By Toshihiro Onikubo
There are 501 yearlings catalogued for the Hidaka Horse Breeders' Association (HBBA)'s Hokkaido Selection Sale, the largest number in its lengthy history. Previously instalments of the premiere sale conducted by the HHBA used to be held on a single day following a day of showing. However, it was extended to two days to cope with the increasing demand from breeders to offer yearlings. For 2024, The Hidaka Horse Breeders' Association has decided to increase the length of the sale even further. The boutique sale will be held over three days this year without an inspection day (July 22-24) at the Hokkaido Sales Complex. The auction will start at 11:30 a.m. each day with lots available for inspection from 8:30 a.m.
The opening day of the Hokkaido Selection Sale has been branded as the premium session. A select group of 140 yearlings will go under the hammer. A total of 53 of the session's lots (37.8%) are either out of black-type mares and/or black-type producers, while 71 out of the 361 lots (19.6%) in the final two days can claim the same.
The unbeaten 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner, Contrail (Jpn) will have his first crop at the yearling sales this year with four yearlings on offer at the Hokkaido Selection Sale. Lot 24 is the only one out of a black-type winner. His dam, Teorema (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) is a multiple black-type winner and this is her first foal.
Some notable imported sires will have their first crop at the yearling sales. Three-time Group 1 winner, Benbatl (GB) has five yearlings in this sale including lot 43, a colt half-brother to a Group 3 winner, Set Up (Jpn) (Declaration Of War). Lot 104, also a colt, is out of Group 3 winner Crown Rose (Jpn) (Rosado {Jpn}). American-bred French juvenile Group 1 winner, Van Gogh also has eight of his first yearlings catalogued. Three of them are out of black-type mares or producers including lot 106, a colt out of Flower Rock (Jpn) (Ammirare {Jpn}), a half-brother to Justin Rock (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), a juvenile Group 3 winner.
There are also a couple of interesting yearlings who were purchased while in utero at international bloodstock sales. Lot 69, a son of Tom's d'Etat out of My Love Venezuela (Scat Daddy), is a half-brother to a Grade III winner Sy Dog (Slumber {GB}). His dam was sold for $200,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2022. Tom's d'Etat is a first season 2-year-old sire who had his first winner at Belterra Park in Ohio last month. Lot 96, a Dark Angel (Ire) colt out of black-type mare, Qatar Power (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), will also go through the ring. The mare was sold at the Arqana December Sale for €785,000 with this colt in utero. Dark Angel has 12 individual winners from 14 runners including a Group 1-winning sprinter, Mad Cool (Ire) in Japan.
In terms of Japanese domestic sires, Kitasan Black (Jpn) is currently standing for ¥20 million ($125,000), and he is the most expensive sire with yearlings at the premier sale. He has 12 yearlings catalogued including lot 44, a half-brother to a Group 3 placed, Power Hall (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) and lot 116, out of dual group winner, Paddock Seattle (Arg) (Seattle Fitz {Arg}).
The Hokkaido Selection Sale has been bettering its record of average price and clearance rate for the last three consecutive years.
$1=¥160
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