The global bloodstock boom has continued in Kentucky as over US$100 million was spent at the first of the major November breeding sales, hosted by Fasig-Tipton, including a significant investment from buyers from Japan. 

Katsumi Yoshida has built one of the world’s best broodmare bands, scouring the globe for elite breeding prospects for Northern Farm and on Sunday night was at the forefront again with five purchases. 

The respective weakness of the yen in terms of exchange rate with the US dollar made it a more expensive exercise than would have been preferred, but a typical determined Yoshida got the deals done. 

At the top of his list was Grade 1 winner Kalypso, a daughter of Brody’s Cause, who he purchased for US$2.1 million through agent Shingo Hashimoto. 

“We know that she was racing well and she had an outstanding racing career,” Hashimoto told reporters of the G1 La Brea Stakes winner. “We thought she was a very good candidate to bring to Japan. We’re very excited to have bought her. We will breed her, but we haven’t decided to keep her in the US or send her to Japan yet. 

“We have a big list, but it’s going to be tough to buy,” he said. “It’s like 30 per cent that the exchange rate has been depreciated for the Japanese yen. So it’s tough, but we’ve got to deal with it.” 

 

Grade 1 winner Kalypso to Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida @FasigTiptonCo November pic.twitter.com/XdqRRaTlSI

— Molly Rollins (@BH_MRollins) November 6, 2022

Undeterred, Hashimoto then signed for Beautiful Gift, the Grade 3-winning daughter of Medaglia D’Oro, who was offered in foal to champion sire Into Mischief, for US$2 million and paid US$1.85 million for G1 Test Stakes winner Bella Sofia.

Having early purchased Grade 2 winner Plum Ali for US$600,000, Yoshida and Hashimoto then rounded off their business with a successful $1.5 million bid for multiple Grade 1–winning mare Going To Vegas.

Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm was also on the buyers’ list at the sale, paying US$1.1 million for Grade 1 winner Mucho Unusual and US$625,000 for Graded winner Sally’s Curlin, who was offered in foal to Uncle Mo.

China Horse Club secured the Graded winner Princess Grace, a daughter of Japanese-bred star Karakontie, for US$1.7 million and she will head to Australia to continue her racing career.      

“We thought she was an absolute queen, apex physical, very consistent form,” China Horse Club’s Michael Smith said. “We are going to take her to Australia and try to make her a Group 1 winner. She has another 12 months of racing in her and then she will be a beautiful addition to the broodmare band.”

Another elite-level mare headed to Australia to race is G1 Del Mar Oaks winner Going Global, who was purchased by Yulong for US$2.5 million.

Other Australian connected buyers included James Harron, who paid US$425,000 for Emro, Kia Ora Stud, who secured Grade 2 winner Miss Leslie for US$400,000 and Mitchell Bloodstock, who paid $85,000 for a weanling filly by Audible. 

The Sale was topped by Gamine, the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner who was purchased by Coolmore’s MV Magnier for US$7 million. 

“That was a very good price for her, but at the end of the day, she was an absolute champion,” said Magnier.  

Gamine was offered in foal to Quality Road and could be set to visit Triple Crown winner Justify in 2023.

“The way Justify is going right now, there is a good chance she will go to him,” Magnier said.

Magnier signed for four mares for a gross expenditure of US$17.9 million at the Sale.

Attention now turns to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale which begins on Monday.

Yoshida: Record sale results point way forward from Deep Impact era