2024 Hokkaido Selection Sale Preview
The Hidaka Horse Breeders’ Association’s premier sale, Hokkaido Selection Sale, has
catalogued 501 yearlings for this year’s edition, the largest number in its lengthy history.
Previously instalments of the auction used to be held on a single day following a day ofexhibitions. However, it was extended to two days to cope with the increasing demand
from breeders to offer yearlings. For 2024, The Hidaka Horse Breeders’ Association has
decided to increase the length of the sale even further. The boutique sale will be held
over three days this year without an inspection day, and with the 1st day being apremium session. The auction will start at 11:30 am each day with lots available for
exhibition from 8:30 am.
The opening day of the Hokkaido Selection Sale has been branded as the premium
session. A select group of 140 yearlings will go through under the hammer. 53 of thesession’s lots (37.8%) are either out of a black type mare and/or black type producer,
while 71 out of 361 lots (19.6%) in the final two days can claim the same.
The unbeaten 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner, Contrail (JPN) will have his first cropat the yearling sales this year with four yearlings on offer at the Hokkaido Selection
Sale. Lot 24 is the only one out of a black type winner. His dam, Teorema (JPN) is amultiple black type winner and this is her first foal.
Some notable progenies of imported sires will have their first crop at the yearling sales.
Three-time Group one winner, Benbatl (GB) has five yearlings in this sale including Lot
43, a colt, half-brother to a Group 3 winner, Set Up (Jpn). Lot 104, also a colt, is out ofa Group 3 winner, Crown Rose (JPN). US bred French juvenile Group one winner, Van
Gogh (USA) also has eight of his first yearlings catalogued. Three of them are out ofblack type mare or producer including Lot 106, a colt out of Flower Rock (JPN), a halfbrother to Justin Rock (JPN), a juvenile Group 3 winner.
There are also a couple of interesting yearlings who were purchased while in utero atinternational bloodstock sales. Lot 69, a son of Tom's d'Etat (USA) out of My Love
Venezuela (USA), a half-brother to a Group 3 winner, Sy Dog (USA). His dam was soldfor US$200,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2022. Tom's d'Etat (USA) is a firstseason two-year-old sire who had his first winner at Belterra Park last month. Lot 96, aDark Angel (IRE) colt out of a black type mare, Qatar Power (FR). The mare was sold at
the Arqana December Sale for EUR 85,000 with the colt in utero. Dark Angel (IRE) has
12 individual winners from 14 runners including a Group 1 winning sprinter, Mad Cool(IRE) in Japan.

In terms of Japanese domestic sires, Kitasan Black (JPN) is currently standing for JP¥ 20million (US$ 125,000), and he is the most expensive sire offering yearlings at thepremier sale. He has 12 yearlings including Lot 44, a half-brother to a Group 3 placed,Power Hall (JPN) and Lot 116, out of dual Graded Stakes winner, Paddock Seattle (ARG).
The Hokkaido Selection Sale has been renewing its record of average price andclearance rate for the last three consecutive years. The premier sale will be held at theHokkaido Sales Complex from July 22nd to 24th.
US$1 = JP¥160*Written by Toshihiro Onikubo