Three Flightline Weanlings to be Offered at Japan Sale

As if there wasn't enough to get excited about in Japan racing and breeding right now, the upcoming Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale is scheduled to offer three weanlings from the first crop of Flightline. The sale will offer a Monday, July 8 yearling session followed by a Tuesday, July 9 foal session at the Northern Horse Park. After capping an undefeated career with a record 8 1/4-length victory in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Flightline nailed down the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year. The weanlings are from the first crop of Flightline, a son of multiple leading sire Tapit who stands for $150,000 at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky. The Flightline foals, all colts, cataloged to the sale include: Hip 347, born Feb. 23, out of Argentina champion and Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) winner Blue Stripe (ARG), a daughter of Equal Stripes who closed out her career with a runner-up finish in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), then sold to Narvick International for $4 million at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's auction of selected breeding stock. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Hip 419, born Feb. 13, out of Tan Gritona (ARG), a daughter of Full Mast who earned champion 2-year-old filly honors in Argentina after a pair of group 1 victories there. Hip 436, born March 4, out of Grace Adler, a daughter of Curlin who at age 2 captured the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) in 2021. Narvick International went to $2 million to purchase Grace Adler at The November Sale, where she was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent. The auction also includes 13 yearlings and 19 foals by Kitasan Black (JPN), sire of 2023 World's Best Racehorse Equinox (JPN), plus seven yearlings and five foals by Real Steel (JPN), sire of UAE Derby (G2) and Saudi Derby (G3) winner Forever Young (JPN), who raced courageously in finishing third in this year's Kentucky Derby (G1). A foal from the first crop of Shadwell's outstanding champion Baaeed (GB) also features as Hip 400. Among the yearling entries are Hip 1: A Lord Kanaloa (JPN) colt out of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) winner Dream And Do; Hip 11: A Palace Pier (GB) colt out of Prix Saint-Alary (G1) scorer Incarville (FR); Hip 24: An Epiphaneia (JPN) colt out of Irish Oaks (G1) winner Even So Hip 45: A Real Steel half brother to Japanese Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux (JPN); Hip 71: A Kitasan Black half sister to 2023 Japanese champion juvenile filly Ascoli Piceno (JPN); Hip 74: A Harbinger brother to Nassau Stakes (G1) winner Deirdre (JPN); Hip 93: A Saturnalia (JPN) filly out of E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) winner Etoile (FR); Hip 133: A Contrail (JPN) half brother to Coronation Stakes (G1) and Prix Rothschild (G1) scorer Qemah (IRE); Hip 172: An Admire Mars (JPN) colt out of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Ria Antonia. Featured among the foal entries on the second day are Hip 308: A Contrail colt out of American grade 1 winner A Raving Beauty; Hip 364: A Kitasan Black colt out of German Oaks (G1) heroine Serienholde and a half brother to the top-class Schnell Meister (GER); Hip 398: A Gun Runner half brother to 2023 Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire; Hip 544: An Efforia (JPN) colt out of Fillies' Mile (G1) winner Listen. BloodHorse staff contributed to this story.