22 March, 2023
The end of the year brings a lot of reflection on the thoroughbred as a breed as the stats are added up, and you can make charts and graphs to see which stallions are making their impact. The most exciting list of the year is always the Freshman Sire Ranking, as these are the fresh new faces that could change the game. For the second year, an import has impressed and reigned supreme. Last year it was Drefong(USA) who took top honors. This year Mind Your Biscuits(USA) took the title of Leading Freshman Sire. The son of Posse(USA) had 28 winners who won 36 times during the year, including the JPN1 Zen Nihon Nisai Yushun winner Derma Sotogake(JPN). He has been having success on dirt and turf, and even though he was a sprinter himself, his offspring have been able to go middle distance. The success of these non-Sunday Silence(USA) line stallions will likely positively impact the Japanese thoroughbred in the future as they diversify their bloodstock.
Real Steal(JPN) was second in the rankings with 19 winners that racked up 21 wins. G3 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes winner All Parfait(JPN) was his top performer. It is a promising start for another son of Deep Impact(JPN). His impeccable breeding should make him another success for his late sire and help carry on his legacy to the next generation like Kizuna(JPN) has. Shanghai Bobby(USA) has had great success in the Southern Hemisphere, where he shuttled before being sold to Japan, so it makes sense that he would also have a solid start at stud in Japan. Southern Hemisphere mares have been wildly successful in Japan, so a successful stallion down there would also do well here. He had 21 winners who captured 30 races. His top performer was Mandarin Hero(JPN), which won the Haiseiko Kinen at Ohi Racecourse.
Declaration of War(USA) has continued to show promise with his American-born offspring, who keep winning big races there. His first Japanese crop consisted of 18 winners who took home 21 races. His top performer was listed winner Top Knife(JPN), who was also second in the G1 Hopeful Stakes and the G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes. Satono Crown(JPN) brings another good outcross as the son of Marju(IRE) in Japan. He had 21 winners that won 22 races that included several stakes-placed runners.
The General Sire Rankings are the cream of the Japanese stallions, and it is always interesting to see which younger stallions rise to the top. However, Deep Impact(JPN) remains on top based on earnings. He had 163 winners who won 232 times. His biggest winners of the year were G1 Dubai Turf winner Shahryar(JPN), G1 Osaka Hai winner Potager(JPN), and G1 Kikuka Sho winner Ask Victor More (JPN). Lord Kanaloa(JPN) was second in the earnings but had more wins, with 276 individual winners winning 453 times. His most prominent winner of the year was G1 NHK Mile winner Danon Scorpion(JPN) and two-time G2 winner Diatonic(JPN). Recently pensioned Heart's Cry(JPN) has long been near the top of the General Sire Rankings, and this year he had 172 winners that captured 262 races. His top performer was G1 Japanese Derby winner Do Deuce(JPN).
Kizuna(JPN) has become the best son of Deep Impact(JPN) at stud in Japan. From 171 winners, they managed to capture 278, the third most of any sire in the top 10. His best performer was G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Songline(JPN), who beat the boys in style this summer. The loss of Duramente(JPN) gets more painful over time as his offspring keep performing the way they have. He had so many G1 wins this year it is almost hard to believe he didn't make it to the top of the list. From 175 individual winners, he accumulated 277 races. Four-year-old Titleholder(JPN) took home the G1 Tenno Sho Spring and the G1 Takarazuka Kinen. Three-year-old Stars of Earth(JPN) captured the G1 Oka Sho and the G1 Japanese Oaks in style. Then to make the loss all the more painful, he also had two juvenile G1 winners when Liberty Rose(JPN) won the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, and Dura Erede(JPN) stole the G1 Hopeful Stakes. With a resume like that, his loss will be ringing through the bowels of the Japanese thoroughbred industry for years to come.
The late King Kamehameha(JPN) never disappoints, with many of his runners getting better with age. This year he had 119 winners who won 191 races. His top performers were G1 Shuka Sho winner Stunning Rose(JPN) and G1 Champions Cup winner Jun Light Bolt(JPN). As usual, King Kamehameha(JPN) performs well on turf and dirt. Orfevre(JPN) has been a quiet success, with his most significant victories regularly coming at the G2 and G3 levels. From 137 winners, he had 247 wins in total. His best performer was Shonan Nadeshiko(JPN), who won the JPN1 Kashiwa Kinen against males and JPN1 Tokyo Daishoten winner Ushba Tesoro(JPN) but also has many solid turf performers like G2 Stayers Stakes winner Silver Sonic(JPN) and G3 Fairy Stakes winner Lilac(JPN). His success at all distances and surfaces makes him one of the most versatile stallions on this list.
Rulership(JPN) has been a constant on the top 10 general sires list for years despite not having many champion-level performers. He is the kind of stallion any country needs to keep the wheels turning. This year, he had 174 individual winners that captured a total of 279 races. However, he captured the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes with Dolce More(JPN). Maurice(JPN) has been inching up the list, making his mark on the breed. He had 148 winners that captured 226 races in 2022. His top performer was G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Geraldina(JPN), the daughter of champion Gentildonna(JPN). Recently pensioned Daiwa Major(JPN) was tenth on the list, with 153 winners capturing 247 races in total. His top performer was G1 Mile Championship winner Serifos(JPN).
Overall, it was an excellent year for non-Sunday Silence(JPN) stallions. Freshman sires bring in much-needed new victorious blood, and the cream of the Sunday Silence-line and King Kamehameha-line stallions holding steady as well. The solid mix of blood bodes well for Japan's future as it continues to dominate worldwide.
All data provided from www.jbis.or.jp from their First Season Sire Rankings (NAR & JRA combined) and General Sire Rankings(NAR & JRA combined) as of December 31st, 2022.
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