Kizuna led all sires in Japan in 2024, with his progeny earning ¥4,759,448,000 (approx. US$29.90 million) in total. This is the first leading sire title for the 15-year-old stallion who won the Japanese Derby (G1) in 2013 and started his stud duty at Shadai Stallion Station in 2016.
Kizuna sired 12 graded stakes winners in 2024, including Justin Milano who won the Satsuki Sho (G1) and became the first 3-year-old classic winner for his sire.
Deep Impact (JPN), Kizuna's sire, was the leading sire for 11 years beginning in 2012; while Sunday Silence, the sire of Deep Impact, was the leading sire for 13 years in a row from 1995. A rare occurrence, this is the first time in Japan that sires of three consecutive generations were crowned as leading sire.
Kizuna was also crowned leading 2-year-old sire, with his juveniles earning ¥454,042,000 (approx. US$2.85 million). This is the second year in a row that Kizuna has clinched the leading 2-year-old sire title. He is only the fourth sire in Japan to lead both the general sires list and 2-year-old sires list in the same year since the system of pattern races was introduced in 1984. Prior to Kizuna, Northern Taste, Sunday Silence, and Deep Impact are the only three to achieve the same feat.
The leading freshman sire in Japan for 2024 was grade 1 winner Nadal, an 8-year-old son of Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Blame . His first crop earned ¥307,572,000 (approx. US$1.93 million).
