Ninety ready-to-run 2-year-olds are cataloged for the HBA Hokkaido Training Sale at Sapporo Racecourse May 21.
This is much smaller catalog than last year, when 131 lots were cataloged, and the smallest in 20 years. As the yearling market was very active in 2023, breeders have sold many of the young horses they bred and consignors struggled to buy young stock for pinhooking.
The first crop by Four Wheel Drive, winner of two graded stakes in the United States including the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T), is now 2 years old and Hip 38, consigned by Shimokobe Farm, is a colt by Four Wheel Drive. Omphalos, by Deep Impact (JPN), is the dam of Hip 38 and a full sister to Danon Shark, winner of the Mile Championship (G1) in 2014.
Real Steel, sire of Forever Young, who is entered in the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs May 4, is represented by two lots, hips 30 and 66, both of which are consignments from Sakae Nakawaki of Max Training Farm. Mandura, second dam of Hip 30, a colt by Real Steel, is a half sister to Manduro, winner of three grade 1s, including the 2007 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), and Rub A Dub Dub, second dam of Hip 66, a filly by Real Steel, is a half sister to 2007 St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner Excellent Art.
The under tack show will be conducted May 21 as well, starting at 9 a.m. local time, and the sales session starts at 1 p.m.
