(29th Dec 08)

Champion vs. Champion--the winner was KANE HEKILI in running the 54th G1 Tokyo Daishoten

Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii's Kane Hekili came into his own to grab his second straight G1 victories in the Tokyo Daishoten at Oi Racecourse on December 29th.
Under jockey Christophe Lemaire, the second pick Kane Hekili ranged up outside the field in the final stretch. The favorite Vermilion came close to him, and the two fought the finish out side by side in the final strides, with Kane Hekili eventually going to the line to win by a neck in the end. Furthermore, the seven-year-old horse covered the last three furlongs in a brilliant 35.4 seconds.
Bred at Northern Farm, Kane Hekili by Fuji Kiseki out of Deputy Minister mare Life Outthere was bought by Makoto Kaneko for 20,000,000Yen in 2002 JRHA Select Foal Sale.
Kane Hekili took his first graded stakes success in the 2005 G3 Unicorn Stakes, and captured three G1 wins in the year including Japan Dirt Derby, Derby Grand Prix and Japan Cup Dirt. He won the G1 February Stakes in 2006 before he was fourth to Electrocutionist in the G1 Dubai World Cup, however he had to sideline over two years because of the tendon injury. Well rested and rejuvenated over the long vacation, Kane Hekili was out to re-establish his place among the elites in the Japan Cup Dirt and displayed his talent to win the race. According to trainer Sumii, Kane Hekili will target the G1 February Stakes (1600m, Tokyo).

Kane Hekili

Sire: Fuji Kiseki
Dam: Life Out There
Sire of Dam: Deputy Minister
C6
Consigned: Northern Farm

(8th Dec 08)

The JRHA Select Sale graduate made another history in the 2008 G1 Japan Cup Dirt

Running the 9th Japan Cup Dirt took place at Hanshin Racecourse for the first time, and Kane Hekili who was purchased at 2002 JRA Select Foal Sale took his second time Japan Cup Dirt title under the French jockey Christophe Lemaire. The six-year-old horse by Fuji Kiseki out of Deputy Minister mare Life Out There shaked off the strong challengers by Meisho Tokon and Vermilion in a tenacious rally side by side and won by a head.
Bred at Northern Farm, Kane Hekili was purchased for 20,000,000Yen by Makoto Kaneko, and he is trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, a well-known trainer for the brilliant one-two finish in the 2006 G1 Melbourne Cup with Delta Blues and Pop Rock, and 2007 Japanese Derby with Vodka.
Debuted in 2004, Kane Hekili grabbed the first time graded-race in the G3 Unicorn Stakes before taking second straight G1 victories in the Japan Dirt Derby and Derby Grand Prix in 2005. He became the Japan Cup Dirt champion in 2005 and took the G1 February Stakes in the following season. He was fourth to Electrocutionist in the 2006 G1 Dubai World Cup in March and second in the G1 Teio Sho, however he had to layoff more than two years because of the tendon injury. His first race up since the long vacation was the G3 Musashino Stakes in November, however he was sandwiched badly and eventually finished ninth. The lifetime records of Kane Hekili are 16-9-2-0-5.

Kane Hekili

Sire: Fuji Kiseki
Dam: Life Out There
Sire of Dam: Deputy Minister
C6
Consigned: Northern Farm

(27th Oct 08)

OKEN BRUCE LEE gained the classic title in the G1 Kikka Sho (Japanese St. Leger)

JRHA Select Sale graduate, Oken Bruce Lee proved his favoritism and claimed his first classic title in the final leg of the triple crown race, the Kikka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) over 3000m turf at Kyoto Racecourse on October 26th.
Oken Bruce Lee who was a son of Jungle Pocket was purchased by Akira Fukui for 30,000,000yen at 2005 JRHA July Select Sale. He was the first foal that Fukui bought in the JRHA July Select Sale, so "Oken Bruce Lee" came from Fukui's favorite actor "Bruce Lee".
Oken Bruce Lee debuted six days after the first leg of the triple crown, Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and took his first win seven days after the Japanese Derby. However, trainer Hidetaka Otonashi made his decision to aim at the final leg of the 3yo classic when he saw the horse's performance in Aganogawa Tokubetsu, the middle-class stakes race in August. Oken Bruce Lee showed a powerful turn of foot in the following trial, G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai as well, and he finished 0.1 second behind the Japanese Derby winner Deep Sky and was qualified to the final leg of the triple crown.
The runner-up Flotation is another JRHA July Select Sale graduate. He is purchased by Hiroyoshi Usuda for 52,000,000yen at 2005 JRHA July Select Sale. The Special Week colt who was sent to 15th pick traveled from even last turning for home, but accelerated brilliantly in the stretch to finish second. Oken Bruce Lee will run the G1 Japan Cup on November 30th, according to trainer Otonashi.

