The union of Japanese Horses of the Year Deep Impact and Air Groove combined to produce a record breaker at the JRHA yearling sale on Monday.

Leading vendor Katsumi Yoshida consigned filly from the Northern Farm draft.  She made Y360 million to Globe Equine manager Nobutaka Tada.  The under-bidder was Takaya Shimakawa.

The filly is a half sister to Japanese champion Admire Groove (Sunday Silence) and G2 winners Forgettable (Dance in the Dark) and Rulership (King Kamehameha).  Their dam Air Groove (Tony Bin) won the 1997 Japanese Oaks and Tenno Sho.

“She has beautiful eyes, beautiful pedigree and beautiful conformation,” Nobutaka Tada said while not disclosing his clients.  “She is my pick of sale and will be raced by two owners.”

The JRHA reported a record-setting gross of Y4.72 billion for the 197 lots that changed hands.  The average price was up 31% to Y23.98 million and the clearance rate improved 6 points to 82%.

“I’m very impressed to see so many buyers here and the results are much better than I expected ” Katsumi Yoshida said.  “I did not want to sell the top filly but we needed a star for the catalogue.  She will become a star on racecourse.”

The Redoute’s Choice – Sunday Smile colt (Lot 59) sold to Kaneko Makoto Holdings for Y30 million.

The JRHA Foal Sale will take place on Tuesday at Northern Horse Park on Hokkaido.

Currency converter:  Yen 1 mllion = AUD 11,608