14 March, 2019
February marked the beginning of the 2019 breeding season for all northern hemisphere thoroughbred breeding operations around the world. One of the most exciting parts of the breeding season is the new hope it brings for the future of our industry with every new foal born and every new stallion entering stud.
There were dozens of new stallions that entered stud in Japan for the 2019 breeding seasons, but let us look at some of the highest profile ones that have garnered the most buzz with local breeders.
Imports always make for the most exciting changeup in the breeding season, giving new options to breeders outside of the usual Japanese bloodlines. Two very interesting established sires have been imported from the United States: Declaration of War(USA) and Shanghai Bobby(USA).
Declaration of War(USA) entered stud at Coolmore's Ireland facility in 2014 before moving to their American stallion farm, Ashford Stud in 2015. While in America, he shuttled to Coolmore Australia as well. He sired the G1 French 1000 Guineas winner Olmedo(FR) from his first crop and produced three other G3 winners in America and Ireland and a runner up effort in the G1 American Oaks, all on the Turf. His first US crop saw Uncle Benny(USA) run second in the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf in 2018. In Japan, two of his offspring from a total of six imported over the past few years have won. All promising signs for a well-bred son of popular stallion War Front(USA) as he begins his career over again for a third time in Japan. He stands at the JBBA's Shizunai Stallion Station for ¥2,300,000(US$20,557).
Shanghai Bobby(USA) was retired due to an unfortunate injury taking him off the track in 2013 as a three-year-old. He joined Coolmore's Ashford Stud roster in 2014. He was a talented two-year-old, winning two G1 races including the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile. He was North America's fourth-leading freshman and sophomore sire by progeny earnings with a total of seven black-type winners from those two crops. From the eight offspring of Shanghai Bobby(USA) to be imported into Japan, five of them have been winners, winning a total of seven times. The near American Champion Two-Year-Old stands at Arrow Stud for ¥2,000,000(US$17,876).
There are three recently retired racehorses that have been imported from overseas to begin their careers in Japan. Mind Your Biscuits(USA) proved himself many times over to be a fantastic sprinter in the United States and Dubai. He won the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen twice and the G1 Malibu Stakes during his career but also ran second in four other G1 races. Along with his speed, he brings a quality build that could easily exceed six furlongs and a Sunday Silence(USA) free pedigree. Over the past couple of years, there has been a large number of stamina horses being imported into Japan, and not the tide seems to be switching to importing speed. Mind Your Biscuits (USA) stands at Shadai Stallion Station for ¥2,000,000(US$17,876).
Talismanic(GB) could be one of the most exciting stallions to be brought to Japan by Darley since they sent Pyro(USA) over here in 2009. The flashy son of top Darley America stallion Medaglia d'Oro(USA) won the 2017 G1 Breeders Cup Turf and was second to the highly regarded Highland Reel(IRE) in the G1 Hong Kong Vase. With some quality wins in G2s and G3s back in his home base of France, he brings a worldliness that not a lot of Japanese stallions have. Talismanic(GB) stands for ¥1,800,000(US$16,088) at Darley Japan.
Beach Patrol(USA) despite being a bit of a bridesmaid at times, coming in second in four G1s and third in another two G1s, the dark bay son of Lemon Drop Kid(USA) won three G1 titles to his name between 2016 and 2017. His talent on the turf from nine furlongs to twelve furlongs made him a no brainer for Japan, where the longer races have more prestige and prize money. Beach Patrol(USA) stands at Lex Stud for ¥800,000(US$7,150).
There were plenty of new Japanese bred stallions entering the ranks in 2019 including a few that have made headlines around the world.
Satono Diamond(JPN) was his owner's first G1 winner proved to be a truly impressive stayer. The son of Deep Impact(JPN) won the 3000m G1 Kikuka Sho and the 2500m G1 Arima Kinen and was second in the 2400m G1 Japanese Derby. He stands at Shadai Stallion Station for ¥3,000,000(US$26,814).
Satono Crown(JPN), owned by the same man as Satono Diamond(JPN), showed talent from early on and finished third in the G1 Japanese Derby behind Duramente(JPN). It took him a while to find his footing, but his real talent was put on display in the 2016 G1 Hong Kong Vase where he proved his worth. His last victory, however, was in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in 2017, though much the best there and pulling off a tantalizingly close second place finish in the G1 Tenno Sho Aki a few months later, the son of the late Marju(IRE) lost his form for good. Despite the lackluster ending, he has a stunning physique and brings a unique pedigree into the Japanese market for a great price of ¥1,000,000(US$8,938) at Shadai Stallion Station.
