There were 246 lots catalogued for the yearling session of the JRHA Select Sale, which began on Monday and there was a good deal of Australian interest in the opening lot of the sale.
When the hammer fell on the final lot of the sale set a new mark for the highest price, the Deep Impact colt purchased by Riichi Kondo for 360,000,000yen ($A4.7 million), gross and average.
Lot 1. B or Br C Duramente x Lumosty by Fastnet Rock
First in to the ring was a colt from the first crop by King Kamehameha's champion son Duramente out of the top-class Fastnet Rock mare Lumosty whose five wins included the Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Fillies Classic and the Group II MRC Caulfield Sprint.
Consigned by Northern Farm, the bay or brown colt was purchased by Scuderia for 120 million yen ($A1,585,496).
Lot 27. B or Br C Heart's Cry x Sinhadipa by War Emblem
Sinhadipa is a winning half-sister to Japanese Oaks winner Sinhalite (Deep Impact) and the Group III winners Lilavati (Zenno Rob Roy) and Adam's Peak (Deep Impact) and the Listed winner Adam's Bridge (Zenno Rob Roy).
Consigned by Northern Farm he was knocked down to Masahiko Sugino, Sugino for 270 million yen ($3,567,366).
Masahiko Sugino is the president of Round One Corporation, which operates indoor leisure complex, such bowling alleys, karaoke studios, arcade games, and the collection of sports activities. He made a big investment on bloodstock for the first time at the Chiba Thoroughbred Sale in May at Funabashi, where he bought three ready-to-run two-year-olds for 165,000,000yen in total, including a colt by Deep Impact, who was the sales topper with hummer price of 69,000,000yen.
Lot 41 B C Frankel x Margot Did by Exceed And Excel.
A half-brother to the Group II Prix de Sandringham winner Mission Impassible this colt is the third foal of Exceed And Excel's Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Margot Did.
Consigned by Northern Farm he was purchased by Kaneko Makoto Holdings for 210 million yen($2,774,618).
Lot 51. B C Deep Impact x Musical Way by Gold Away
When looking for potential sale toppers, you don't go past Deep Impact and the perennial champion sire's Northern Farm's colt out of the French Group II winner Musical Way went the way of Riichi Kondo for a sales record topping 360 million yen ($4,756,488).
The colt is a brother to the champion three-year-old filly in 2015, Mikki Queen, who won the Gr1/Yushun Himba and Gr1/Shuka Sho, the second and third leg of Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies.
"This is definitely the pick of the day" Riichi Kondo said.
"My trainer, Yasuo Tomomichi, said I would really like to have this colt in my stable and it is my duty to buy him. The price is within my estimation".
Lot 64 Ch C King Kamehameha x Ginger Punch by Awesome Again
Half-brother to four winners including the Group II winner Rouge Buck (Manhattan Café.
Dam was an outstanding performer in the US notching 6 wins at the highest level Breeders' Cup Distaff, Personal Ensign Stakes, Ogden Phipps H, Ruffian H, Go for Wand H-twice.
Consigned by Northern Farm, the chestnut colt was knocked down to Toshihiko Tabata of Thoroughbred Club Lion for 290 million yen ($3831615).
"He looks like his father," trainer Yoshito Yahagi said.
"I believe he stays mile and half, and Japanese Derby is in my mind as the race to aim for".
Lot 115 B C King Kamehameha x Belle Watling by Dushyantor
Dam was Horse Of The Year in her native Chile where her 13 wins included five at the highest level.
Another to be consigned by Northern Farm, this colt drew a final bid of 250 million yen ($3,303,117) from Satomi Horse Company.
Lot 246 B C Heart's Cry x Malacostumbrada by Lizard Island
Once again consigned by Northern Farm this colt is the third foal of a Group 1 winner in Argentina.
He was purchased by Three H Racing for 230 million yen ($3,038,867).
Overall 222 yearlings were sold for 10,732,000,000 yen ($141,796,216) in total, which is 11.1% more than twelve month ago, and average price, 48,342,342 yen ($638,721), a 5,1% increase on 2018. The clearance rate, 92.9%, is also the highest recorded at the yearling session of JRHA Select Sale.
"Just amazing", Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, the leading consignor at the session, commented at the conclusion of the day.
"Market was strong at every price range and the clearance rate is amazing. I am very pleased to see the crops by new stallions, such as Duramente(JPN) sell well and the crops by stallions with rather cheaper stud fees also sold well".
The foal session of 2019 JRHA Select Sale starts at 10:00am on Tuesday July 9th.