(13th Dec 21)

LOVES ONLY YOU says “Sayonara” with the Cup

The world traveler Loves Only You (JPN) has ended her racing career with the thrilling finish in Sunday’s HK$ 30million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m, turf) at Sha Tin.
“After she flew into Hong Kong via Anchorage, she suffered a travel pain a bit which concerned me, however, I do nothing but respect my stable staffs who have done their best efforts to recover her form and Loves Only You herself with her great achievement,” Her trainee Yoshito Yahagi said. “It is very sad that she has been retired, but at the same time I really look forward to seeing her baby near future. So grateful as a trainer to spend with this great mare. Thank you very much for all the support for her through her career.”
“I am very proud of her,” said jockey Yuga Kawada. “She’s given me two big presents. She is the best female horse I have ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother.”

Bought by DMM Dream Club Co at 2017 JRHA Select Yearling Session for 160,000,000yen, Loves Only You succeeded to be undefeated in four starts since debut and marked her first G1 at the Japanese Oaks (2400m) in 2019. She did not taste any success in five starts last term and came back to the winner’s circle in the G2 Kyoto Kinen in February as her seasonal bow this term. Then, she flew to Dubai for 3rd place in the Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) and to Hong Kong for winning the QE II Cup (2000m) in spring campaign. On her return in Japan, she ran 2nd in the 2000m-G2 Sapporo Kinen in August before she landed the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in October. She is by Deep Impact out of Storm Cat mare Loves Only Me, and has won 8 in 16 runs.

Loves Only You

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Loves Only Me
Sire of Dam: Storm Cat
F5
Consigned: Northern Farm

(13th Dec 21)

GLORY VASE won the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase again for Japan!

The pair of Glory Vase(JPN) and the Hong Kong’s champion jockey Joao Moreira claimed the second LONGINES Hong Kong Vase success at Sha Tin on Sunday, 13th. The 6-year-old son of Deep Impact won the race two years ago when he delivered the impressive turn of speed to widen the margin to 3.1/2 lengths. This year, the Tomohito Ozeki-trained horse burst his speed from second last of the field and displayed his trademark acceleration in the stretch for 1-length win, clocking 2:27.07.
“I had a smooth run, going to the fence and saving ground. I just made sure I got into the clear and I know he’s a very strong horse at the finish and there was not a fight,” said “Magic Man” Moreira. “He has proven to be the best horse today.”
“Last time when he ran the Hong Kong Vase, he lost weight in the different surroundings at Sha Tin, but this time he was very relaxed, kept his good form and was really fit going into the race. Joao gave a very clever and brave ride to him,” said trainer Ozeki.
Glory Vase was a 2016 JRHA Select Yearling Session graduate and bought for 52,000,000Yen. Bred by Lake Villa Farm in Hokkaido and owned by Silk Racing Co., Ltd, the dark bay horse won the maiden race (1800m, turf) at Nakayama in October 2017 and succeeded in winning his first long waited graded stakes at the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai (2400m) in January 2019 before finishing runner-up in the G1 Tenno Sho Spring (3200m) in April. He captured his first top-level title in the Hong Kong Vase in the end of the season. Starting off 2020 in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m), but he never liked the rain affected track and no match for the winner. On his return in October, he showed his run and won the G2 Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) before rounding off the term with 5th place in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m). Kicked off this season at the G2 Kinko Sho when he placed 4th in March, he ran 2nd in the following G1 QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April and finished 0.3 seconds third in the G2 All Comers (2200m) in September.

Glory Vase

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Mejiro Tsubone
Sire of Dam: Swept Overboard
C6
Consigned: Lake Villa Farm

(11th Nov 21)

