While May 22 was a cold and rainy day, the market at Funabashi Racecourse for the Chiba Thoroughbred Sale of 2-Year-Olds was hot in contrast and produced its highest ever gross sale and average price.
In total, 57 horses found new owners for a gross sale of ¥2,090,900,000 (approx. US$13.05 million), which is a 43.9% improvement from 12 months ago and a new record at the sale, surpassing ¥1,453,100,000 set last year.
The average price of ¥36,682,456 (approx. US$228,993) is a 21.2% increase from the previous year, while the median price of ¥27 million (approx. US$168,550) is the same as 2025 and the co-highest figure at this sale. From 60 horses who went through the ring, only three horses failed to meet their reserved price. The buy-back rate was 5%. It was 2% a year ago.
Hip 41, a smashing colt by two-time Japan Racing Association Horse of the Year Kitasan Black—who has sired three champions in Equinox, Croix du Nord, and Ecoro Duel—was bought by Yoshiro Kubota for ¥220 million (approx. US$1.37 million), the highest price at the session and second-highest price in the history of the Chiba Sale.
Consigned by Shadai Farm, the colt is the second foal out of 2020 Frizette Stakes (G1) winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up Dayoutoftheoffice. Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm bought the Into Mischief mare at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale for $2,850,000. The colt will be trained by Mitsu Nakauchida at Ritto Training Center.
