to 1 favorite in G1/Belmont Stakes on July 8th, when he was beaten 5th. And he finished second both in G2/National Museum of Hall of Racing Stakes at Saratoga on August 4th and G3/Saranac Stakes at Saratoga on September 2nd.

(11th Jul 17)

Report from Foal session of 2017 Select Sale

Hip#362, colt by Deep Impact out of Elusive Wave, consigned by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm,
is bought by Riichi Kondo for 580,000,000yen, the second highest price in 20 years-long history of JRHA Select Sale.
"Both of myself and my trainer (Yasuo Tomomichi) are determined we have to buy this colt", Riichi Kondo said of his purchase. "I visited Northern Farm for four or five times to inspect foals and I have found this colt has everything. He is very well-balances, has nice head, and I feel an aura around him. JRHA is international market and the buyers from foreign countries are active. I don't want to let such treasure to flow out of Japan.
I have prepared to pay this kind of money to buy him, after seeing the market, which is very strong."
The highest price in the history is 600,000,000yen, paid by Globe Equine Management for filly foal by King Kamehameha out of To the Victory at 2006 JRHA Sale.
190 yearlings are sold for 8,692,500,000yen in total on the second day of 2017JRHA Select Sale and it is 27.6% increase from the previous year. Average price, 45,750,000yen, is 16.2% higher than 2016. And the clearance rate improved from 74.6% in 2016 to 86.4% in 2017. All of the gross sale, average price, and clearance rate are new record at the foal session of JRHA Select Sale.
And 406 lots are sold for 17,327,000,000yen in total through two-days session of 2017JRHA Select Sale and it is 16.0% increase from 2016. Average price, 42,677,340yen, is 11.4% higher than 2016, And the clearance rate improved from 81.4% in 2016 to 87.9% in 2017. All of the gross sale, average price, and clearance rate are new record of two-days session at JRHA.
The market is very strong and I am very happy with" the result", Teruya Yoshida, acting chairman of JRHA comments after the sale. "Japanese breeders have spent a lot of money to buy mares with wonderful race record and beautiful pedigree during the last decade, and I think the quality of Japanese-bred horses has improved significantly. And I think this year's catalogue of JRHA Sale is one of the best catalogues in the world.
And I am impressed to see new buyers are active at every price range, from the top to the bottom.
I understand we must keep working hard to improve the quality of horses we breed, but I would like to enjoy the moments today after having such a good sale."

(10th Jul 17)

Report from Yearling session of 2017 Select Sale

The first fireworks on the day is seen at early part of the yearling session of JRHA Select, which organized the first edition in 1998 and the sale in 2017 is the 20th anniversary, when Hip#13, colt by Deep Impact out of Silverskaya, consigned by Northern Farm, is bought by Masaaki Matsushima of Kiefffers Co Ltd for 260,000,000yen,
Matsushima, who is close friend of super jockey Yutaka Take, said of the purchase. "It is my dream to materialize the dream of Yutaka Take. This is the reason why I bought this yearling."
And the biggest fireworks of the day is seen afternoon, when Hip#107 went on the sales ring. After seven minutes long bidding war, Satomi Hajime manages to buy the colt by Deep Impact out of Listen for 270,0000,000yen.
"There are two yearlings which I am interested in today, but one of them scratched unfortunatey. Hence, though the price went up a bit more than I thought, I kept trying", Satomi said after the purchase. The colt will be trained by Yasutoshi Ikee at Ritto.
216 yearlings are sold for 8,634,500,000yen in total at the yearling session of 2017 JRHA Select Sale. It is 6.2% increase from 2016 and establishes the new record at the yearling session. The average price, 39,974,537yen, is 18.2% higher than 2016 and is also new record at the yearling session. And the clearance rate, 89.3%, eclipses the previous record.
"This is obviously better market than I expected", Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the biggest consignor at the market, said at conclusion of the session. "15 horses are sold for more than 100 million yen today. 8 of them are yearlings by Deep Impact and 7 of them are yearlings by another stallion. We have variation of top stallions and I think it helps to boost the market. And we have seen a lot of new players in the market and it is also factor behind the strong market."
The second and foal session of JRHA Select Sale starts at 10:00am on Tuesday 11th.

(26th Jun 17)

JRHA Select Sale has produced the Grand Prix winner.

Satono Crown has won the maiden Japanese G1 title in running the 58th Grand Prix Takarazuka Kinen, the last G1 event for the year's first half, at Hanshin Racecourse on June 25th. Purchased at 2013 JRHA Select Yearling Sale for 58,000,000yen, US$568,628 at the exchange rate of the sale's day, Satono Crown is owned by Hajime Satomi and trained by Noriyuki Hori. Under the jockey Mirco Demuro, the five-year-old horse by Marju out of Rossini mare Jioconda showed the strong stretch run to pull away for the 3/4-length victory over the 2200m-turf. Lightning Pearl, a full brother to Satono Crown, is the G1 Cheveley Park S winner.
Satono Crown has won seven races from fourteen starts and earned 571,011,100, approximately US$5,140,000.

