While the foal session was down, the 2018 JRHA Select Sale registered across the board gains due to a solid yearling session.
The much anticipated first crop of foals by Maurice didn't disappoint with 13 of 14 selling for an average of $A504,140.
His top seller was a colt out of Lasting Song (JPN) that was consigned by Northern Farm and purchased by KT Racing Co. Ltd for 170,000,000 yen ($A,2,049,000). The bay colt is a half-brother to the stakes-placed winner Invicta (Harbinger) and the 4-time winner Queen's Best (Workforce).
His dam Lasting Song (Fuji Kiseki) is a half-sister to Group III winners Martinborough and Frere Jacques as well as to the dam of Hugh Bowman's Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand and Group 1 winner Vivlos and Verxina.
"We own yearling colt out of Lasting Song, by Lord Kanaloa(JPN), and like
"The price is higher than we thought, but we are happy to receive him at our stable. I would like him to become an international runner as his sire."
Two other Arrowfield shuttlers had solid sales.
Four out of four foals by Mikki Isle (JPN) sold at an averaged $A355,400 while Real Impact had three out of three foals sell at an average of $A473,867 after five of six of his first crop yearlings sold averaged $366,243 on
Another first season sire, the 2015 Japanese Derby winner Duramente(JPN) had a colt out of the multiple Group II winner and multiple Group 1 placed I'm Yours (Falbrav) which was purchased by Nick Co. Ltd for 180,000,000yen, (A$2, 169,000).
"He has a great pedigree, great conformation, and he is a good mover, Hiroyasu Takeuchi, bloodstock adviser to Nick, said after the purchase. "He has 4x4 of Dyna Curl, Japanese Oaks winner in 1983, which looks very attractive for me."
Deep Impact (JPN) is the perennial leader at this sale and nothing changed in 2018.
His sales topping colt out of Ria Antonia, winner of G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies, was bought by Hajime Satomi for 290,000,000yen, ($A3,500,000).
"This is my pick of the day", Satomi told the press after signing the ticket. "This colt reminds me of Satono Diamond (JPN) and my adviser, Yasuo Ikee, suggests this is the nicest Deep Impact foal in the catalogue. I hope he will get one better place in Japanese Derby than Satono Diamond (who finished second in Japanese Derby)."
Lot 382, a colt by King Kamehameha out of Hikaru Amaranthus, consigned by Northern Racing, was bought by Yoshihisa Ozasa for 140,000,000yen ($A1.7m).
"I come here to find nice colt by Heart's Cry or King Kamehameha", said Ozasa after the purchase. "My trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, recommends this colt and I like him, who has a very attractive head. I hope he will be a good mile and a half horse."
At the second session of JRHA Select Sale, 231 foals were offered and 205 of them sold for 8,257,500,000 yen, ($A99,481,952) in total, which is 5.0% less than twelve months ago. The average price, 40,280,488 yen, ($A485,277) 12.0% decrease from 2017, while the clearance rate improved from 86.4% in 2017 to 88.7% in 2018.
During two days at 2018 JRHA Select Sale, 464 lots are offered and 416 of them found their new owners. The gross sale, 17,932,000,000 yen, ($A216,035,164) is 3.5% more than 2017 and the average price, 43,106,769 yen, ($A519,327) is 1.0% higher than 2017. And the clearance rate improved from 87.9% in 2017 to 89.7% in 2018. The gross sale, average price, and clearance rate are all new records at JRHA Sale.
"It is an amazing sale", Teruya Yoshida, active chairman of Japan Racing Horse Association, commented at the conclusion of the sale. "Market was strong and healthy through two days, and I would like to thank all buyers for supporting the market. And I would like to thank the management team of the sale, which did a great job."