Oken Bruce Lee

Sire: Jungle Pocket
Dam: Silver Joy
Sire of Dam: Silver Deputy
H3
Consigned: Northern Farm

(15th Jul 08)

Day#2 JRHA Select Foal Sale

Takaya Shimakawa paid 220,000,000yen to buy Hip#242, a colt by Deep Impact out of Biwa Heidi at the second session of Japan Racing Horse Association's July Select Sale, conducted at Northern Horse Park on Tuesday.
Biwa Heidi is the Champion 2-y-o filly in Japan in 1995, and has produced two Graded Stakes winners as the broodmare.
Many of my friends and advisers suggested me this is the horse to buy today," said Takaya Shimakawa after the purchase. "The price is more than I thought. I thought I would not go further than 200 million yen, but something pushed my back." Shimakawa also said he has not decided which trainer would train him. Riichi Kondo was the under-bidder.
On Tuesday, 18 foals of Deep Impact were offered and all of them were sold. On Tuesday, five lots were bought for more than 100 million yen, and three of them are the first crop by Deep Impact.
A big buyer who did not buy an offspring by Deep Impact was John Ferguson, representing Darley Japan. John Ferguson bought seven foals and four of them are foals by Agnes Tachyon, the current leading sire in Japan.
I do not intend to avoid Deep Impact", said John Ferguson. "I understand Deep Impact is the great horse and great stallion prospect, while Agnes Tachyon is the proven sire. I am just more confident to buy Agnes Tachyon than Deep Impact at this stage".
The biggest purchase by John Ferguson on Tuesday is Hip#319, own sister to Vodka, the filly who won the Japanese Derby beating colts in 2007, who cost 105,000,000yen.
I understand Vodka is one of the best filly in training in the world. The hip319 is a full sister to Vodka, and she should be very very valuable as the future broodmare. I do not know yet where she is going to run, but she should be top class horse at any place."
The gross sale on Tuesday is 4,471,500,000yen, which is 9.8% decline, and the average price 36,060,483yen is 4.0% decline, as compared with the Tuesday's session of last year.
The third and final session of the JRHA Sale will start at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

(15th Jul 08)

Day#3 JRHA Select Foal Sale

Takaya Shimakawa, the Sendai-based businessman who runs natural foods company, paid 100,000,000yen to secure the colt by Deep Impact out of Mill Grain.
This is the lot which I like the most in the catalogue" said Shimakawa about the brother to Fine Grain, the winner of G1/Takamatsuomiya Kinen in March this year. Mill Grain is the own sister to Pure Grain, the winner of the Irish Oaks.
When I visited Shadai Farm to inspect their consignments, I fell in love with this colt, and Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm strongly reommended this colt, saying this is one of the best Deep Impact. I have determined to buy him". Shimakawa also said the trainer who trains this colt is not decided.
The gross sale on Wednesday, 2,867,500,000yen, is 14.0% decline, and the average price on Wednesday, 29,260,204 yen, is 5.2% decline, as compared with the figure of Wednesday last year. The buy-back rate on Wednesday is 34.2%, which saw significant rise from the last year's 23.4%.
The total sale of foals session, conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, 7,339,000,000yen, is 11.5% decline, and the average price of foal session, 33,058,558yen, is 4.3% decline, as compared with the last year's foal session. The buy-back rate at the foal session is 29.3% while it was 24.3% last year.
And over all sale during three days at the 2008 JRHA July Sale, 9,686,600,000yen, is 16.3% decline, and the average price for three days, 29,622,630yen, is 10.9% decline, as compared with the last year. The buy-back rate through three days is 29.7%, while it was 25.5% last year.
It is solid market", said Teruya Yoshida, vice chairman of the Japan Racing Horse Association. "In other words, it is the acceptable result, under the current circumstances of business in Japan and all over the world. I am very happy to see the quality of Japanese-breds is very high now, and I am also happy to see more than 500,000,000yen was put into this market by the buyers from forign countires. I am quite confident the horses who will be exported to the countries of the buyers will run well there, and I hope they will encourage more buyers to come from foreign countries at this morket in near future."

