Topped by a Deep Impact colt, the yearling session of the Japan Racing Horse Association’s Select Sale produced a record gross during the July 9 session at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido, Japan.
According to the JRHA, the sale record gross of ¥5,452,600,000 (US$68,438,400) represented a 15.37% increase over the 2011 sale and the average price rose 12.52% to ¥26,993,069 ($338,804). The clearance rate was 83.5%, according to the sales company.
Top price of ¥250,000,000 ($3,137,880) was paid by Takaya Shimakawa for Hip No. 51, a Deep Impact colt produced from the End Sweep mare Admire Kirameki, a half sister to Japanese group I winner Tosen Jordan.
Shimakawa said he was impressed when he saw the colt prior to the sale at Northern Farm, which consigned the sale-topper.
“As I visited Northern Farm on Friday, I fell in love with him,” Shimakawa said, adding that it would be determined later who will train the colt. “In addition, the dam of the colt is a (half) sister to my Emperor’s Cup winner and I thought I should not miss this colt. The price is more than I thought, but I am very happy to get him.”
Another Deep Impact colt, Hip No. 88, and a Neo Universe filly, Hp No. 110, each brought the sale’s second-highest price of ¥150,000,000 ($1,882,730).
The colt, a half brother to Japanese grade I winner Red Desire produced from the winning Caerleon mare Great Sunrise, was purchased by Nobutaka Tada’s Globe Equine Management Co. from the consignment of Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm. Tada said the colt was purchased for a partnership that included Hidetoshi Yamamoto.
“He is the son of a great sire, and is a very good walker,” Tada said. “And he is a three parts brother to Red Desire, who won a group I in Japan and a group II in Dubai for Tokyo Horse Racing, the racing club owned by Hidetoshi Yamamoto. I knew Mr. Yamamoto would really like to get him.
“First of all, we need to talk to the members of Tokyo Horse Racing, asking if they want to own the shares of this colt,” Tada continued. “If they say the colt is too expensive to be owned by club members, Mr. Yamamoto will think about forming the partnership with his friends, who are existing JRA owners.”
The Neo Universe filly, produced from the German stakes winner Mandela (by Acatenango), was bought by Scuderia, a partnership of existing owners that includes Ken Nishikawa, chairman of the Nakayama Owners’ Association. The filly, a half sister to Japan grade III winner World Ace, was consigned by Northern Farm.
“I understand the price is including the value as a future broodmare,” said Nishikawa, who, according to the JRHA, has 20 broodmares at the Nishikawa family’s Western Farm. “First of all, he is a half brother to World Ace, who is widely expected to become a grade I winner in the near future. The price is a bit more than I thought, but I think now she is worth that amount. I need to discuss with partners who is going to train her.”
The Select Sale concludes July 10 with the sale of foals.