LOVES ONLY YOU is set to return to the Hong Kong International Races next month

It was the very first time in the long history of horse racing of Japan that Loves Only You (JPN) brought the Breeders’ Cup win held at Del Mar last week.
The 5-year-old mare by the late great sire Deep Impact was bought for 160million yen as a yearling at the 2017 JRHA Select Sale. Bred by Northern Farm and owned by DMM Dream Club Co., Loves Only You kicked off her racing career when she won the maiden race (1800m, turf) at Kyoto in November 2018 for her trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Yahagi, now a 60-year-old, opened his training yard in 2005 and has been a very international-minded conditioner who has taken his first international G1 victory in the 2016 G1 Dubai Turf with Real Steel (JPN), a full brother to Loves Only You. Yahagi also won the 2019 G1 Cox Plate with a former champion mare Lys Gracieux (JPN, by Heart’s Cry) besides his overseas feat for the two Breeders’ Cup wins last week.
After the maiden win, Loves Only You extended her winning streak to four and claimed the 2019 G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks). She ran 0.2 seconds 3rd on her return in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m, turf) when she contested with older fillies/mares for the first time in November 2019. She did not taste any success in 5 runs last season but started off this term with a win in the 2200m-G2 Kyoto Kinen at Hanshin in February. She tripped to Middle East in March when she battled fiercely in the lane with the global top contenders-Mishriff (GB) and Japanese mare Chrono Genesis (JPN) for 3rd finish in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m, turf). Then she flew into Hong Kong and captured her first international G1 title in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin in April. Returned from 4-month break, Loves Only You showed a remarkable charge from midfield position and finished close 2nd to this year’s Japanese 1000 Guineas victress Sodashi (JPN, by Kurofune) in the 2000m-G2 Sapporo Kinen at Sapporo in August before off to the U.S.
Yahagi mentioned that the connections of Loves Only You accepted the invitation for the G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m, turf) at Sha Tin on December 12, and the mare would return to Hong Kong, targeting her third overseas G1 triumph.

Loves Only You

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Loves Only Me
Sire of Dam: Storm Cat
F5
Consigned: Northern Farm

(25th Oct 21)

TITLEHOLDER wins the G1 Kikuka Sho, Japanese St. Leger

Titleholder gave his late sire Duramente (by King Kamehameha) the first G1 title in the last leg of the Triple Crown, Kikuka Sho over 3000m at Hanshin on Sunday. With the two classic winners-Efforia and Shahryar missing the race, Red Genesis (by Deep Impact) was sent to the favorite, and Titleholder was a fourth favorite in the 18-contest of the race. The Toru Kurita trained colt started off the inside gate quickly and rushed to take lead, clocking the first 1000m in 60.0 seconds. The pair maintained the position into the stretch and then shifted into another top gear for his more brilliant turn of foot to widen the margin to 5 lengths. Titleholder was bred by Okada Stud and bought at the
2018 JRHA Select Foal Sale for 20,000,000yen ($180,181 at the rate) by Hiroshi Yamada.

Titleholder

Sire: Duramente
Dam: Mowen
Sire of Dam: Motivator
H3
Consigned: Okada Stud

(13th Jul 21)

