Noble Mission Joins JBBA 2021 Stallion Roster

The Japan Bloodstock Breeders Association announced their stallion roster for the 2021 season. Making his first appearance on the roster is Noble Mission (GB), a new recruit from Kentucky, who will stand for a fee of ¥1,500,000 (US$12,931). Noble Mission, a full brother to Frankel (GB), began his stud duty at Lane's End in 2015 after winning three group 1s for trainer Lady Cecil in 2014. For his efforts, he was awarded the title of European champion older horse and stood at the Versailles, Ky., farm for six seasons. Noble Mission is the sire of Code of Honor, winner of the 2019 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1). The stallion stood for a fee of $20,000 in 2020. The fee of Makfi (GB), who has sired 19 juvenile winners so far from his first Japanese crop at Japan Racing Association and National Association of Racing tracks—including Luce d'Oro (JPN), runner up in the Hakodate Nisai Stakes (G3)—has increased from ¥2,200,000 in 2019, when he covered 55 mares, to ¥2,500,000 ($23,584) in 2021, which is the highest of 13 stallions standing at JBBA. The busiest stallion at JBBA in 2020 was Declaration of War, who covered 134 mares. He will stand for ¥2,300,000 ($21,698) in 2021, which is same fee he held in 2020. The son of War Front was introduced at JBBA prior to the 2019 breeding season and his first Japanese crop was born this spring. Four foals by Declaration of War were offered during the foal session of the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale in July, where they were purchased for average price of ¥14,333,333 ($133,957).