Some sales make headlines. Others redefine the game.

 At JRHA Select Sale in Japan, a colt by Equinox out of dirt-track champion Midnight Bisou fetched an astounding ¥580 million (approx. $3.91 million)—one of the highest-priced foals ever sold in the country. For those in the business it stirs things. A timely reminder that when genetics figure for greatness, the foal isn’t just a racing prospect, it’s the breeding. It is the statement of intent to the future.

Equinox the world champion is the rising force at stud producing foals that captivate buyers. https://www.anzbloodstocknews.com/equinoxs-first-foals-deliver-extraordinary-results-at-foal-session-of-jrha-select-sale/

$5 mill dam, Midnight Bisou, a five time G1 winner on dirt with the proven class to the breeding shed and her legacy is clearly translated beyond the racetrack.

What does it mean? The pedigree is turning wheels and diversity is the new street, come the direction; breeding winners upgraded with hybrid character. Where Inbreeding has increased the necessary correction is addressed. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11634535/

Japan thinks ahead; purchasing select mares & unlocking potential. Not just sound mares, these carry back ‘unfamiliar’ lines and are the variants at play.

diversity is genuinely the name of the game from now on in the Japanese bloodstock game.

https://jp-breds.com/en/news/2024/03/2023_japanese_stallions_review.html

Diversity stimulates. International scouting for performance selection serves outcross. Strains @Midnight Bisou’s f.f. A5 Tour d’Or (USA) are under-appreciated, @ history Types forgotten/lost duly smashed through the 1913 Jersey Act. https://nslmblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/the-jersey-act/

one must occasionally breed to fresh strains, but always highly selected ones

Tesio

Highly selected Midnight Bisou @american A5 distaff, Tour d’Or (USA) has a very close phenotype in another Secretariat (been from his male line). https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/169231/florida-stallion-tour-dor-dead

2020 California-bred Horse of the Year, mare Mucho Unusual by Mucho Man, a Holy Bull male line (also kind of brushed by genetics it seems) has colt by Equinox, purchase for ¥260m ($1.75m/€1.5m). Further spectacular progeny by Equinox https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/im-about-to-cry-bidders-go-all-in-on-equinox-foals-at-jrha/

Conformation gains. Japan Bloodstock has the foresight with firm intent to deliver. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/274708/japans-love-of-the-horse-yields-racing-success and makes a showcase how it is achieved.

The Japanese thoroughbred is more powerful than it’s ever been. It is a testament to not only their collection of bloodlines and evolving training methods but ability to appreciate the middle- distance horse and stayer, something that our breeding industry is losing sight of…

https://theownerbreeder.com/stories/japanese-revolution/