Dunkirk, the leading North American freshman sire by earnings last year, has been purchased by the Japan Race Horse Agency and will stand at East Stud on the island of Hokkaido starting in 2015. The purchase price was not disclosed.
The 8-year-old son of Unbridled's Song produced from the multiple grade I winner Secret Status (by A.P. Indy), previously stood at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., where his 2014 stud fee was $15,000.
Dunkirk led all first-crop sires last year with earnings of $1,112,446. He has been represented by five stakes winners, including Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) runner-up Havana, and his progeny have now earned more than $2.2 million.
A $3.7 million yearling purchase, Dunkirk was trained by Todd Pletcher for the Coolmore connections of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. Dunkirk placed second in the 2009 Florida Derby (gr. I) and Belmont Stakes (gr. I).