(14th Jul 08)

Day#1 JRHA Select Foal Sale

Mr.Riichi Kondo spent 245,000,000yen to secure the brother to Kurofune, the winner ofG1/Japan Cup Dirt, and Bella Bellucci, MGSW in USA, at the opening session of the JRHA July Select Sale conducted on Monday at Northern Horse Park.
The colt is by Agnes Tachyon, the current leading sire in Japan, and is consigned by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm.
245,000,000yen is slightly lower than the record price of yearling session, however, as it is converted to US dollor, $2,289,719 is the new record price at the yearling session.
This is the pick of day", Riichi Kondo said about the colt after the purchase. "When I inspected all lots at Northern Farm three weeks ago, I am so much impressed with his walking, which is fantastic. Then, I saw him again a week ago and I am determined I must buy him.
Asked about who is going to train the colt, Kondo said, "I am using 14 to 15 trainers. I am going to send this colt to the trainer, who will earn the most for me, from today until the Derby day in 2009. This is a kind of prize to the trainer.
Notable new face at the sale is Mr.Nathan Tinkler from Australia. The prominent buyer at the sales at his home nation attended at the JRHA Sale for the first time and bought 3 lots for total sum of 96,500,000yen under the name of Patinack Farm.
Mr.Tinkler, who hopes to establish his racing operarion all over the world, plans to make his purchases at the Keeneland September and the Tattersalls October later the year.
The total sale of the opening session, 2,347,600,000yen, is 28.5% decline, and the average price 22,358,095yen is 26.4% decline, as compared with the previous year. And the buy-back rate 30.5% is slightly higher than the last year's 28.0%.
As we consider the general economy in this country, this is the figures we expected", said Teruya Yoshida, the vice chairman of the JRHA. He continued, "I am happy with the quality of yearlings offered today, and I believe the buyers should be happy with the horses they bought. As far as they are happy, I believe they will come back at this market.
Tuesday's foal session starts at 11:00a.m. at the Northern Horse Park.

(28th May 08)

163 yearlings and 336 foals are catalogued. Index for 2008 sake is now available.

Please get into index and catalogue from this page.

(19th May 08)

ASIAN WINDS takes Victoria Mile

The Japan Racing Horse Association's July Select Sale produced another G1 winner on May 18th.
The Victoria Mile, Graded One event for fillies and mares at Tokyo Racecourse, went to Asian Winds, bought by Yoshimi Ota at the 2004 July Select Sale for 18,000,000yen.
Hideaki Fujiwara, JRA trainer based at Ritto Training Center, fell in love with the filly by Fuji Kiseki as he looked her at Shadai Farm for the first time and recommended Yoshimi Ota, long-time client for Fujiwara, to buy her at the JRHA Sale.
Fujiwara understood this filly would be late-developed horse and gave her very light campaign as she was three.
Fujiwara thought she is matured enough to compete in the top class as she became four, and Asian Winds won the G2/Hanshin Himba Stakes on April 12th, last time out.
Asian Winds' sire Fuji Kiseki by Sunday Silence is having fantastic season this year. Asian Winds is the third Graded One Stakes winner sired by Fuji Kiseki this year, after Sun Classique, the winner of G1/Dubai Duty Free, and Pure Grain, the winner of G1/Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
Asian Winds will head to America to run the G2/Cash Call Mile at Hollywood Park on July 5th.

