07 July, 2025
The Hokkaido Selection Sale has catalogued 372 yearlings for this year's edition. While the sale was held over three days last year, it has returned to a two-day format this year, with the premium session on the first day remaining unchanged. Each sale day will be preceded by an exhibition day.
On the first day of the Selection Sale, 115 carefully selected yearlings will go under the hammer. Of these, 46 lots (40%) are either out of a black-type mare and/or a black-type producer-an increase of 2.2 percentage points compared to last year's premium session.
Three-time Group 1 winner Efforia (JPN) will be represented by his first crop at this year's yearling sales, with the largest group-21 yearlings-catalogued for the Hokkaido Selection Sale. Two of them are out of black-type winning mares. Lot 64 is a colt and the first foal out of Group 3 winner Lady Mystify (USA), who herself was sold for US$600,000 by Taylor Made Sales Agency at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2022. Lot 246 is a filly out of Listed winner Shailene (IRE), and she is the mare's third foal. Shailene's first and second foals were sold at the JRHA Select Sale Foal Session for JP¥22,000,000 (US$151,724) and JP¥90,200,000 (US$622,069) respectively.
Efforia will also be represented by a half-sibling to a black-type winner at the sale-Lot 348 is a half-brother to Listed winner Madrid Cafe (JPN).
Four imported stallions will be represented by their first Japanese-bred crops at this year's yearling sales. Caravaggio (USA), Highland Reel (IRE), and Will Take Charge (USA) stood their first seasons in Japan in 2023. The 2021 Group 1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (USA), who began his stallion career in Japan, will have two yearlings catalogued for the Hokkaido Selection Sale.
Caravaggio previously stood at Coolmore's Irish and US studs for three and two seasons respectively, before relocating to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association's Shizunai Stallion Station. He has sired three individual Group 1 winners to date, including four-time Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna (IRE). Four of his first crop in Japan will be offered over the two days of the sale.
Highland Reel began his stud career in Japan at the age of 11. He will be represented by two yearlings: Lot 162, a filly out of Group 3 winner La Divina (PER), and; Lot 311, a colt out of Group 3 placed mare Turf Laurel (IRE).
Will Take Charge, now 15, will be represented by three yearlings on Day 2, including Lot 317, a colt out of Group 3 winner Crown Rose (JPN), and Lot 338, a filly out of Mao Rio (JPN), is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Be Astonished (JPN).
A couple of notable yearlings at the sale were imported in utero. Lot 48 is a colt by first-season two-year-old sire Charlatan (USA), out of Group 1 winner Polvorada (ARG). Lot 145, a colt out of Mucho Macho Momma (USA), is by Vekoma (USA), the 2024 Champion First-Crop Sire in North America. His dam was sold for US$35,000 by Vinery Sales at the Keeneland November Sale in 2023.
American Pharoah (USA) will also be represented by two yearlings. Lot 36 is a colt and the first foal out of Group 3-placed mare Joy of Painting (USA), who was sold by Lane's End for US$250,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2022. Lot 207 is another first foal, out of Group 3 placed mare Hermaphrodite (FR).
Among Japanese domestic sires, Kitasan Black (JPN) and Kizuna (JPN) currently stand at the highest advertised stud fee-JP¥20,000,000 (US$137,931)-making them the most expensive sires with yearlings catalogued at the Hokkaido Selection Sale.
Kizuna will be represented by four yearlings, including Lot 37, a colt out of Group 2 winner Way to Versailles (USA); Lot 61, a filly out of Group 1 winner Rainbow Dahlia (JPN); and Lot 82, a colt out of Group 1-placed Self Preservation (USA). The latter is a half-brother to Listed placed Selfie (JPN) and Group 2-placed Chardonnay Gold (JPN).
Kitasan Black will have 12 yearlings in the catalogue, among them Lot 63, a filly out of Groul 2 winner Kiss to Remember (USA), and Lot 94, a filly out of multiple graded stakes winner Chic Nistel (ARG).
The Hokkaido Selection Sale has seen growth in both gross sales and top prices for three consecutive years. This premier sale will be held at the Hokkaido Sales Complex on July 21 and 23.
US$1 = JP¥145
*Written by Toshihiro Onikubo
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Satomi Oka (Ms)
Satomi Oka Bloodstock Pty Ltd
E-mail : satomi@bloodstock.jp
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