Real Steel(JPN) made waves around the world when he won the 2016 G1 Dubai Turf and while that was the only G1 victory of his career, he ran second or third in four other G1 races and was fourth or fifth in another three. He was a highly consistent runner during his entire career and brings with him the seemingly magical cross of a Deep Impact(JPN) out of a Storm Cat(USA) mare. Kizuna(JPN), who has the same cross, has been very popular with breeders and his set to debut this year. Capable from 1800-3000m, Real Steel(JPN) gives a lot of ability mixed with a stellar pedigree. He stands for ¥2,000,000(US$17,876) at Shadai Stallion Station.
From the 15 seasons Swept Overboard(USA) covered, he was never really what many would consider a champion sire, but for those familiar with the nit and grit of racing as it is in day to day life, he was a wildly popular stallion. With 69.83% of winners from runners, he was always one any owners shopping list come sales time. It should be no surprise then that his best son, two time G1 Sprinters Stakes winner Red Falx(JPN) would be recruited to stud upon retirement. He has his father's speed, physical, color, and the ability to go a mile. While he didn't win the 2017 G1 Yasuda Kinen over a mile, he was just half a length behind the winner. He will have big shoes to fill, but he is his sire's only son at stud in Japan. Red Falx(JPN) will stand for ¥800,000(US$7,150) in 2019 at Shadai Stallion Station.
Another domestic sprinter who came into his own in 2018 was Godolphin's Fine Needle(JPN). Not many sprinters in Japan have managed to pull off double G1 sprint win but in spring the son of G1 Japan Cup winner Admire Moon(JPN) won the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and came back to win the G1 Sprinters Stakes in the fall. The most recent horse to do both in the same year was Lord Kanaloa(JPN) in 2013. While he wasn't able to catch a break in his two trips to Hong Kong, he always proved to be a hard-knocking horse who only got better with age. If he can pass along his grit and determination as well as his closing kick, he will be a good match to begin to fill his aging father's shoes. Fine Needle(JPN) stands at Darley Japan for ¥2,500,000(US$22,345).
Big names like G1 Japanese Derby winner Kizuna(JPN), G1 Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia(JPN) and proven sire Majestic Warrior(USA) will make their debut this summer, and they remain popular even being though they have not debuted yet. Set to debut next year, JRA Champion Two-Year-Old Asia Express(USA) and Champion Three-Year-Old Duramente(JPN) both saw their cover fees jump substantially due to the good word of mouth of their young offspring.
The well-established stallions saw very little change in their fees and coverings with a few exceptions. Deep Impact(JPN)'s covers in 2018 dipped to the lowest they have been since 2009 when he was covering just his third book. His ¥40,000,000(US$357,525) price tag might have lowered the numbers, but he is still getting the best quality mares any stallion could dream of. Lord Kanaloa(JPN) came roaring onto the scene in 2017 to snag the Leading Freshman Sire title. That wasn't enough to boost his stud fee, but the G1 success of Triple Tiara & G1 Japan Cup winner Almond Eye(JPN), G1Mile Championship winner Stelvio(JPN) and G1 Hopeful Stakes winner Saturnalia(JPN) did the trick in 2018. In 2019 Lord Kanaloa(JPN) stud fee has been raised to ¥15,000,000(US$134,072) from ¥8,000,000(US$71,505) last year. Though he covered 294 mares in 2018, even with the price bump, he should have a busy breeding season. 2014 Longines World's Best Racehorse, Just a Way(JPN) claimed the Leading Freshman Sire title last year, and that gave him a bump in price going from ¥3,000,000(US$26,814) to ¥4,000,000(US$35,752) for 2019. Harbinger(GB) who has been around the block a few times saw a substantial increase as well after several seasons worth of promising winners putting him back in everyone's good graces. He went from ¥3,500,000(US$31,283) in 2018 to ¥6,000,000(US$53,628) in 2019.
The stars of yesterday are off to produce the stars of tomorrow.
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Satomi Oka Bloodstock Pty Ltd
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