Updates News JAPAN RACING HORSE ASSOCIATION(en)

(5th Aug 19)

DEIRDRE achieved the historic success at Goodwood in the Nassau Stakes

Deirdre did it for Japan! The 5-year-old Harbinger sired Deirdre became the first Japanese bred/based mare to win the 1980meters-G1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on August 1st. Raced third last under Oishin Murphy, the Mitsuru Hashida trainee powered home with a remarkable charge on the rail and held off the frontrunner Mehdaayih for her glorious victory.
Purchased at 2015 JRHA Select Yearling Sale for 21,000,000Yen (US$169,355 at the rate) by Touji Morita, Deirdre claimed the 2017 G1 Shuka Sho, the final leg of the Japanese filly's triple crown. Having had consistent runs across the world including 3rd in the G1 Dubai Turf and 2nd in the G1 Hong Kong Cup last year, Deirdre traveled to the desert again this term with 4th effort in the G1 Dubai Turf. She flew into Hong Kong and placed 6th in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin in April before 6th in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Deirdre's victory must boost the interest of the British racing in Japan, and her challenge is still going on in Europe.

Deirdre

Sire: Harbinger
Dam: Reizend
Sire of Dam: Special Week
F5
Consigned: Northern Farm

(9th Jul 19)

Another record breaking market at foal session of 2019 JRHA Select Sale

It was widely recognized that Hip#358, colt by Deep Impact out of Titan Queen, would be the sale topper at the foal session of JRHA Select Sale on July 9th at Northern Horse Park. The questions were who would manage to buy him and how much the hummer price would be.
The consignment from Northern Racing was bought by Riichi Kondo, who bought the sales topper of yearling session on Monday as well, and the price was 470,000,000yen, US$4,272,728, which is the fourth highest price at the foal session of JRHA Select Sale.
“My trainer, Yasuo Tomomichi, is very keen for me to buy him, which was quite unusual”, Riichi Kondo said of the sales topper. “I paid 580,000,000yen for Deep Impact colt here two year ago, which was more expensive than today’s one, though, I think today’s colt is better one at this point at Select Sale.” Yasuo Tomonichi added, “He has everything. Beautiful conformation and very good mover. And I like his head particularly, which gives me special feeling”.
Hip#400, colt by Deep Impact out of Venenciador, was bought by Masahiro Noda’s Danox Co Ltd, for 290,000,000yen, US$2,636,364. The consignment from Northern Farm is own brother to Denim and Ruby(JPN), who finished second to Gentildonna(JPN) in G1/Japan Cup in 2013.
Earlier the day, Hip#382, colt by Lord Kanaloa out of Admire Temba, was bought by Yoshihisa Ozasa, Chairman of Link and Motivation Inc, consulting company for business organizations which seek transformation, for 270,000,000yen, US$2,454,546.
“My bloodstock adviser recommends this colt strongly”, Ozasa said of his purchase. “Though I have bought some expensive foals by King Kamehameha in the last couple of years, I am here this year to find nice colt by Lord Kanaloa, which has more speed than his sire, King Kamehameha. The price was much more than I expected”.
On Tuesday, 194 foals were sold for 9,784,000,000yen, US$88,945,455, in total, which is 18.5% more than 2018. The average price, 50,432,990yen, US$458,482, which is 25.2% higher than the last year, And the clearance rate improved from 88.7% in 2018 to 89.8% in 2019. All of those figures are new records at the foal session of JRHA Select Sale.
And through two-days sale, 416 lots were sold from 455 lots were offered, and the gross sale was 20,516,000,000yen, US$186,509,091, which is 14.5% more than 2018, and it is the first time the gross sale surpassed the bar of 20 billion yen. The average price, 49,317,308yen, US$448,339, which is 14.2% higher than the last year. And the clearance rate through two days improved from 89.4% in 2018 to 91.4% in 2019. One again, all those figures are new record at JRHA Select Sale, which inaugurated in 1998.
“Market was very strong and it was really good sale, especially for Northern Farm which is run by my brother.”, Teruya Yoshida, active chairman of JRHA commented with a laugh at the conclusion of the sale. “We have received many first time visitors from foreign countries this year and I am very glad to hear that they are saying the quality of Japanese-bred horses is very high. I am also very impressed to see unproven new stallions are very popular. And I am delighted to see many new buyers, who enjoy all activities at the sales ground and it is really good for horse racing and breeding industry. I do hope the horses bought here yesterday and today will run well at racecourses.”

(8th Jul 19)

