Arrowfield launched international champion Maurice to Australian breeders with a Japanese-themed cocktail evening at the Inglis Easter Sale on Wednesday evening.

Maurice’s owner Mrs Kazumi Yoshida and her husband, celebrated owner and breeder Katsumi Yoshida, were special guests at the launch which was held at Arrowfield’s marquee.

Maurice was Japan’s 2015 Horse of the Year and he will join the Arrowfield line-up this year.

Maurice (Screen Hero) is one of three Japanese stars shuttling to the Hunter Valley farm this coming season.  Japanese and Australian Group 1 winner Real Impact (Deep Impact) returns to Arrowfield for his second Southern Hemisphere season, after serving 134 mares here in 2016.

Like Maurice, Champion Sprinter-Miler Mikki Isle (Deep Impact) will make the trip to Australia for the first time this year.

Arrowfield Chairman John Messara welcomed guests and introduced Maurice and the two sons of Deep Impact with video clips and a presentation describing the extraordinary rise of Japanese breeding and racing over the past four decades.

Katsumi Yoshida is sending Maurice the cream of his wonderful broodmare band, including two-time Horse of the Year Gentildonna; Horse of the Year Buena Vista; Champion Filly Harp Star; Champion Filly Sinhalite; and Group 1 winner Verxina.

Arrowfield has committed close to 40 of its best stakes-winning and stakes-producing mares for Maurice’s Australian book.  He will stand first-up at a fee of $33,000 (inc gst).

MAURICE