Foal session of 2021 JRHA Select Sale

Frankel(GB), who has sent three Group 1 winners in Japan, is popular at Japanese bloodstock market and Hip#329, colt by Frankel out of Callback(USA). was bought by Thoroughbred Club Lion Co. Ltd., for 240,000,000yen, US$2,162,162.
The consignment from Northern Racing is second foal out of Callback(USA), winner of G1/Las Virgenes Stakes, who was bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm at Keeneland November Sale in 2019 for US$2 million.
“This is an outstanding individual”. Yoshito Yahagi, Japanese leading trainer who bought the colt for his client, Thoroughbred Club Lion, said of his new recruitment. “I visited Northern Farm for inspection for three times and have feeling this colt has been getting better, better and better. While he may not be typical Frankel, I like him a lot and am sure he is worth paying this amount of money (240 million yen).”
Yahagi trained Mozu Ascot(USA) by Frankel, who won G1/Yasuda Kinen in 2018 and G1/February Stakes in 2020, and is training Unicorn Lion(IRE), who won G2/Naruo Kinen at Chukyo on June 5th, for Thoroughbred Club Lion.
As Heart’s Cry(JPN) retired from breeding shed in prior to the breeding season in 2021, current foals are his last crop and catalogue of 2021 JRHA Select Sale contained three foals by Heart’s Cry. One of them is Hip#361, colt out of Loves Only Me(USA), who was bought by Masahiro Miki for 280,000,000yen, US$2,522,523, the third highest price at the session.
The consignment from Northern Farm is half brother to Real Steal(JPN), who won G1/Dubai Turf at Meydan in 2016, and half brother to Loves Only You(JPN), who was bought at yearling session of JRHA Select Sale in 2017 for 160,000,000yen and won G1/Queen ElizabethⅡCup at Sha Tin on April 25th 2021,
Masahiro Miki, founder of ABC-Mart Inc, retailer of products, such as shoes, clothing, and general merchandise, joined JRHA Select Sale for the first time in 2019 and spent 804,000,000yen to buy 6 yearlings and 4 foals at 2021 Select Sale.
One of the hottest young stallions in Japan is Epiphaneia(JPN), who sent Daring Tact(JPN), Triple Tiara winner in 2020 from his first crop, and Efforia(JPN), winner of G1/Satsuki Sho in 2021 from his second crop. Hip#366, colt by Epiphaneia out of Alterite(FR), winner of G1/Garden City Stakes at Belmont Park in 2013, was bought by Y’s consignment sales for 220,000,000yen, US$1,981,982.
“He is a future classic horse”, Sakae Kunieda, leading trainer who picked up the colt consigned by Northern Racing for his client, commented. “I believe he stays mile and half, and Japanese Derby should be ultimate goal for this colt.”
Another big firework was seen when Hip#398, colt by Lord Kanaloa out of Yankee Rose(AUS), Australian Champion Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old Filly, went through the sales ring. The consignment from Northern Racing was bought by Danox Co Ltd for 370,000,000yen, US$3,333,334, the second highest price of the session.
And sales topper at foal session of 2021 JRHA Select Sale was Hip#428, colt by Kizuna(JPN). The consignment from Northern Farm was bought by Yoshihisa Ozasa for 410,000,000yen, US$3,693,694. Ozasa was not attending at the sale and his bids were relayed by his trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, who talked with Ozasa through telephone. Underbidder was Susumu Fujita.
“This is the one which I am firmly resolved to acquire”, Yoshihisa Ozasa comments. “Yoshito Yahagi strongly recommends him and others who inspected him told me unanimously that this is very nice horse. I thought he would cost 300 million yen or more or less, but I didn’t intend to retreat at all. I won the bidding war and hope the colt will win big races”
The colt is ninth foal out of Selkis(GER), winner of G2/Diana-Trial, and her fourth foal is Velox(JPN), who finished second in G1/Satsuki Sho and third in G1/Japanese Derby and G1/Kikka Sho in 2019.
213 lots from 230 lots offered were sold for 10,923,000,000yen in total at foal session of 2021 JRHA Select Sale, which is 31.1% increase from twelve months ago. The average price, 51,281,690yen, and median price, 33,000,000yen, are 24.9% and 13.8% increase from 2020 respectively. And clearance rate improved from 89.8% in 2020 to 92.6% in 2021.
And 439 lots from 472 lots offered were sold for 22,561,000,000yen through two-days session of 2021 JRHA Select Sale, which is 20.3% higher than 2020. The average price through two days, 51,391,780yen, is 18.3% up from 2020, and overall clearance rate improved from 90.9% in 2020 to 93.0% in 2021.
“This is much stronger market than I expected”, Teruya Yoshida, Active Chairman of Japan Racing Horse Association, commented during press conference conducted at the conclusion of 2021 Select Sale.
“As the catalogue this year does not include King Kamehameha and includes very a few Deep Impact, I thought the market would shrink, but I was wrong.”
“I am very impressed to see so many new players active through two days at 2021 Select Sale.
Most impressive was Mr,Susumu Fujita, who attended at JRHA Select Sale for the first time and spent 2,367,000,000yen in total through two days, which is more than 10% of the gross sale.”
“The number of buyers registered at this year’s sale is more than 700, which is 10% more than last year, and the market has enough number of players at every price range. I think it created this strong market”.
“And I think we have a variation of stallions standing in Japan now. There are sires who send good sprinters, milers and stayers. And there are sires of turf runners and dirt runners. And quality of broodmares we have in Japan is much higher than before, and many stallions have chance to produce class racehorses, and have chance to send expensive horses at bloodstock market.”
“Breeders including myself will re-invest the funds to acquire another quality mares to improve the quality of Japanese-bred horses. And I hope horse racing in Japan will become more attractive sports.”