Trade was active at yearling session of 2019 JRHA Select Sale

Market at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale at Northern Horse Park on July 8th was strong and new record of gross sale and average price were established.
While there was a lot of fireworks through the day, the biggest one was seen when Hip#51, colt by Deep Impact, went through the ring. The own brother to Mikki Queen(JPN), champion three-year-old filly in 2015, when she won G1/Yushun Himba and G1/Shuka Sho, second and third leg of Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies, was bought by Riichi Kondo for 360,000,000yen, US$3,272,728, the highest price ever paid for yearling colt at JRHA Select Sale.
“This is definitely the pick of day” Riichi Kondo talked about the sale topper after the purchase. “My trainer, Yasuo Tomomichi, said I would really like to have this colt in my stable and it is my duty to buy him. The price is within my estimation”.
Hip#64, colt by King Kamehameha(JPN) out of Ginger Punch, champion older female in the United States, was bought by Toshihiko Tabata of Thoroughbred Club Lion Co Ltd for 290,000,000yen, US$2,636,364, the second highest price at the session.
“He looks like his father”. Yoshito Yahagi, trainer who picks up the colt for his client, said of the half brother to Rouge Buck(JPN), multiple Graded Stakes winner in Japan. “I believe he stays mile and half, and Japanese Derby is in my mind as the race to aim”.
Earlier the day, Hip#27, colt by Heart’s Cry(JPN) out of Sinhadipa(JPN), was bought for 270,000,000yen, US$2,454,546, by Masahiko Sugino, president of Round One Corporation, which operates indoor leisure complex, such bowling alleys, karaoke studio, arcade games, and the collection of sports activities. Masahiko Sugino made big investment on bloodstock for the first time at Chiba Thoroughbred Sale in May at Funabashi, where he bought three ready-to-run two-year-olds for 165,000,000yen in total, including a colt by Deep Impact, who was the sales topper with hummer price of 69,000,000yen.
222 yearlings were sold for 10,732,000,000yen in total, which is 11.1% more than twelve month ago, and average price, 48,342,342yen, is 5,1% higher than 2018. The clearance rate, 92.9%, is also the highest record at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale.
“Just amazing”, Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the leading consignor at the session, commented at the conclusion of the day. “Market was strong at every price range and the clearance rate is amazing. I am very pleased to see the crops by new stallions, such as Duramente(JPN), were sold well and the crops by stallions with rather cheaper stud fee were also sold well”.
The foal session of 2019 JRHA Select Sale starts at 10:00am on Tuesday July 9th.

(27th May 19)

ROGER BAROWS became the first Japanese Derby winning horse in the new imperialera of "Reiwa"

The first Japanese Derby in the new imperial era of “Reiwa” has been held at Tokyo racecourse on May 26th, and the twelfth favorite Roger Barows captured his first graded stakes success in the race and also gave his owner Hirotsugu Inokuma the first crown of the race.
Lion Lion dashed out from the outside draw to take the lead, while Roger Barows started from the most inside gate and settled five or six-length behind the lead at second under Suguru Hamanaka. Taking command at 400meters out, the Deep Impact-sired colt held off the late closing Danon Kingly by a neck and renewed the record time to 2:22:6, 0.6 seconds quicker than set by Duramente in 2015.
Winning jockey Hamanaka said: “I am very surprised with the result. A fast pace was very suitable for him, so the way the race ran was very ideal for us.
He held on strongly even after the uphill climb and ran gamely all the way to the finish line.”
Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii has sent two horses to the field, one is Roger Barows and the other one is the odds-on favorite Saturnalia (by Lord Kanaloa). Saturnalia ridden by Damian Lane missed the break and showed his burst of speed in the stretch but finished fourth.
Foaled in the Hidaka region, one of the most prolific breeding areas in Japan, Roger Barows is the first horse to run and win the Japanese Derby for his breeder Tobino Bokujo(=farm).
Winning trainer Katsuhiko Sumii said: “This is my second win in the Japanese Derby, and it was very pleasant victory. When I inspected him at the JRHA Select Sale, my first impression was he was a very good horse. In the second last out, the Spring Stakes, he could not handle the long travel from Osaka to Nakayama and did not run his race, so this time my concern about him was the long trip to Tokyo, but he was settled in. He will take a summer break and get ready for his autumn campaign. To be honest, I am ambivalent about the other one Saturnalia finishing fourth, but to win the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby with two different horses has been very honored for me.

Roger Barows

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Little Book
Sire of Dam: Librettist
H3
Consigned: Tobino Stud

(21st May 19)

Another new heroine from JRHA Select Sale

Just a week ago, JRHA Select Sale graduate Normcore claimed the champion mile race for fillies/mares. But another super heroine came into her own on Sunday.
Unbeaten Loves Only You has proven her favoritism and won the 80 running of the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo on Sunday. The Deep Impact filly from Yoshito Yahagi stable set the new race record of 2:22.8, 0.8 seconds faster than the previous record 2:23.6 set by Gentildonna in 2012 and gave her owner DMM Dream Club Co., Ltd, the racing syndication, the first graded race win and first G1 victory. Breeder Northern Farm has extended its G1 winning streak to seven from Osaka Hai in March. Owner of Northern Farm Katsumi Yoshida said: “It was an amazing victory with a record time. She displayed brilliant closing speed. The seventh consecutive G1 win was an outstanding effect for us and I am looking forward to the Japanese Derby too.”
Coming from 2017 JRHA Yearling Sale for 160,000,000yen, the half-sister to the 2016 G1 Dubai Turf winner Real Steel made her debut over 1800m at Kyoto last November and took the lower-class stakes race (1600m) and rounded off the term on Nov 25. She produced her strong late run and widened the margin to three lengths in her seasonal debut in the listed stakes race (2000m) at Hanshin on Apr 7 last out.

Loves Only You

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Loves Only Me
Sire of Dam: Storm Cat
M3
Consigned: Northern Farm

(15th May 19)

Normcore captured her first G1 triumph in record time