Japanese sires spice up Easter draft
Japan's supersire Deep Impact, who has two superbly bred yearlings in Arrowfield's Inglis Easter draft. (PHOTO: Shadai Stallion Station)
A decade ago, not even John Messara imagined that almost a quarter of the yearlings in Arrowfield’s Inglis Easter draft would be by leading Japanese stallions.
Yet here we are in 2021 and 11 of Arrowfield’s 49 catalogued Easter yearlings are by Deep Impact, Duramente, Just A Way, Lord Kanaloa & Maurice.
They result from Arrowfield’s support for supersire Deep Impact and the Stud’s breeding partnership with Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm, responsible for Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler, Champion 2YO Estijaab and Group 1 winners Hot Snitzel, Reaan, Sweet Idea & Tagaloa.
It’s a strategy that recognised the exceptional quality of Japanese horses long before Lys Gracieux, Fierce Impact, Mer de Glace, Tosen Stardom, Brave Smash, Real Impact & Delta Blues won major Australian Group 1 races.
The five Japanese stallions represented in Arrowfield’s Inglis Easter 2021 consignment are a formidable group:
DEEP IMPACT (Sunday Silence-Wind in Her Hair by Alzao)
Nine-time Champion Sire and leading the current Japanese Sires’ Premiership, almost two years after his death in July 2019. Sire of 170 SW (almost 11% of his worldwide runners), 47 at Group 1 level, with 11 successful in Group 1 races outside Japan. His 15 winners in Australia include Group 1 winners Fierce Impact, Tosen Stardom & Real Impact and Arrowfield’s Group 1-placed colt & Australian Derby contender Bucharest. Arrowfield’s final Deep Impact yearlings are the first foals of two outstanding racemares: a filly ex Abbey Marie and a colt ex Omei Sword.
DURAMENTE (King Kamehameha-Admire Groove by Sunday Silence)
Champion 3YO Colt, 2015 & dual Group 1 winner; son of Champion Admire Groove & grandson of Horse of the Year Air Groove. Champion First Season Sire, 2020 (just heading off Maurice); sire of two SW inc. Titleholder, winner of last weekend’s Japanese 2000 Guineas lead-up.
Duramente’s Easter filly is out of Bulbinella , a half-sister to Champion mare Shonan Pandora, from the family of Hong Kong Vase G1 winner & leading sire Stay Gold.
JUST A WAY (Heart’s Cry-Sibyl by Wild Again)
World Champion Racehorse of 2014 with a figure of 130 & three-time Group 1 winner including a superlative Meydan Dubai Duty Free victory. Champion First, Second & Third Season Sire of 7 stakeswinners inc. last year’s Champion 2YO Colt Danon The Kid.
Just A Way’s 3 Easter yearlings all boast illustrious relatives: fillies ex Presque Isle (family of Champion Sprinter-Miler Mikki Isle & Group 1 winner Aerolithe) and Nanyo Venus (family of Champion Sprinter-Miler Indy Champ and international G1 winners Real Impact & Neorealism); and a colt ex Testico (family of Champion US 2YO & Sire Chief’s Crown).
LORD KANALOA (King Kamehameha-Lady Blossom by Storm Cat)
Horse of the Year, 2013 and six-time Group 1 winner including sensational back-to-back Hong Kong Sprint victories. Champion First Season Sire, 2017 & Leading Active Sire, 2020; 2021 Fee: ~A$180,000; sire of 24 SW, 5 G1 winners inc. two-time Horse of the Year Almond Eye, Champion 3YO Colt Saturnalia & Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa.
Lord Kanaloa’s Arrowfield Easter yearling is a colt ex Lunatique, full sister to Champion & 3-time Group 1 winner Fierement, from the family of Champion European 3YO miler Luth Enchantee.
MAURICE (Screen Hero-Mejiro Frances by Carnegie)
Horse of the Year & Champion Sprinter-Miler, 2015; six-time Group 1 winner in Japan & Hong Kong. Second leading First Season Sire, in Japan, 2020; currently heads Japan’s Second Season Sires’ premiership. Sire of 3 first-crop 2YO winners in Australia, all out of Danehill-line mares: Balmaurice, Mazu & Conrad.
Maurice has 4 Easter yearlings in the Arrowfield draft: a half-sister to Champion racehorse & leading young sire Dundeel; and colts out of French Group 3 winner Vadapolina and the Redoute’s Choice mares Belle Giselle (dam of Group winner Messene & Listed winner Cordero) & Only Roses (half-sister to Group winners The Inevitable & Blahnik).