Satono Crown

Sire: Marju
Dam: Jioconda
Sire of Dam: Rossini
C5
Consigned: Northern Farm

(05th Jun 17)

SATONO ALADDIN, grabbed the G1 Yasuda Kinen title

JRHA Select Sale graduate Satono Aladdin landed his first G1 triumph in running the 67th Yasuda Kinen, the mile event at Tokyo Racecourse on June 4th. Bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm, Satono Aladdin is by Deep Impact out of Storm Cat mare Magic Storm, who was bought at 2007 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for US$500,000 and was offered at the foal session of 2011 JRHA Select Sale. He was bought by Hajime Satomi for 130,000,000 yen, US$1,585,366 at the exchange rate of the sale's day.
Satono Aladdin traveled fourth from last but showcased the fastest fractional time among the runners over the last 600m in 33.5 seconds. The Yasutoshi Ikee's trainee has earned 423,663,000yen, approximately US$3.81 million now. His full-sister Lachesis, the winner of the 2014 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, was also graduated from the 2010 JRHA Select Sale graduate.

Satono Aladdin

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Magic Storm
Sire of Dam: Storm Cat
C6
Consigned: Northern Farm

(15th May 17)

ADMIRE LEAD scores her first G1 success in the Victoria Mile

JRHA Select Sale has produced another G1 winner at Tokyo Racecourse on May 14th, when Admire Lead(JPN) won the Victoria Mile for fillies and mares by one and a quarter of length.
Admire Lead is the third foal out of Belle Allure, who was bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm at 2010 Tattersalls December Sale for 350,000gns. The filly by Stay Gold was offered at the foal session of 2013 JRHA Select Sale and bought by Riichi Kondo for 46,000,000yen,
US$450,981 at the exchange rate of the sale' s day.
The Victoria Mile is the first Graded Stakes for Admire Lead, who finished fifth in G1/Oka Sho, Japanese 1000 Guineas, in April 2016 and was runner-up to Mikki Queen in G2/ Hanshin Himba Stakes on April 8th last time out. Admire Lead trained by Naosuke Sugai at Ritto has earned 191,252,000yen, approximately US$1.67 million now.

Admire Lead

Sire: Stay Gold
Dam: Belle Allure
Sire of Dam: Numerous
M4
Consigned: Northern Farm

(02nd May 17)

WARRING STATES(JPN) comes to the fore for German Classic

JRHA would like to congratulate Sheikh Fahad al Thani and his Qatar Racing on the success of Warring States, three-year-old colt by Victoire Pisa out of Ciliege, in the G3/Bavarian Classic at Munich on May 1st.
Warring States is one of eight foals bought by Shaikh Fahd through David Redverse at the foal session of 2014 JRHA Select Sale and Warring States, bred by Shirai Farm, cost 46,000,000yen, US$450,981 at the exchange rate of the day. The colt trained by Andrea Wohler at Germany made successful debut in the maiden over 1,600m at Hoppegarten on October 3rd, in prior to finishing disappointing 10th in G1/Criterium de Saint-Cloud on October 30th. G3/Bavarian Classic is the first start of 2017 for Warring States, who comes to the fore for G1/German Derby at Hamburg on July 2nd.

(27th Mar 17)

SEIUN KOSEI emerges as new star of sprint division

Though it was only second attempt at the level of Graded Stakes, Seiun Kosei won decisively G1/Takamatsunomiya Kinen on March 26th at Chukyo, which is one of two stakes with premier grade over 1,200m in Japan.
The four-year-old colt by Admire Moon, ridden by Hideaki Miyuki, tracked leaders and draw clear to win the third leg of 2017 Global Sprint Challenge by 1.1/4 length.
Seiun Kosei, bred by Sakurai Farm, was offered as hip number 51 at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2014 and bought by Shigeyuki Nishiyama for 13,000,000yen, US$127,451 at the exchange rate of the sales day. Observant, dam of Seiun Kosei, is half-sister to Taiki Fortune, winner of G1/NHK Mile Cup.
Seiun Kosei, who has won six races from fifteen starts, has earned 196,199,000yen, approximately US1.76 million, which is more than 13 times of his price.

Seiun Kosei

Sire: Admire Moon
Dam: Observant
Sire of Dam: Capote
H4
Consigned: Sakurai Bokujo

(10th Jan 17)

SATONO DIAMOND and MIKKI ISLE receive JRA Award

2016 JRA Awards are announced by Japan Racing Association(JRA) on January 10th and two graduates of JRHA are named as Japanese Champion in 2016.
Satono Diamond, who won G1/Arima Kinen, the year-end Championship race in Japan on Christmas Day, in addition to G1/Kikka Sho, the final leg of Triple Crown for three-year-old in Japan, is awarded as Champion Three-Year-old colt.
Satono Diamond, first foal out of Malpensa, multiple G1 winner at Argentine, is bred by Northern Farm and offered at the foal session of JRHA Select sale in 2013. The colt by Deep Impact was bought by Hajime Satomi for 230,000,000yen, US$2.254,902 at the exchange rate on the sales day, the second highest price at the session. Trained by Yasutoshi Ikee at Ritto Training Center, Satono Diamond has won six races, including four Graded Stakes, from eight starts so far and earned 674,960,000yen, nearly three times of his own price at the sale. Satono Diamond is kept in training in 2017 and the connection plans the campaign in Europe during the second half of the year.
And the title of Japanese Champion Sprinter in 2016 goes to Mikki Isle, winner of G1/Mile Championship in November at Kyoto.
The five-year-old horse by Deep Impact, trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, won G3/Hankyu Hai in February as well, and finished second both in G1/Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March and G1/Sprinters Stakes in October.
Mikki Isle, bred by Northern Farm, was offered at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2012 and bought by Mizuki Noda for 76,000,000yen, US$938,272 at the exchange rate on the sales day. The versatile Mikki Isle has won sox Graded Stakes, from 1,200m to 1,600m, and earned 529,481,000yen, nearly seven times of his own price at the sale. Mikki Isle is kept in training in 2017, to seek another success in sprint and mile division.