RECENT media attention in Japanese racing has justifiably been concentrated on the international exploits of Japanese-trained horses in the Middle East and US.

Interest in Equinox, Ushba Tesoro and Mandarin Hero, as well as speculation on their future engagements, have dominated racing headlines. However, two special and remarkably similar classic performances have brought the media spotlight back to domestic racing in the JRA.

Juvenile Group 1 heroine Liberty Island reaffirmed her position as champion-elect in the female classic ranks. In the ice-cool hands of Yuga Kawada, Liberty Island made light work of an 18-runner Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) line-up. Anchored at the rear of the field, Kawada remained motionless approaching the final two furlongs. Edging his mount towards the middle of the track, Kawada rallied his mount with a spectacular finishing kick to flash past the post three quarters of a length in front.

Seven days later, it was the turn of the leading three-year-old colts to take centre stage in the Group 1 Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) at Nakayama racecourse. A full field of 18 runners went to post for the colts’ classic but with an added variable of a rain-sodden track and ground officially described as soft to contend with. Unlike its European equivalents, the Japanese 2000 Guineas is run over 10 furlongs.

Sol Oriens became the first horse in JRA history to win the Satsuki Sho on his third career start. Still displaying signs of greenness, Sol Oriens, from stall one, was relegated to the rear of the field from the start behind a ferocious early gallop. In the capable hands of Takeshi Yokoyama, the April-born colt was niggled along throughout the race to maintain contact with the main contingent of runners.

As the field entered the famously short home straight, the Takahisa Tezuka-trained colt remained firmly in last place. Veering sharply off the last bend, Yokoyama conjured a jaw-dropping effort in the final furlong from a seemingly impossible position to complete a last-to-first dash for the line. Sol Oriens hit the line the winner by a length and a quarter.

Kitasan Black is new stallion star

SOL Oriens (see above) is by Kitasan Black out of the French-bred Group 3 winning mare, Skia. The 16-year-old daughter of Motivator has a perfect record of six Japanese-born runners, all six are multiple JRA winners.

Her most successful offspring was Vin De Garde (Deep Impact), a Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed runner. Skia was purchased by Patrick Barbe at Arqana’s December Breeding Sale for €320,000 in-foal to Leroidsanimaux. She visited Epiphaneia in 2022.

Kitasan Black has made a sensational start to his career at stud. He can already boast international superstar Equinox from his first crop. The unbeaten Sol Oriens and 1000 Guineas runner-up, Kona Coast, are from his second crop.

The seven-time Group 1 winner was initially installed at stud for a fee of €27,000 in 2018. He stood for a career high of €68,000 in 2023 (*as of current exchange rates).

In his current vein of form, and as undoubtedly the hottest commodity in Japanese breeding circles, Kitasan Black is highly probable to have his fee at least doubled for 2024.

Since the death of perennial champion sire Deep Impact and Heart’s Cry being pensioned, there has been somewhat of a power vacuum left in the highest echelons of the stallion rankings.

Lord Kanaloa is poised to be interim champ while Kitasan Black appears to be a force to be reckoned with in the newest wave of young sires.

Liberty Island is a daughter of the ill-fated Duramente and the second foal out of the hugely accomplished Australian runner Yankee Rose (All American).

Yankee Rose was a Group 1 winner over seven and 10 furlongs in her native country. She was acquired in a private deal by Katsumi Yoshida and relocated to his Northern Farm breeding operation based in Hokkaido.

Duramente, a dual-winning son of King Kamehameha, died in September 2021 at just nine years old due to acute colitis.

He had served five seasons at stud and has produced four individual Group 1 winners and several graded performers from his three existing crops of racing age. Titleholder and Stars On Earth are among his most successful progeny.

As of the time of writing, Duramente is in second place in the overall sire rankings in Japan with progeny earnings of more than €7.7 million in 2023.