LORD Kanaloa has undoubtedly been the standout sire with his first two-year-olds in 2017. He produced 28 winners of 33 races from 81 runners to date.

In sheer volume it is an impressive haul of wins from his first crop. Despite several impressive debut winners, the son of King Kamehameha has yet to produce a group winner, his best performer being Stelvio, who was Group 3 placed.

On the strength of his burgeoning career in the Japanese stallion ranks, Lord Kanaloa has seen his fee jump from 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 Yen (€60,000) for the upcoming 2018 breeding season.

PROGENY

While no other freshmen can compete with Lord Kanaloa in numbers, a deserved mention must be given to Orfevre. Much anticipation surrounded the Triple Crown winner’s first progeny to hit the track with guarded optimism about the precocity of his stock. With modest numerical returns to date, eight individual winners of 11 races from 77 starters.

However, two daughters have represented the temperamental son of Stay Gold in fine fashion, winning three group races.

One, Lucky Lilac, won the Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, essentially guaranteeing her name as the Two-Year-Old Champion Filly.

Following this first Group 1 win as a sire, Shadai Stallion Station announced that Orfevre would stand for a fee of 5,000,000 Yen for 2018, a reduction of 1,000,000 from that of 2017.

United States steps out, Europe steps in

FEBRUARY saw the new US political administration waste no time in pulling out of the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP). It was a trade agreement between 12 countries including thoroughbred breeding strongholds, America and Australia.

If the agreement had been introduced it would have abolished the tariff on in-foal mares. The perspective deal would have gradually reduced the tax on racing prospects eventually to zero over a 16-year period.

The European Union and Japan have recently concluded negotiations of the terms of a trade deal (FTA) with Japan (EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement). If the specifics of this deal mirror that of the failed TPP, it will undoubtedly give the European bloodstock marketplace an edge over that of America, with freight and quarantine costs nearly on a par with that of American purchases.

With the reliance and popularity of Sunday Silence and more recently Deep Impact, it inevitably increases the demand for alternative broodmare bloodlines. Recently Japanese breeders have been frequenting major bloodstock sales across the world with greater force.