(12th Jul 21)

Report from Yearling Session of 2021 JRHA Select Sale

The yearling session of 2021 JRHA Select Sale was conducted at soaking wet Northern Horse Park on Monday July 12th and a big fire work was ready soon after the opening ceremony.
Catalogue of Select Sale contained four yearlings from the last crop by legendary sire, Deep Impact(JPN), who passed away in July 2019, and first of them who went through the sales ring was Hip#1, colt out of Go Maggie Go(USA), who won G2/Gulfstream Park Oaks and G2/Black Eyed Susan Stakes for Dale Romans. The Deep Impact colt is the second foal out of Go Maggie Go, who was bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm for $750,000 at Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2016.
After prolonged bidding war, Takuya Nagahama, auctioneer, knocked his hammer soon after Yuji Hasegawa sent successful bid of 300,000,000yen, US$2,702,703.
“We inspected all four yearlings by Deep Impact, and we are convinced this is the best one”, Hiroyasu Takeuchi, bloodstock adviser to Yuji Hasegawa, who has been active at yearling sale and breeze-up sales in USA in a last couple of years, said of the sales topper.
“He is very gorgeous individual and good walker. And I like his pedigree, because he has Deputy Minster and Storm Cat, both of which work very well with Deep Impact”.
“Market watchers were talking beforehand he would cost at least 500 million yen and we thought he is worth it. I am very happy to acquire him for 300 million yen.”
Hip#100, colt by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) out of Finest City(USA), who won G1/BC Filly & Mare Sprint and was awarded as US Champion Female Sprinter in 2016, was bought for 300,000,000yen, US$2,702,703, co-highest price at yearling session, by Susumu Fujita, leading buyer on Monday who spent 1,541,000,000yen to buy 12 yearlings. Susumu Fujita, founder and CEO of Cyber Agent, Inc., is a new player in the game and made his first purchase of racehorse at Chiba Thoroughbred sale on May 21st, when he bought a colt by Deep Impact out of Premier Steps for 470,010,000yen, US$4,234,324, the highest price at the session. The colt is the second foal out of Finest City, who was bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm for US$1.5 million at Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2017.
226 lots from 242 lots offered were bought for 11,638,0000,000yen in total, which is 11.6% increase from 2020. The average price, 51,495,575yen, is 13.1 % up and median price, 35,000,000yen is 12.9% up from 2020. And the clearance rate improved from 92.0% in 2020 to 93.4% in 2021. All of gross sale, average price, median price and clearance rate are new record at yearling session of JRHA Select Sale.
“From the beginning of sale at 10:00am to the conclusion of sale at 7:30pm, market was very strong all way through”, Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, leading consignor at Monday session, commented at the conclusion of sale.
“I would like to thank all consignors for offering yearlings with the highest quality.”
“I am very impressed to see 16 different stallions are represented by their yearling sold for more than 100 million yen. While we lost two big names, Deep Impact and King Kamehameha, two years ago, we have the depth of excellent stallions now”.
“And I am very glad to see so many new players are active at today’s market”.
The foal session of JRHA Select Sale starts at 10:00am at Northern Horse Park on Tuesday 13th.

(14th Jun 21)

Four yearlings by Deep Impact are featured at JRHA Select Sale

Japan Racing Horse Association’s Select Sale 2021 features four yearlings from the final crop of Deep Impact(JPN), legendary sire in Japan who passed away in July 2019.
Hip#1, consignment from Northern Farm, is colt out of Go Maggie Go(USA), who won
G2/ Gulfstream Park Oaks and G2/Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in USA.
Hip#52, is filly out of Watsdachances(IRE), winner of three Graded Stakes in USA including G1/Beverly D Stakes, and consigned by Oiwake Farm.
Hip#130 is fist foal out of Jewel Maker(JPN), who won four races in Japan, and the filly is consigned by Champions Farm Co., Ltd.
And Hip#248, consignment from Northern Farm, is colt out of Sweep Tosho(JPN), who won G1/Takarazuka Kinen and was awarded as Japanese Champion Older Mare in 2005
Deep Impact has sent his fifth winner of European classic at Epsom Downs on June 4th, when Snowfall(JPN), Japanese-bred filly by Deep Impact, won The Oaks by a record-setting margin of 16 lengths.
JRHA Select Sale 2021 is conducted at Northern Horse Park near New Chitose Airport on Monday July 12th and Tuesday July 13th.

