The 2022 JRHA Select Yearling Sale topper, Danon Ayers Rock (JPN), made a winning debut in an 1800m Newcomers Race at Tokyo on Sunday.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Noriyuki Hori, the son of Maurice (JPN) and the 4-time Australian Group 1 winner Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) stayed on strongly to defeat Peace Hiro Faith (Satono Diamond) by one and a quarter length with Citral (Suave Richard) a head back in third.
The 2yo son of Maurice (JPN) is a half-brother to triple Group III winner Primo Scene (Deep Impact), who was runner-up in the Group 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo.
Danon Ayers Rock was a ¥450,000,000 (A$4.8 million) purchase for Masahiro Noda of Danox Co. Ltd at the 2022 Select Sale.
At the foal session, Ver Co. Ltd went to ¥300,000,000 (A$3,208,000) for Mosheen’s colt by the highly popular young stallion Epiphaneia. That was the equal third top price of the session.
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr purchased a filly, also by Epiphaneia, out of Mosheen’s daughter Paronella for ¥60,000,000 (A$648,000).
Paronella (Lord Kanaloa) was runner-up in four of her eight starts. Her 2yo filly has been named Yachiyo (JPN) and races for a syndicate that includes Trilogy.
Mosheen’s daughter Riversleigh (JPN) did not distinguish herself in four starts in Japan, but the daughter of the tragically short-lived Duramente (JPN) will be out to extend the family’s influence at Arrowfield Stud.
After foaling a colt by Songline’s sire Kizuna (JPN) last September, Riversleigh (JPN) was covered by Maurice (JPN).