The Arrowfield love affair with the Japanese thoroughbred has expanded with the arrival of the unbeaten Champion Japan 2YO Colt in Admire Mars joining their 2021 roster.
Arrowfield Stud had definitely been the front runner in growing the Japanese success in Australia, with Admire Mars being a three-time Group 1 winner, bred by the famous Northern Farm.
At two he ran 1-33.9 to win the Hanshin Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes 1600m by two lengths, plus the Kyoto Daily Hai Nisai Stakes, the Chukyo Sports Hochi Hai Chukyo Nisai Stakes, both 1600m.
In having a stella season at three he won the HKJC Longines Hong Kong Mile of 1600m, the Tokyo NHK Mile Cup 1600m, second in Tokyo Kyodo News Hai and fourth in Nakayama Satsuki Sho.
Racing well at four years without winning Admire Mars was third in the HKJC Longines Hong Kong Mile, the Hanshin Mile Championship and the Kyoto Mainichi Broadcasting Sho Swan Stakes.
A chestnut standing 16.0½hh, Admire Mars is the Hail to Reason – Turn-To sire line, being by dual Group 1 winning and top-ranking sire Daiwa Major, a son the great sire-of-sires in Sunday Silence.
Being the family of Rossellina, a full-sister to the legendary Ribot, he’s the first Japanese-bred foal of €480,000 Arqana graduate Via Medici, by Medicean, who also foaled other stakes winners.
Arrowfield’s Champion European 2YO Shalaa has called Australia home with Shaquero winning the MM 2YO Classic and his Honesty Prevails colt making $1.15m at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
In addition, Shaquero won the Pago Pago Stakes, Breeders’ Plate, second the Gold Nugget H., while Hunnam, Tayla’s Moment, Nice for What are stakes placed and Cheerful Legend Gr2 fourth.
In the 2020-21 season closing, Shalaa is fourth as Champion Australian First Season Sire with six winners form 40 starters and $1.94m in stakes, and is a healthy eight as Champion 2YO Sire.
In Europe this year No Speak Alexander won the Atashi Stakes and second in Irish 1000 Guineas, with King Shalaa, Legal Attack, Saeiqa, Cherie Amour, Let’s and Tawfan being stakes performers.
A late season surge sees Japan’s Horse of The Year Maurice finish seventh as Champion First Crop Sire with eight winners, plus black type placed Invinsible Tears, Mazu and Maurice’s Medad.
In Japan his juveniles include the Group winners Shigeru Pink Ruby, Rocks Nest and Pixie Knight, while his yearlings sold up to $540,000 at the Sydney Easter Yearlings, and his weanlings $160,000.
The $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Dundeel is fifth as Australian Fourth Crop Sire with Truly Great winning the Kingston Town Stakes, Ted Van Heemst Stakes and over $1m in stakes.
Victoria Quay won the Wakeful Stakes and Atyaab the Western Cape Stayers in South Africa, with his Salutations colt making $850,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale and his weanlings upto $150,000.
Champion sire-of-sires Snitzel had his Rising Romance colt making $2.5m at the Australian Easter Yearlings, while at the Gold Coast Yearlings his Bonnie O’Reilly colt was a $1.9m sale topper.
In finishing fourth as Champion Sire, Wild Ruler won over $1.2m in claiming the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, Roman Consul Stakes third in Coolmore Stud Stakes, plus being third as Champion 3YO Sire.
Redoute’s Choice top performer Pariah had his first yearling selling this year, and at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale his Real Stolle colt made $375,000 and his Sultry Dream filly $280,000.
The Autumn Sun and Showtime had their first weanlings selling, with The Autumn Sun-Kennola colt making $200,000 and his Tsarita filly $120,000 at the Gold Coast Weanling Sale.
Castelvecchio has his first weanlings selling in 2022, while Arrowfield’s one-season Written Tycoon became Champion Sire, and the retired Not A Single Doubt second by just $1.35 million.
