Prior to the 2024 breeding season in Japan, nine stallion complexes on Hokkaido Island will hold open houses Feb. 5-14. Ninety-seven percent of Japanese-bred Thoroughbreds are born on the Northern providence.
Equinox, the world's highest-rated racehorse for 2023, will stand his first season at ¥20,000,000 (US$134,967) to be the co-highest stud fee in Japan for 2024. The six-time grade 1 winning son of Kitasan Black will parade at Shadai Stallion Station Feb. 6, along with 34 other stallions.
Champion older horse of 2015 from the United States, Honor Code, is one of four new stallions at Yushun Stud. The parade of 32 stallions Feb. 7 includes the son of A.P. Indy, who stands for ¥1,800,000 ($12,147).
Shizunai Stallion Station will conduct its parades on Feb. 9, which include the new JBBA Stallion Station import, Sharp Azteca, winner of the 2017 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1). The son of Freud will stand for ¥1,500,000 ($10,122) for his first year in Japan. The parade also includes Mastery, the undefeated Cash Call Futurity (G1) winner of 2016, who was relocated from Claiborne Farm to Lex Stud and stands for an introductory fee of ¥1,200,000 ($8,098).
Darley Japan will host their open house Feb. 5-12, which parades new imports Palace Malice and Yoshida, which stand for ¥3,500,000 (US$23,619) and ¥1,500,000 ($10,122), respectively, in 2024.
