Yankee Rose and Mosheen progeny sought after at Japan Select Sale

The half-brother to Japan’s late champion filly Liberty Island, daughter of Australian Group 1-winning mare Yankee Rose, by Saturnalia, sold for 310 million yen (A$3,206,640) at the JRHA Select Sale on Monday.

And a colt by Kitasan Black out of Group 1-winning Fastnet Rock mare Mosheen, who has already produced two stakes winners in Japan, sold for the top price of 420 million yen (A$4.34 million) during the 233-lot yearling session.

Yankee Rose’s sixth foal, a colt by Saturnalia, was bought by Danox after her two most recent foals, both fillies by Kizuna and Contrail, were retained by the Yoshida family’s Northern Farm.

Liberty Island, a three-time Group 1 winner, was euthanised after breaking down during the running of the QEII Cup in Hong Kong last December.

Mosheen, a winner of the VRC Oaks, Australian Guineas, Vinery Stud Stakes and Randwick Guineas, has already produced the stakes winners Primo Scene and Danon Ayres Rock, the latter of which was a sale-topper at the same sale in 2022 at 495 million yen.

Her latest yearling colt by Kitasan Black was purchased by Nebraska Racing.  

Continuing the Australian theme in Hokkaido, Flying Start Syndications’ 2018 Thousand Guineas winner Amphitrite had her yearling colt by Lord Kanaloa sell as Lot 11 to the bid of DMM.com for 190 million yen (A$1.965 million).

Amphitrite’s first foal, a colt by Daiwa Major, is a winner over 2000m in Japan.

International buyers were also to the fore on day one, with Resolute Racing’s John Stewart and the Hong Kong Jockey Club both active in a competitive market.

Stewart paid A$1.751 million for a colt by Kitasan Black while the Jockey Club bought a Rulership colt for A$700,412 and another for A$576,810 by Maurice, who won three Group 1s in Hong Kong during his illustrious racing career.

The top three lots sold are all by seven-time Grade 1 winner Kitasan Black, who is currently third on Japan’s sire premiership with 57 winners and four stakes winners.

He is, however, the sire of Tenno Sho and Japan Cup winner Equinox, a pin-up horse to emerge from his first crop.

The foal session will be held at Hokkaido on Tuesday where the first foal by Golden Slipper winner Fireburn, a colt by Kizuna, and a colt by Suave RIchard out of Group 1 winner Funstar will be offered as will the first crop of Equinox.