There are 575 yearlings cataloged for the Hidaka Breeders Association Hokkaido September Sale Sept. 17-19 at Shizunai.
Kitasan Black, one of the most expensive stallions in Japan who stood at Shadai for ¥20 million (approximately $136,000; 1 yen=$.0068) in 2024, is represented by three yearlings. Hip 572 is a filly out of Lexlenos, third-place finisher in the 2009 American Oaks (G1T) at Hollywood Park who was bought at Arqana December for €120,000 ($133,200; 1 euro=$1.11) by Shadai Corporation in 2010.
Saturnalia, current leader on Japan's freshman sires' list at the Japan Racing Association, sends three yearlings, including Hip 441, a filly out of Giudecca by Deep Impact. Lady of Venice, second dam of the filly, won three graded stakes in the United States and placed in three grade 1s.
Gold Dream, who to date is the leading freshman sire at the National Association of Racing, is represented by 12 yearlings. One of them is Hip 44, a filly consigned by Sunday Hills. Saterano Sato, dam of the filly, is half sister to Akaiito, winner of Japan's Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) in 2021.
Graduates of this sale are running well. Lebensstil by Real Steel, winner of two graded stakes including the Epsom Cup (G3) in June, was bought there in 2021 for ¥19 million, approximately $130,557. Culture Day by Fine Needle, who won the Fantasy Stakes (G3) in November 2023, was bought at this sale in 2022 for merely ¥4.1 million, approximately $28,172.
