Aussie mares making their presence known in Japan

3 min read
Australian-bred and -raced broodmares have increasingly - and will continue to - make their mark on racing in Japan. Alan Carasso takes a look at high profile Australian mares in Japan along with their JPN-bred progeny performance in the sales ring and/or at the races.

King's Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice ex Nureyev’s Girl, by Nureyev {USA})

Winner of the 2010 G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and placed four times at the top level in Australia, King’s Rose is the dam of one foal to make the races, the G3 Epsom Cup winner Satono Arthur (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}), a ¥195 million (about A$2.1 million) purchase by Hajime Satomi as a yearling at the 2015 JRHA Select Sale.

The mare has continued to shine commercially, as her Lord Kanaloa (JPN) colt of 2016 fetched ¥180 million (A$2.2m) as a yearling, while a yearling full-brother to Satono Arthur sold for ¥250 million (A$3.1m) this past July.

King's Rose

Rouge Coeur (Redoute’s Choice ex Sunday Valentine, by Sunday Silence {USA})

Purchased by Northern Farm for $400,000 out of the 2010 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Rouge Coeur was placed twice from nine career starts, but has recouped that investment in the sales ring.

A Symboli Kris S (USA) colt out of the mare made ¥29 million (A$350k) as a yearling in 2016, while Rouqual Rogue (JPN) (Kurofune {USA}) fetched ¥52 million (A$640k) last summer. The latter was a maiden winner at first asking on dirt at Sapporo Aug. 25 .

Shamrocker (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ} ex Bohemian Blues {NZ}, by Blues Traveller {Ire})

Victorious over males in the 2011 G1 Australian Guineas and G1 ATC Derby, Shamrocker has been represented by five foals at the Select Sales.

The mare’s Deep Impact foal of 2015, named Satono Gloire (JPN)--a ¥170 million yearling (A$2.1m)--is a two-time winner from his four starts. Troll (Jpn) (Orfevre {JPN}) sold for ¥94 million (A$1.15m) as a foal in 2016, while Hajime Satomi, who races Satono Gloire, gave ¥180 million (A$2.2m) for her Lord Kanaloa foal last year.

Hirotsugu Inokuma, who is represented by the ‘Barows’ horses in Japan, paid ¥88 million (A$1.1m) for a filly by Deep Impact at this year’s foal sale.

Shamrocker

Mosheen (Fastnet Rock ex Sumehra {NZ}, by Stravinsky {USA})

A four-time Group 1 winner of nearly A$2.8 million, including the Crown Oaks and Australian and Randwick Guineas, Mosheen is the dam of Primo Scene (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}), winner of three of her six career trips to the post, including this year’s G3 Fairy S. (1600m) and a latest success in the G3 Sekiya Kinen at Niigata Aug. 12.

Mosheen’s female family includes Deep Impact’s French 1000 Guineas winner Beauty Parlour (GB) and SW & MGSP Barocci (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}).

Mosheen

More Than Sacred (More Than Ready {USA} ex Danalaga, by Danehill)

Bred on a wildly successful cross, More Than Sacred took out the 2013 G1 New Zealand Oaks and was listed-placed in Australia prior to her export to Japan.

Her first foal, a colt by Lord Kanaloa (JPN) named Sacred King (JPN), made ¥36 million (A$440k) at the JRHA Foal Sale in 2016, while her Heart’s Cry (JPN) filly of this year was knocked down for ¥62 million (A$760k).

Southern Speed (Southern Image {USA} ex Golden Eagle {NZ}, by Zabeel {NZ})

Winner of the 2011 G1 Caulfield Cup, defeating future G1 Melbourne Cup hero Green Moon (IRE) (Montjeu {IRE}), Southern Speed has been represented by two foals to make the races,.

¥32 million (A$390k) yearling purchase Admire Hibiki (JPN) (Lord Kanaloa {JPN}) was a maiden winner when trying the dirt for the first time in his second career appearance at Nakayama this past March.

Southern Speed