(3rd May 21)

JRHA Select Sale graduate WORLD PREMIER claimed the Japan's prestigious race

World Premier grabbed his second G1 title in the Tenno Sho Spring (3200m, turf) at Hanshin on Sunday. In order to maintain measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the race was held behind the closed doors. Also, due to the renovation in process at Kyoto racecourse, this year’s G1 Tenno Sho Spring was held at Hanshin.
The third favorite World Premier traveled from midfield under Yuichi Fukunaga in the field of 17, while Diastima (by Deep Impact) set the pace, clocking the first 1000m in 59.8 seconds. As the field made ground around the final corners, World Premier picked up Aristoteles (by Epiphaneia) when heading to the stretch and closed in strongly on the horses in front. The 5-year-old son of Deep Impact edged ahead of Curren Bouquetd'or and Deep Bond (both by Deep Impact) with 100meters to go and drew clear for 3/4-length win.
Bred by Northern Farm and made a final bid of 240,000,000 at 2016 JRHA Select Foal Sale, the highly regarded Yasuo Tomomichi trained horse finished inside the top three in seven starts overall at two and three, including his first G1 title in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) over 3000m in 2019 before he rounded off the season with 3rd in the G1 Arima Kinen (2500m). Returned from 11-month break, he ran 6th in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) and 5th in the 2500m-G1 Arima Kinen last term, before a neck 3rd in the G2 Nikkei Sho (2500m) in March last out. 4 wins in 11 starts.

World Premiere

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Mandela
Sire of Dam: Acatenango
C5
Consigned: Northern Farm

(26th Apr 21)

Team Japan forms quartet in the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin!

Even under the strict travel restrictions, five horses from Japan traveled to run the FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 25th, and four of them, which were Glory Vase, Daring Tact, Loves Only You and Kiseki contested the HK$25million G1 QEII Cup (2000m, turf).
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi’s 5-year-old mare Loves Only You made her first triumph at the international highest level and also gave the veteran handler the first glory in Hong Kong. It has been honored for JRHA that all the top three finishers Loves Only You, Glory Vase (2nd) and Daring Tact (3rd) are the sale’s graduates.
With the seven horses in the field of the race, Loves Only You settled at fourth position under the local talented Vincent Ho. At 200meters pole mark, the two girls-Daring Tact and Loves Only You edged ahead of the field, and the latter shifted into another top gear for the last 50meters for making the triumph of the feature race by 3/4 lengths. Glory Vase who showed amazing closing speed ran 2nd, and the Japanese triple tiara winning filly Daring Tact finished 3rd, with the Rulership-sired Kiseki finishing 4th.
Making the final bid for 160,000,000yen, US$1,403,509 in the 2017 JRHA Select Sale yearling session by DMM.com Co., Ltd, Loves Only You won the 2019 G1 Japanese Oaks (2400m, turf) and was coming off a 3rd place to Mishriff in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m, turf) at Meydan on March 27th.
The runner-up Glory Vase was bought at 2016 yearling session of the sale for 52,000,000yen, US$520,000, and the third place Daring Tact was bought at 2018 yearling session for 12,000,000yen, US$108,109.

Loves Only You

Sire: Deep Impact
Dam: Loves Only Me
Sire of Dam: Storm Cat
F5
Consigned: Northern Farm

(6th Jan 21)

DARING TACT and DANON THE KID named the JRA Awards

Japan Racing Association has announced on January 6th the winners of JRA awards 2020.
JRHA Select Sale graduates Daring Tact and Danon the Kid won the Best 3-year-old Filly and the Best 2-year-old Colt respectively.

Daring Tact became the first unbeaten filly to sweep the 2020 Triple Tiara-Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Guineas), Japanese Oaks and Shuka Sho. The Haruki Sugiyama trained filly showed her talent and finished well 3rd to Almond Eye in the latest G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo in November. A daughter of Epiphaneia earned 473,175,000Yen for owner Normandy Thoroughbred Racing Co.,Ltd. She was brought a final bid of 12,000,000yen (US$108,109) from consignment of Hasegawa Bokujyo in 2018 JRHA Select Yearling Sale.

Danon the Kid, Best 2-year-old Colt Award, found the winner's circle in every effort of his juvenile season. The Just a Way sired colt won the 1800m-maiden by three lengths at Hanshin in June. Grabbed his first graded race title in the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (1800m) at Tokyo in November, the Takayuki Yasuda trainee ran gamely to finish, prevailing by 1.1/4 lengths to capture the G1 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds over 2000m at Nakayama on Dec 26. Danon the Kid earned 111,442,000Yen. He was purchased for 100,000,000yen (US$900,910) by Danox Co.,Ltd at the 2018 JRHA Select Foal Sale, where he was consigned by Northern Farm.