Japanese champion and grade 1-producing sire Kurofune died Jan. 17, according to the Japan Racing Association. He was 23.
Shadai Stallion Station's Eisuke Tokutake told hochi.news that Kurofune had died due to old age.
Kurofune, a son of French Deputy, was bred in Kentucky by Nicholas Lotz out of the Classic Go Classic mare Blue Avenue. At the 1999 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he was purchased by BNK Stable from Eaton Sales, agent, for $70,000. Katsumi Yoshida then went to $430,000 in 2000 to secure him from Niall Brennan Stables, agent, at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Raced in Japan for Makoto Kaneko and trained by Kunihide Matsuda, Kurofune was honored as champion 3-year-old colt after top wins in the Japan Dirt Cup (G1) and the NHK Mile Cup (G1). From 10 total starts at ages 2 and 3, he earned a 6-1-2 record and over $3 million.
He began stud duties in 2002 at Shadai Stallion Station, where he bred for 17 seasons. He sired 35 black-type winners—18 of which were graded and six of which won at the grade 1 level—and five champions. His top performers include Aerolithe, Clarity Sky, Curren Chan, Sleepless Night, and Whale Capture. His latest standout is the white filly Sodashi, the undefeated 2020 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner who was recently named Japan's champion 2-year-old filly.
