Written by Paul Vettise
Maurice (Jpn), who stood three successive seasons at Arrowfield Stud before COVID-19 prevented his return in 2020, was represented by a timely first winner in Kaiser Nova (Jpn) at the weekend ahead of the Japan Racing Association’s history-making Select Sale of yearlings and foals.
The 2-year-old colt was successful on debut at Hakodate for Japan’s leading trainer Yoshito Yahagi, well-known in Australia as the guiding force behind last year’s G1 Cox Plate winner and subsequent Japanese Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux (Jpn (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}).
Kaiser Nova is the third winner out of 2-year-old stakes-winner Stellar Lead (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}) and is from the family of Group 1 winners Second Empire (Ire) (Fairy King {USA}), Salsabil (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Northern Spur (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).
There is also another strong Australasian connection with the pedigree page featuring the Australian-bred G1 New Zealand Oaks winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready {USA}).
“We are delighted to get the first winner and we are expecting a lot more,” Northern Farm Manager of International Affairs Shingo Hashimoto said.
Multiple Group 1 winner Maurice was raced by Kazumi Yoshida, owner of Northern Farm and a major shareholder in Shadai Stallion Station where the former Japan Horse of the Year stands.
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Shadai Stallion Station
The record-breaking JRA Yearling Sale on Monday will be followed by the foal session on Tuesday and, like all auctions worldwide, has had to adapt due to coronavirus.
“All the buyers needed to be registered in advance due to COVID-19 and unfortunately there are no foreign buyers on the list,” Hashimoto said.
“I have also talked to some of the bloodstock agents and as far as I understand there are no Australian or foreign buyers this year.”
What an impact
That didn’t stop Northern Farm’s yearling son of Deep Impact (Jpn) out of Sheave (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}), selling to Tetsuhide Kunimoto for 510,000,000 yen (AU$6.85 million), the highest-priced yearling ever sold in Japan.
The colt is a half-brother to the G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (USA) (Street Boss {USA}) and their unraced dam is a half-sister to the stakes-winner Taketheodds (USA) (Street Sense {USA}).
Eleven representatives of Maurice went through the ring with his top-priced lot from Northern Farm selling for 37,000,000 yen (AU$496,566) to KR JAPAN. The filly is of the winning mare Kaiserin (Jpn) (Admire Vega {Jpn}).
Mikki Isle's (Jpn) top lot sold for 82,000,000 yen (AU$1,098,195) while Satono Aladdin (Jpn), who shuttles to Rich Hill Stud, had a filly sell for 40,000,000 yen (AU$535,000).
The sole representative of American Pharoah (USA) realised 41,000,000 yen (AU$551,821). and Caravaggio's (USA) only yearling sold for 105,000,000 yen (AU$1.4 million).
Top 10 lots
| 114 | c. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Sheave (USA) | Northern Farm | Tetsuhide Kunimoto | 510,000,000 | $6,829,920 |
| 56 | c. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Forever Darling (USA) | Northern Farm | Danox Co.,Ltd. | 400,000,000 | $5,356,800 |
| 36 | f. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Teddy's Promise (USA) | Northern Farm | KIEFFERS Co.,Ltd. | 240,000,000 | $3,214,080 |
| 67 | c. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Absolute Lady (Ire) | Shadai Farm | Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co.,Ltd | 220,000,000 | $2,946,240 |
| 108 | c. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Cambina (Ire) | Shadai Farm | Takaya Shimakawa | 200,000,000 | $2,678,400 |
| 18 | c. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Camprock (Fr) | Northern Farm | Mizuki Noda | 190,000,000 | $2,544,480 |
| 50 | c. | Heart's Cry (Jpn) | Lucky to Be Me (USA) | Northern Farm | F Racing | 190,000,000 | $2,544,480 |
| 92 | c. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Palace Rumor (USA) | Northern Farm | Azabu Shoji | 190,000,000 | $2,544,480 |
| 126 | c. | Deep Impact (Jpn) | Kartica (GB) | Shadai Farm | Hirosaki Toshihiro HD Co.,Ltd. | 170,000,000 | $2,276,640 |
| 23 | c. | Duramente (Jpn) | Proud Spell (USA) | Northern Farm | Hirosaki Toshihiro HD Co.,Ltd. | 160,000,000 | $2,142,720 |
Three tours of duty
Maurice stood his first three Australian seasons at Arrowfield in 2017, 2018 and 2019 but, due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions remained in Japan this year along with fellow shuttlers Mikki Isle and Real Steel (Jpn).
Maurice’s first Australian yearlings averaged $121,000 in 2020, achieving a top price of $300,000 for a colt out of Eagle Magic (NZ) (Duelled), who is from the family of champion mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), purchased by Hawkes Racing.
He was sold by Arrowfield, who also offered a filly out of dual stakes-winner Gibraltar Campion (NZ) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) that sold for $220,000 to Group 1 Bloodstock.
A number of Maurice’s first Southern Hemisphere-bred progeny have found their way into a number of Australia’s leading stables including Chris Waller, Peter and Paul Snowden, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Bjorn Baker, Hawkes Racing, Matthew Smith, and Leon and Troy Corstens.
