Japan opens door to rest of the world
July 19th 2008 03:26
The JRHA Select Sale of 2008 ushered in a new era for Japan - and by extension the broader world - with buyers from foreign countries now being openly invited to purchase yearlings.
(photo: JRHA)
This three-day auction represents the elite of thoroughbred breeding in Japan, and this year there were four foreign buyers registered with the association to take part in this new phase and open invitation to the world.
Of most interest for Australia was the involvement of Nathan Tinkler who has emerged as a major player (in waiting) on the Australian racing scene with an acquisition of more than $50 million in horses already in Australia for his Patinack Farm in Queensland - and now this extension onto the international scene.
At this time Patinack Farm will have a limited (though possibly meteoric) impact on the racing in Australia in the early months of the new racing year with some very talented tried-stock acquisitions. But it will be this cavalcade of expensive yearlings that will propel in into the spotlight over future years.
And thankfully Nathan Tinkler is thinking about racing on more than parochial terms (this venture to Japan a first hint). He purchased a colt by the current leading Japanese Sire Agnes Tachyon for 64 million yen ($620,500). Overall he bought four additional fillies (by Symboli Kris S,; Stravinsky; Alkaased & Shamardal) for a total expenditure of 129.5 million yen ($1.254 million). Obviously the fillies will add one day to his quality breeding stock - but the colt was bought with the intention to one day stand him as a shuttle stallion. Attractively bred by the current champion Japanese sire out of Silk Prima Donna who was the winner of the Yusun Himba (Japanese Oaks). Tinkler hopes to race the colt in Japan and Europe and is looking to setting up a Northern Hemisphere base in Japan. Tinkler’s racing aspirations include the goals of winning a Japan Cup - and much to my delight the worthwhile wish and aspiration of winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Nathan Tinkler is not yet finished (how big is his budget?!) in purchasing quality thoroughbreds. He plans on securing four or five more at either (or including) the Keeneland September Yearling Sales, and the Sales at Tattersall’s and Deauville this year.
Japan has taken its horses to the world in recent years, and earned a reputation as a major racing nation. The reciprocation in allowing the world a greater access to Japan is a positive move. Primarily brought upon by the disappearance of the boom years when the crops by Sunday Silence would extract a premium from the wealthy Japanese owners - but it is also an inclusive measure that highlights the global aspects of horseracing and thoroughbred breeding.
Along with Nathan Tinkler in establishing this initial status to buy at the JRHA sale were New Zealand Thoroughbred Bloodstock; (the British based) Blandford Bloodstock; the Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Darley (John Ferguson acting as bloodstock manager for Sheikh Mohammed).
note: Darley and the Hong Kong Jockey Club have previously had minor acquisitions at this sale but this year does signal a new attitude and direction from the JRHA.
Here is the pedigree page of the colt Nathan Tinkler purchased:
27
BAY COLT Foaled March 21, 2007
Consigned by Northern Farm
BAY
COLT
By AGNES TACHYON (JPN). 2006 and 2007 Champion juvenile sire in Japan,
classic winner of 4 races in 4 starts, Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)
[JPN1], etc. Retired to stud in 2002. Sire of DEEP SKY ( 2008 Japanese
Derby [JPN1] ) , CAPTAIN THULE ( 2008 Japanese 2000 Guineas [JPN1] ) ,
DAIWA SCARLET ( Japanese 1000 Guineas [JPN1] ) , LOGIC ( NHK Mile Cup
[JPN1]), ADMIRE AURA [G2], ADMIRE COMMANDO [JPN2], etc.
1st dam
SILK PRIMA DONNA (JPN), by Brian’s Time (USA). 3 wins in Japan,
Yushun Himba ( Japanese Oaks ) [JPN1] , 2 nd Yonsai Himba
Tokubetsu [JPN2] , 3 rd Oka Sho ( Japanese 1000 Guineas ) [JPN1] .
Dam of 3 foals of racing age, 1 to race.
2nd dam
BOUND TO DANCE (USA), by Northern Dancer (CAN). Unraced. Dam of
?
MOERE ADMIRAL (JPN) (c. by Brian’s Time (USA)). 6 wins in Ja-
pan, Hokkaido Nisai Yushun [JPN3], Sunrise Cup, Aqualine S.
DANCE AHEAD (USA) (g. by Val de l’Orne (FR)). 4 wins in N.A.
SILK RADIANCE (JPN) (f. by Mining (USA)). 3 wins in Japan.
PRIMA (JPN) (f. by Tony Bin (IRE)). 3 wins in Japan.
BIWA NATASHKA (JPN) (f. by Time for a Change ( USA) ) . 2 wins in
Japan.
3rd dam
TRULY BOUND ( USA) , by In Reality ( USA) . 9 wins in N. A. , Arlington-
Washington Lassie S [G2], Ashland S [G2]. Dam of ?
SHELL GINGER (IRE). 2 wins in Ireland, Killavullan S [G3].
YEOMAN’S POINT ( IRE) . 3 wins in Ireland, Challenge S [LR] , 2
nd Curragh Cup [G3] , 4 wins over the jumps in Ireland and
England.
HOUSEBOUND (CAN). 3 wins in N.A., Friar Rock S.
Bounding Minister (CAN). 2 wins in N. A. , 2nd Yearling Sales S.
Sire.
Secret Truth (CAN). Unraced. Dam of ?
PLEASANT SECRET (USA). 15 wins in Chile, Copa Reina Is-
abel II [G2], La Copa [G3].
4th dam
NATASHKA ( USA ) , by Dedicate ( USA ) . 8 wins in N. A. , Monmouth
Oaks. Dam of GREGORIAN (Joe McGrath Memorial S [G1]).
