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Nebraska Racing Secures Colt Out of Midnight Bisou

He is the second most expensive foal ever sold at a JRHA Foal Sale.

Midnight Bisou and her Equinox colt in the ring at the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale

Midnight Bisou and her Equinox colt in the ring at the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale

JRHA

Mystery surrounds the buyer of the Equinox colt out of U.S. champion race mare Midnight Bisou, who sold for ¥580,000,000 (US$3,890,804 ¥1=US$0.006708) in front of a rapt audience during the foal session of the JRHA Select Sale July 15.

Nebraska Racing was listed as the buyer of the impeccably-bred colt, the same entity who signed for the yearling session-topper on Monday, but the new owners once again did not want their identity to be disclosed.

All that is known about Nebraska Racing is that the principal in the ownership is an existing owner in Japan. Their sole purchase during Monday's yearling session was the colt by Kitasan Black out of the grade 1 Australian Guineas, Vinery Stud Stakes, Royal Randwick Guineas, and VRC Oaks winner Mosheen for ¥450,000,000.

Their second strike at the Select Sale was even more audacious than their first but both colts were bred and consigned by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm, who also bred Kitasan Black's son Equinox, the six-time group/grade 1 winner and world champion of 2023.

This colt, foaled at Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm March 1, was anticipated to steal the show with his perfect combination of champion parents, excellent conformation, and an athletic walk.

Bidding for the third foal out of Midnight Bisou, whose five grade 1 triumphs included the Santa Anita Oaks and Personal Ensign Stakes, began at ¥100,000,000 and the good-humored bidding battle continued with remarks by the auctioneer greeted with ripples of laughter.

A murmur of anticipation grew louder as the price jumped higher and there was a collective gasp when ¥500,000,000 was reached. When the hammer came down at ¥580,000,000 many watching reacted with applause, and the colt, alongside his mother, was led out of the ring to have their official sales portrait taken.

He will return to Northern Farm to be weaned, and may continue to live there until it is time to begin his racing career, as many owners prefer to board their purchases and have them pre-trained at the major studs where they were bred.

The price remains shy of the sale record of ¥600,000,000 set back in 2006. The record is held by a daughter of King Kamehameha and To The Victory, successful in Hong Kong's Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1). That filly, subsequently named Daoine Sith, was also bred and sold by Northern Farm.

Katsumi Yoshida went to $5,500,000 at Keeneland's 2022 November Breeding Stock Sale for Midnight Bisou. The Midnight Lute mare was purchased in foal to Tapit  and that 2-year-old filly has been named Mitilini. 

Midnight Bisou is a half sister to Indiana Derby (G3) winner Verifying , a son of Justify , who was placed at the highest level in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), Champagne Stakes (G1) and the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1).

Equinox, the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) winner, received a book of outstanding quality during his first season at Shadai Stallion Station where he was introduced at a fee of ¥20,000,000, a record for a new stallion in Japan. The price smashed the previous ¥12,000,000 at which both Deep Impact and Contrail were introduced.

The fee for the Japan Cup (G1) winner remained unchanged for 2025 and he covered 204 mares this year.