Asian Winds

Sire: Fuji Kiseki
Dam: Sakurasaku
Sire of Dam: Danehill
M4
Consigned: Shadai Farm

(7th May 08)

ADMIRE JUPITER is honored Emperor's Cup

The spring edition of the prestigious Emperor's Cup, the Graded One Stakes over two miles at Kyoto Racecourse's grass course on May 4th, was won by Admire Jupiter, the JRHA July Sale's graduate.
Admire Jupiter was widely recognized as the prospective Classic winner in prior to the Triple Crown in 2006, however, a leg fracture forced him to sideline for 16 months. He returned to the track last summer, and captured the first Graded Stakes as he won G2/Copa Republica Argentina in November at Tokyo, while keeping a coupe of screws in his leg. The talented son of French Deputy proved that he has enough stamina to compete on the Emperor's Cup, as he won the G2/Hanshin Daishoten over 15 furlongs at Hanshin in March last time out.
It was the ding-dong battle between Admire Jupiter and Meisho Samson, who tried to complete the back-to-back win of this race, throughout the homestretch, and Admire Jupiter was a nose ahead of Meisho Samson as the pair passed the finishing line.
Admire Jupiter was bred by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, and bought by Riichi Kondo at the 2003 JRHA Select July Sale for 41,000,000yen. While Admire Jupiter is now eligible to run the Melbourne Cup in November at Flemington, he will stay at home this year and may try the Sheema Classic in Dubai in 2009, according to Riichi Kondo.

Admire Jupiter

Sire: French Deputy
Dam: J's Jewelry
Sire of Dam: Real Shadai
C5
Consigned: Northern Farm

(7th Mar 08)

Summary of the 2008 JRHA July Select Sale

Dates
July 14th, Monday, Yearling Session
*Session starts at noon,

* Buyers can inspect the yearlings at the barn area, while the pre-sale exhibition is not organized in the morning of sales day

July 15th, Tuesday & July 16th Wednesday, Foal Session
*Session starts at 11:00a.m.
*Pre-sale inspection starts at 8:30a.m.

Number of lots offered
*Approximately 150 yearlings
*Approximately 300 foals

Inspection of sale horses
* Showing/Inspection times are from 9:00a.m.to 5:00p.m. on July 12th Saturday and July 13th Sunday.
* Horses are required to arrive at the barn area by 9:00a.m. on July 13th Sunday.

Veterinary Repository
* Viewing at the Veterinary Repository is available from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. on July 12th Saturday and July 13th Sunday.
On July 14th Monday, it opens from 9:00a.m. until the end of sales session

To be held at
*Northern Horse Park, Tomakomai City

Conducted by
*Japan Race Horse Association(JRHA)

(8th Jan 08)

Two JRHA graduates received JRA Award

The 2007 JRA Awards is announced and Admire Moon, the graduate of JRHA Select Sale, is awarded as the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2008.
In addition to G1/Takarazuka Kinen and G1/Japan Cup, the most important and prestigious two events in the racing calendar in Japan, Admire Moon went to Dubai in March and captured G1/Dubai Duty Free, beating the top class horses from all over the world. His performance was regarded highly at the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Ranking, published at the same time as the JRA Awards, in which Admire Moon ranked the seventh best among all racehorses in the world.
Admire Moon carried the silk of Riichi Kondo, who bought Admire Moon at the 2003 JRHA Select Sale from Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm, as he won the Dubai Duty Free and the Takarazuka Kinen, and then wore the color of Darley Japan Farm, which acquired the major steak of Admire Moon as the future stallion standing there, as he won the Japan Cup.
Apart from Admire Moon, Japan Racing Horse Association's Select Sale produced another winner of 2007 JRA Awards.
Asakusa Kings, the winner of G1/Kikka Sho, the Japanese St.Leger, is named as the Japanese Champion 3-y-o colt.
Asakusa Kings is owned by Keiko Tahara, whose late-husband Genichiro Tahara bought him from Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm at the 2004 JRHA Select Sale. Asakusa Kings, trained by Ryuji Okubo, finished second to Vodka in the Japanese Derby in May, and then, took the final leg of Japanese Triple Crown in October.
The official handicappers gave him the rating 115 to his performance in the Kikka Sho, and recognize him as the Champion 3-y-o Stayer in 2007. Asakusa Kings is kept in training in 2008.