Very first lot on foal session of 2023 JRHA Select Sale at Northern Horse Park on Tuesday July 11th made big wireworks. Colt by Kitasan Black(USA) out of Fadillah(GB), consigned by Northern Racing, was bought for 380,000,000yen, US$2,657,343, by Interhose, partnership which includes existing JRA-registered owners. Fadillah, German-bred dam of Hip#301, is half siter to Seismos(GER), winner of G1/Grosser Preis von Bayern, and was bought by Katsumi Yoshida at Tattersalls December Sale in 2018 for 700,000gns.

Mr.Karson Cheng from Hong Kong managed to buy Hip#321, filly by Drefong(USA) out of Dona Blini for 210,000000yen, US$1,468,532. “This is my first visit to JRHA Sale. I am impressed with wonderful atmosphere and warm hospitality. And I am most impressed with the quality of Japanese-bred foals,” Mr.Cheng said after the purchase. “As I missed to buy Hip#94, half sister to Hip#321 yesterday, I am very happy to buy this filly. I plan to keep her in Japan and race her in Japan, though, I will have to start working to find a Japanese trainer for me. I would like to make a good start”. The consignment from Northern Racing is a half sister to Gentildonna(JPN), who was awarded as Japanese Horse of the Year twice.

Mr,Cheng managed to acquire another smashing colt later the sale. as he bought Hip#393, colt by Lord Kanaloa out of Contested(USA), consignment from Shadai Farm, for 200,000,000yen, US$1,398,602.

Feature of Tuesday session was first crop by Contrail(JPA), unbeaten Japanese Triple Crown in 2020, and the battle for Hip#329, colt by Contrail out of Bye Bye Baby(IRE), was heated up. The consignment from Grand Stud was bought for 330,000,000yen, US$2,307,693, by Shinji Maeda, who owned Contrail when he was in training. And the colt will be trained by Yoshito Yahagi, who trained Contrail. Bye Bye Baby, dam of Hip#329, is winner of G3/Blue Wind Stakes and was bought by Grand Stud through Narvick International at Fasig-Tipton November Sale for $3,100,000.

And the sales-topper at foal session was a colt by Contrail. Hip#360, colt by Contrail out of Conviction(ARG), consigned by Northern Farm, was bought for 520,000,000yen, US$3,636,364, by Koji Maeda’s North Hills, which bred Contrail. “I think Hip#329 and Hip#360 are the best two Contrails in the catalogue,” Koji Maeda commented after the purchase. Hence, my brother bought Hip#329 and I bought this one.”

“Although I estimated the price would be 300,000,000yen or more less, I did not want to stop bidding. This colt will be trained by Yuichi Fukunaga”, Fukunaga was a regular rider of Contrail, who quit riding earlier this year and starts operating his stable next March. Conviction, dam of the sales-topper, is winner of G1/Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena.

219 lots, from 231 lots offered, were sold for 14,780,000,000yen in total, which is 14.6% increase from 2022. Average price, 67,488,584yen, is 17.8% increase from 2022 and median price, 41,000,000yen, is 2.5% increase from 2022. All of gross sale, average price, and median price are new record at foal session, while clearance rate, 94.8%, is the second best at foal session, after 2022, when it was 95.3%.

During two days session of 2023 JRHA Select Sale, 435 lots, from 453 lots offered, were sold for 28,145,000,000yen, which is 9.2% increase from 2022. Average price, 64,701,149yen, is 12.3% increase from 2022 and clearance rate, 96.0% in 2023, bettered 95.3% in 2022. All of gross sale, average price, and clearance rate are new record at JRHA Select Sale.
“I feel there is strong passion for horse racing in this country”, Teruya Yoshida, active chairman of Japan Racing Horse Association, commented at conclusion of sale.
“First crop by Contrail is obviously one of factors which boosted the market. I am impressed to see the owner who owned Contrail when he was in training and the breeder who bred Contrail were so much supportive.”

“We are having many young successful entrepreneurs as new players in this game. They are very keen to acquire young talented horses, even though they are expensive.”

JRHA