18 August, 2023
The 2023 renewal of the Hokkaido Summer Sale is scheduled to start on the 21st of August this year and last the remainder of the week, with a total of 1,426 yearlings cataloged. Before the sale begins each day, there will be a roughly three-hour exhibition where the horses will be out on the grounds for inspection for short periods until all horses have been displayed before the sale commences.
A few highlights from the yearlings in the sale is Hip 978, G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Naran Huleg(JPN)'s half-sister by Discreet Cat(USA). Hip 1387 is JPN1 Japan Dirt Derby winner Higashi Will Win(JPN)'s half-brother by Copano Rickey(JPN). Hip 47 is JPN1 Zen Nippon Nisai Yushun winner Sound Sky(JPN)'s half-brother by World Ace(JPN). More so than pedigrees at this sale, it is a type of sale with each horse being carefully scrutinized for their condition and build. However, do not let the lack of black type in some pedigrees fool you; many top runners have been produced from this sale.
The 2021 Summer Sale has produced quite a few nice young horses, including one of the NAR's brightest young star Mick Fire(JPN), who sold for ¥5,500,000(US$39,285) and went on to win not just the Ohi Racecourse Triple Crown, which included the JPN1 Japan Dirt Derby against JRA contenders. Other notable NAR winners are JBC Nisai Yushun winner Goraiko(JPN) who sold for ¥7,700,000(US$55,000) and JPN2 Hyogo Junior Grandprix winner Omatsuri Otoko(JPN) who sold for ¥14,300,000(US$102,142). Notable JRA winners so far are G3 Unicorn Stakes winner Perriere(JPN) who sold for ¥11,000,000(US$78,571) and G3 Fantasy Stakes winner Rivara(JPN) who sold for ¥10,450,000(US$74,642). Between the NAR and the JRA, there have already been over 15 graded stakes winners. The sale earned international credentials when Mandarin Hero(JPN), who sold for ¥11,000,000(US$78,571) finished a thrilling second in the G1 Santa Anita Derby in April on his way to participate in the G1 Kentucky Derby.
One hundred fifty-four stallions will be represented throughout the five-day sale. As always, the most successful stallions in Japan can be found for purchase. Long-established and reliable stallions like Orfevre(JPN), who is the sire of the 2023 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro(JPN), Sinister Minister(USA), who is the sire of dirt champion T O Keynes(JPN), and Oi Racecourse Triple Crown winner Mick Fire(JPN), Kizuna(JPN) who is Deep Impact(JPN)'s best son at stud and the sire of 3 times G1 winner Songline(JPN), Kitasan Black(JPN) who is the sire of the world best racehorse Equinox(JPN). There is also Pyro(USA), a solid blue-collar stallion currently represented by multiple JPN1 winner Meisho Hario(JPN). Hokko Tarumae(JPN) was a champion in his own right and is the sire of several stakes winners, including Ladybug(JPN), who won the 2023 JPN3 Sparking Lady Cup, and Goraiko(JPN), who won the 2022 JBC Nisai Yushun. Stallions like Silver State(JPN), Rulership(JPN), Maurice(JPN), Gold Ship(JPN) are always in the top 20 stallions rankings, and their offspring are available in this year's renewal of the Summer Sale. Henny Hughes(USA) has long been a reliable provider of winners in both of Japan's racing circuits and has a hot young star in G3 Unicorn Stakes winners Perriere(JPN)
Four promising young sires are also available at the sale that week. Satono Crown(JPN) will be popular thanks to his son Tastiera(JPN) winning the G1 Japanese Derby. Shanghai Bobby(USA) and Mind Your Biscuits(USA) both came out strong with their early crops, each having a runner in the G1 Kentucky Derby this year. Shanghai Bobby(USA) sired, and Summer Sale graduate Mandarin Hero(JPN) went from being one of Oi Racetracks best to running an electrifying second in the G1 Santa Anita Derby. Mind Your Biscuits(USA)'s Derma Sotogake(JPN) won the JPN1 Zen Nihon Nisai Yushun as a two-year-old and the G2 UAE Derby as a three-year-old.
There are plenty of freshman sires available at the Summer Sale as well. You can find excellently bred Japanese stallions like two-time G1 winner and full brother to a Japanese Derby winner Al Ain(JPN), Japan Cup winners Cheval Grand(JPN) and Suave Richard(JPN), and Japanese Derby winners Rey de Oro (JPN) and Roger Barows(JPN). Imported stallions also make up a large portion of the freshman stallions available this year, like G1 Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winners Animal Kingdom(USA) and California Chrome(USA), two-time G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow(IRE), G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner New Year's Day(USA), G1 Breeders Cup Turf winner Bricks and Mortar(USA). Moanin(USA), who was imported as a racehorse and won the G1 February Stakes, has been on fire in the NAR, which will likely make his progeny very popular at the sale.
First-crop sires have been quite popular in the previous sales this year, and there are many interesting new stallions to choose from at the Summer Sale as well. Champion Miler Admire Mars(JPN), two-time Hong Kong ace Win Bright(JPN), top dirt champions Gold Dream(JPN) and Le Vent Se Leve(JPN), champion sprinter Tower of London(JPN), and the leading sire of the Selection Sale Saturnalia(JPN) who is also the half brother of top stallions Epiphaneia(JPN) and Leontes(JPN). The new imports to look forward to are G1 winner Nadal(USA), G1 winning full brother to Frankel(GB), Noble Mission(GB), and American Pharoah(USA)'s first G1 winner Four Wheel Drive(USA). Two foreign-breds who raced in Japan, champion sprinter Mr Melody(USA) and winner of G1s on dirt and turf Mozu Ascot(USA), will have multiple lots available. There will also be six foreign stallions represented at the sale as well including Saxon Warrior(JPN), Raven's Pass(USA), Nyquist(USA), and Almanzor(FR).
US$1 = ¥140
Don't hesitate to get in touch with our representatives if you are interested in purchasing at any of the Hokkaido Sales or in inquiring about the Japan-bred winner bonus program:
Ms. Satomi Oka
Satomi Oka Bloodstock Pty Ltd
E-mail: satomi@bloodstock.jp
Tel : +61 414 414 450
Hokkaido Summer Sale Details:
●Sale type: Yearling
●Venue: Hokkaido Sales Pavilion in Shizunai, Hokkaido
●Dates: August 21th (Mon) ～ August 25th (Fri)
Everyday Pre-sale inspections: 8:00 am ～
Everyday Sale: 12:00 pm ～
●Number of cataloged lots: 1,426
●Online catalog available at: https://www.hba.or.jp/en.php