Here is a video of Agnes Tachyon winning a feature race in Japan
(number 2 & comes from midfield):
Agnes Tachyon x Silk Prima Donna Colt
(photo: JRHA)
This three-day auction represents the elite of thoroughbred breeding in Japan, and this year there were four foreign buyers registered with the association to take part in this new phase and open invitation to the world.
Of most interest for Australia was the involvement of Nathan Tinkler who has emerged as a major player (in waiting) on the Australian racing scene with an acquisition of more than $50 million in horses already in Australia for his Patinack Farm in Queensland - and now this extension onto the international scene.
At this time Patinack Farm will have a limited (though possibly meteoric) impact on the racing in Australia in the early months of the new racing year with some very talented tried-stock acquisitions. But it will be this cavalcade of expensive yearlings that will propel in into the spotlight over future years.
And thankfully Nathan Tinkler is thinking about racing on more than parochial terms (this venture to Japan a first hint). He purchased a colt by the current leading Japanese Sire Agnes Tachyon for 64 million yen ($620,500). Overall he bought four additional fillies (by Symboli Kris S,; Stravinsky; Alkaased & Shamardal) for a total expenditure of 129.5 million yen ($1.254 million). Obviously the fillies will add one day to his quality breeding stock - but the colt was bought with the intention to one day stand him as a shuttle stallion. Attractively bred by the current champion Japanese sire out of Silk Prima Donna who was the winner of the Yusun Himba (Japanese Oaks). Tinkler hopes to race the colt in Japan and Europe and is looking to setting up a Northern Hemisphere base in Japan. Tinkler’s racing aspirations include the goals of winning a Japan Cup - and much to my delight the worthwhile wish and aspiration of winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Nathan Tinkler is not yet finished (how big is his budget?!) in purchasing quality thoroughbreds. He plans on securing four or five more at either (or including) the Keeneland September Yearling Sales, and the Sales at Tattersall’s and Deauville this year.
Japan has taken its horses to the world in recent years, and earned a reputation as a major racing nation. The reciprocation in allowing the world a greater access to Japan is a positive move. Primarily brought upon by the disappearance of the boom years when the crops by Sunday Silence would extract a premium from the wealthy Japanese owners - but it is also an inclusive measure that highlights the global aspects of horseracing and thoroughbred breeding.
Along with Nathan Tinkler in establishing this initial status to buy at the JRHA sale were New Zealand Thoroughbred Bloodstock; (the British based) Blandford Bloodstock; the Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Darley (John Ferguson acting as bloodstock manager for Sheikh Mohammed).
note: Darley and the Hong Kong Jockey Club have previously had minor acquisitions at this sale but this year does signal a new attitude and direction from the JRHA.
Here is the pedigree page of the colt Nathan Tinkler purchased:
27
BAY COLT Foaled March 21, 2007
Consigned by Northern Farm
BAY
COLT
By AGNES TACHYON (JPN). 2006 and 2007 Champion juvenile sire in Japan,
classic winner of 4 races in 4 starts, Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)
[JPN1], etc. Retired to stud in 2002. Sire of DEEP SKY ( 2008 Japanese
Derby [JPN1] ) , CAPTAIN THULE ( 2008 Japanese 2000 Guineas [JPN1] ) ,
DAIWA SCARLET ( Japanese 1000 Guineas [JPN1] ) , LOGIC ( NHK Mile Cup
[JPN1]), ADMIRE AURA [G2], ADMIRE COMMANDO [JPN2], etc.
1st dam
SILK PRIMA DONNA (JPN), by Brian’s Time (USA). 3 wins in Japan,
Yushun Himba ( Japanese Oaks ) [JPN1] , 2 nd Yonsai Himba
Tokubetsu [JPN2] , 3 rd Oka Sho ( Japanese 1000 Guineas ) [JPN1] .
Dam of 3 foals of racing age, 1 to race.
2nd dam
BOUND TO DANCE (USA), by Northern Dancer (CAN). Unraced. Dam of
?
MOERE ADMIRAL (JPN) (c. by Brian’s Time (USA)). 6 wins in Ja-
pan, Hokkaido Nisai Yushun [JPN3], Sunrise Cup, Aqualine S.
DANCE AHEAD (USA) (g. by Val de l’Orne (FR)). 4 wins in N.A.
SILK RADIANCE (JPN) (f. by Mining (USA)). 3 wins in Japan.
PRIMA (JPN) (f. by Tony Bin (IRE)). 3 wins in Japan.
BIWA NATASHKA (JPN) (f. by Time for a Change ( USA) ) . 2 wins in
Japan.
3rd dam
TRULY BOUND ( USA) , by In Reality ( USA) . 9 wins in N. A. , Arlington-
Washington Lassie S [G2], Ashland S [G2]. Dam of ?
SHELL GINGER (IRE). 2 wins in Ireland, Killavullan S [G3].
YEOMAN’S POINT ( IRE) . 3 wins in Ireland, Challenge S [LR] , 2
nd Curragh Cup [G3] , 4 wins over the jumps in Ireland and
England.
HOUSEBOUND (CAN). 3 wins in N.A., Friar Rock S.
Bounding Minister (CAN). 2 wins in N. A. , 2nd Yearling Sales S.
Sire.
Secret Truth (CAN). Unraced. Dam of ?
PLEASANT SECRET (USA). 15 wins in Chile, Copa Reina Is-
abel II [G2], La Copa [G3].
4th dam
NATASHKA ( USA ) , by Dedicate ( USA ) . 8 wins in N. A. , Monmouth
Oaks. Dam of GREGORIAN (Joe McGrath Memorial S [G1]).
Here is a video of Agnes Tachyon winning a feature race in Japan
(number 2 & comes from midfield):
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