California Chrome yearlings in opening session snapped up by Japanese buyers

One of the most intriguing facets of yearling sale season is the introduction of youngsters by first-crop sires to the market, and this year fans and breeders alike have been waiting to see how the initial colts and fillies by two-time American Horse of the Year California Chrome would fare in the ring.

During Monday’s opening session of the Keeneland September sale, Japanese buyers indicated that they believe California Chrome’s offspring could be as versatile as he was, able to win on any kind of surface.

Of the two California Chrome yearlings offered, both were purchased by Japanese buyers. Leading owner and breeder Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm acquired Hip 50, a filly bred by Perry and Denise Martin, the breeders and original majority owners of the sire, for $180,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

Shadai representative Naohiro Hosoda said the filly, a dark bay who is the first foal of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Right There, by Eskendereya, would be raced in the colours of the farm.

“She’s a nice filly, not too big,” Hosoda said. “California Chrome ran on turf and dirt and that was a factor.”

Another angle in the filly’s favour could have been that her third dam produced American champion Silver Charm, who stood at stud in Japan for a number of years and, like California Chrome, was able to defeat international competition in the Dubai World Cup after capturing both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Mozu Ascot owner steps in

A second California Chrome filly offered during the opening Keeneland session, Hip 97, was secured by Capital System Co Ltd for $200,000. The buyer races Grade 1 winner and $2.2 million earner Mozu Ascot, a son of Frankel bred by Summer Wind Farm that was acquired after the colt was RNA’d for $275,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale.

Consigned by Taylor Made on behalf of breeder Siena Farm, Hip 97 is a chestnut daughter of multiple stakes winner Somethinaboutbetty, by Forestry, and is from the family of Grade 1 winners My Trusty Cat and Include Betty.

Up to and including Monday, California Chrome has been represented by 13 yearlings that have been offered at auction this year, with six sold for an average price of $147,500. Since he is by Lucky Pulpit, who was not a fixture in the commercial market, it has been particularly unclear how California Chrome’s yearlings would be received.

The highest-priced California Chrome yearling so far has been the $230,000 grey filly sold by Andrew Motion’s Old Chapel Farm to celebrity chef Bobby Flay during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected sale. That filly is from the family of champion Tempest Queen.

Taylor Made stands California Chrome, who began his stud career with a fee of $40,000 and stood this season for $35,000.

Fifty-nine yearlings by the sire, who was a Grade 1 winner on turf in addition to his six elite victories on dirt, were entered in the Keeneland September sale, although six have been withdrawn.

There is one more yearling ready to enter the ring in Book 1, Hip 203, a chestnut colt out of a Broken Vow half-sister to multiple graded winner and Grade 1-placed Sweet August Moon.

More on the first day of the sale here...

Sale wrap with Maktoums to the fore

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