A successful long-standing international partnership will again join forces in 2018 with Rich Hill Stud to stand the Group One-winning Japanese miler Satono Aladdin (Jpn), a son of Shadai Stallion Station's sire sensation Deep Impact.
Rich Hill and Shadai first combined with the champion stallion Pentire and their ongoing association also includes breeding his son Prince Of Penzance, who won the 2015 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The passing of Pentire late last year was the catalyst to stand another stallion and both parties believe Satono Aladdin has the necessary credentials to be a major success in the Southern Hemisphere.
He was the winner of eight races with his career highlight an outstanding performance to claim top honours in Japan's most prestigious mile - the Gr.1 Tokyo Yasuda Kinen (1600m).
"He had a great turn of foot and his time of 1:31.5 for the 1600m that day was amazing, just point-two of a second outside the race record," Rich Hill Stud's John Thompson said.
Satono Aladdin won on debut as a two-year-old and was Group Three-placed before training on to dual Group Two victories over 1400m and was successful up to 2000m during his career.
"His pedigree is also top class," Thompson said. "He is by breed-shaping sire Deep Impact out of Magic Storm, who was a Group Two winner and Group One-placed in America."
Magic Storm is by champion sire Storm Cat out of a Fappiano mare, who in turn is out of a stakes-winning Nijinsky mare.
Satono Aladdin's full-sister Lachesis also won Japan's prestigious Gr.1 Kyoto Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m).
"Satono Aladdin is a magnificent looking horse," Thompson said. "This is reflected in his price tag at the 2011 Japan Racing Horse Association Select Foal Session.
"The Northern Farm-bred colt was the second top-priced foal at $1.7 million when he was purchased by high-profile owner Hajime Satomi."
Thompson is naturally excited to be bringing such a well-credentialled son of champion sire Deep Impact to these shores.
"The Australian Industry has obviously recognised the tremendous potential of this sire line with Arrowfield Stud standing two Group One-winning sons of Deep Impact, Real Impact and Mikki Isle, last season," he said.
"Multiple Group One winner Tosen Stardom will also be retiring later this year to stand at Woodside Park in Victoria.
"The Sunday Silence sire line, especially through his champion son Deep Impact, has become a very sought after international commodity so Satono Aladdin is a major coup for the New Zealand breeding industry.
"New Zealand horses continue to perform to the highest level in all our major markets and the progeny of a Group One-winning son of Deep Impact will add a very special international flavour to our sales catalogues in 2020 and beyond."
Satono Aladdin will serve a restricted book in 2018 and his first-season service fee will be announced at a later date, along with associate Rich Hill stallions Jimmy Choux, Proisir, Shocking and Vadamos.– NZ Racing Desk.