JRHA Sale Feature

JRHA SALE FEATURE

JULY 13, 2011

Three-part brother to Deep Impact tops final JHRA sale session

by Michele MacDonald

Since Japan has never seen anything quite like Deep Impact, a Triple Crown

winner and highly successful young sire, it was certain his attractive

three-quarter brother would be a showstopper at the Japan Racing Horse

Association Select Sale. Just four months old and still with his dam, German

Group 1 winner Wind in Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao), the flashy bay by Neo Universe

sparked a murmured wave of anticipation as he strode into the Northern Horse

Park sale pavilion's ring Tuesday.

In a matter of breaths, the first bid rang out like a cannon shot at a

mammoth ¥100 million (US$1,219,512) from Tokyo-based Hajime Satomi, founder of

the slot machine manufacturer that bought videogame maker Sega Corp., and a

three-way bidding war ensued. When the shots finally ceased, bloodstock agent

Nobutaka Tada, who bought a JRHA record-priced yearling filly by Deep Impact on

the previous day, again emerged the winner, securing the Neo Universe foal for

¥250 million ($3,048,781). The price was the highest of the session and ninth

best in the storied history of the JRHA foal sale.

Electrified by the most robust bidding since 2007, the JRHA reported overall

gross of ¥9,173,200,000 for the two-day sale, up 41.2 percent from last year.

The foal session, during which 161 youngsters were sold from 220 offered,

generated total turnover of ¥4,447,200,000, 33.2 percent higher than the

comparable session in 2010. These impressive numbers are even more noteworthy in

a nation that has been beset by economic woes for years and devastated by the

March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

"Japan has come back," proclaimed a beaming Teruya Yoshida, owner of Shadai

Farm and vice chairman of the JRHA.

While officials could not cite any specific reasons for the huge gains after

four years of declines, Yoshida suggested that Japanese buyers who had been

concerned about luxury spending after the March disaster were glad to direct

their energies toward horses. He also said that the first- and second-place

finishes in the $10-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) by Japanese-bred stars

Victoire Pisa (Neo Universe) and Transcend (Wild Rush) made a strong statement

around the globe, igniting interest.

"Now Japanese-breds are of world-class standards," Yoshida declared.

The foal session-topping Neo Universe colt naturally stirred comparisons to

Deep Impact, and most were quite favorable. Tada recalled bidding

unsuccessfully, on Deep Impact when he was a foal, and said both are on the

small side, but athletic.

"I liked everything about him. He moves very well and mentally, he's very

calm. We really wanted him," said Tada of the Neo Universe colt after buying him

for a new partnership that also acquired the JRHA record yearling filly out of

Horse of the Year Air Groove (Tony Bin) for ¥360 million during Monday's

session. "I'd really like to say thank you to Katsumi (Yoshida, owner of

Northern Farm) for consigning such a treasure to the sale.

"You can't get any better," Tada added of the purchases of the foal and the

yearling filly, both of whom reportedly will be owned by Tada's longtime client,

pachinko machine distributor Hidetoshi Yamamoto; and show business executive

Yasushi Kubota. Both also own horses individually.

Although sale officials had predicted that Japanese buyers seemed ready to

spend after months of uncertainty and had registered for the sale and inspected

horses in large numbers, no one imagined that the results would be so robust. In

addition to the session topper, five other foals drew final bids of at least ¥82

million (US$1 million), emphasizing that Japanese owners continue to follow

tradition in this unique market, maintaining a yen for very young horses.

While denied on the session topper, Satomi returned to action with a

vengeance several hours later, fending off all rivals to secure a stylish Deep

Impact colt out of Monmouth Oaks (G2) winner Magic Storm (Storm Cat) on a bid of

¥130 million (US$1,585,365), second highest of the day. Splashed with four white

feet, the colt is from the family of Hard Spun (Danzig) and Little Current

(*Sea-Bird).

Satomi declined to talk to the media after his big purchase, but proudly took

his colt by the halter and stood with him while about 20 members of the media

shot photographs and video. Accompanying the owner and smiling broadly was

retired trainer Yasuo Ikee, who conditioned Deep Impact. Ikee had recommended

the colt out of Magic Storm to Satomi as the top youngster in the foal session.

Another buyer who challenged for the top colt, natural foods entrepreneur

Takaya Shimakawa, also returned to the ring later with determination. Long a top

player at the JRHA sale, Shimakawa's participation was expected to decline this

year due to major losses of his business facilities in Sendai after the tsunami,

but he prevailed in bidding for two colts that each cost more than the

equivalent of $1 million.

A sunny-natured, softspoken man, Shimakawa paid ¥100 million (US$1,219,512)

for Hip No. 351, a bay colt by promising freshman sire, classic winner and

champion sprinter and miler Daiwa Major out of Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) winner

Cativa (Sir Cat).

"When I went to inspect the horses at Shadai Farm, this was my pick -- he was

the best foal consigned by Shadai and I like Daiwa Major, who is off to a flying

start," Shimakawa said. "On the other hand, I am dreaming to win the (Japanese)

Derby, so I am not in a hurry with him."

Shortly after buying the Daiwa Major colt, Shimakawa was spurred back into

action by a friend who suggested he acquire Hip 367, a son of Deep Impact out of

French Group 2 winner Musical Way (Gold Away [Ire]) from the Northern Farm

consignment. Shimakawa made the winning bid of ¥94 million (US$1,146,341).

"When I visited Northern Farm, I saw many horses and I cannot remember this

foal," Shimakawa confessed, laughing. "But my friend strongly recommended this

one to me. I don't know if (the colt) is good or bad, but I hope he will be in

the field for the Derby in 2013."