Increases Across the Board at Hokkaido September Sale

The second to last Japanese yearling sale on the calendar is in the books, and the health of the Japanese bloodstock market compared to other global markets was on full display during the Hokkaido September Sale from Sept. 22-24. The three-day sale saw healthy increases across the board despite the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn.

A day longer than last year's sale, the 2020 renewal's increase in gross was expected on numbers alone, but the increases to the clearance, average and median were a welcome relief to the Japanese breeding industry. Of the 601 lots offered, 451 (75%) sold, grossing ¥2,211,220,000 (US$20,605,566/£16,442,952/€18,011,762), a 38.39% increase. The average and median were ¥4,902,926 (US$46,254/£36,458/€39,937) and ¥3,850,000 (US$36,320/£28,629/€31,360), an increase of 11.38% and 11.4%, respectively. Interestingly, the lowest price of the sale, which usually remains uniform in sales each year, was ¥660,000 (US$6,226/£4,907/€5,376), a 103.7% increase from 2019. Overall, 31 yearlings sold for over ¥10,000,000 (US$94,339/£74,364/€81,459) this year, up from 25 last year.

The most expensive lot of the sale was lot 370, a colt by Vincennes (Jpn) selected by Dearest Club for ¥27,500,000 (US$259,433/£204,503/€224,014). He is a half-brother to G2 St Lite Kinen and G3 Radio Nikkei Sho victor Babbitt (Jpn) (Nakayama Festa {Jpn}) and was offered on the second day.

Hokko Tarumae (Jpn) led all stallions by gross with ¥73,480,000 (US$693,207/£546,438/€598,684) for 12 sold of 13 offered and an average of ¥6,123,333 (US$57,767/£45,536/€49,890), tops of all stallions with 10 or more sold. The Factor was a strong second, with all 12 of his yearlings marked as sold for a gross of ¥69,630,000 (US$656,886/£517,808/€567,316) and an average of ¥5,802,500 (US$54,740/£43,125/€47,276). Strong Return (Jpn) had the most lots going into the sale with 19, and 15 of his yearlings found new homes for an aggregate of ¥68,090,000 (US$642,358/£506,054/€554,445) and an average of ¥4,539,333 (US$42,823/£33,740/€36,963).

Eleven yearlings by Asia Express grossed ¥60,390,000 (US$569,716/£448,812/€491,662) and averaged ¥5,490,000 (US$51,792/£40,801/€44,696). Copano Rickey (Jpn) had 12 lots gross ¥59,730,000 (US$563,490/£443,907/€486,304) and average ¥4,977,500 (US$46,957/£36,992/€40,525). Isla Bonita (Jpn) grossed ¥56,100,000 (US$529,245/£417,025/€456,835) and averaged ¥5,610,000 (US$52,924/£49,136/€53,826) with 10 sold. Makfi (GB) had nine lots sell for a gross of ¥55,110,000 (US$519,905/£409,578/€448,805) and average of ¥6,123,333 (US$57,767/£45,508/€49,867).

Four popular young sires sold all of their yearlings that were cataloged. Four yearlings by Kizuna (Jpn) sold for a gross of ¥47,190,000 (US$445,188/£350,719/€384,331) and an average of ¥11,797,500 (US$111,297/£87,010/€95,349). Duramente (Jpn) had four lots sell that grossed ¥43,890,000 (US$414,056/£326,147/€357,441) and averaged ¥10,972,500 (US$103,514/£81,536/€89,360). Mikki Isle (Jpn)'s eight lots brought a combined ¥42,680,000 (US$402,641/£317,176/€347,574) and an average of ¥5,335,000 (US$503,310/£39,647/€43,446). Maurice (Jpn) was represented by a trio which sold for a total of ¥28,600,000 (US$269,811/£212,533/€232,901) and an average of ¥9,533,333 (US$89,937/£70,838/€77,643).

The final yearling sale of the 2020 sales calendar will be held on Oct. 19-20, the Hokkaido Autumn Sale. COVID-19 protocols that were upheld in previous sales will continue through the Autumn Sale.

US$1 = JP¥106.00

All values include tax.