2016 News

Summary of Sires results for 2015

By Masayuki Ito, The Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association (JBBA)

Deep Impact became the champion in the general ranking for the fourth consecutive year.

General Overall Sires Ranking

In the 2015 general ranking in Japan, Deep Impact (sire: Sunday Silence (USA)) who has produced six generations over his career, became the champion sire in this category for the fourth consecutive year by topping King Kamehameha (sire: Kingmambo (USA)) who kept the top spot for the first half year.

A distinguishing point of 2015 Sires Ranking was that mares achieved a great success such as Shonan Pandora who won the Japan Cup (G1), Mikki Queen who was selected as the JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Filly by winning two mare championships, that is the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1) and Shuka Sho (G1), and Marialite who won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1).   As for males, A Shin Hikari who won the Hong Kong Cup (G1) and Real Impact who won the George Ryder Stakes (G1), they achieved great success by winning overseas G1s.

In second place in the Sires' ranking was King Kamehameha.  His 5 year old colt, Lovely Day won two G1s: such as the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Takarazuka Kinen, his 3 year old colt, Duramente won two G1s, that is the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) and Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1), and two year old colt, Leontes won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1).  In each category they won the JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt and the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt, respectively. Furthermore, his three year old filly, Let's Go Donki won the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1) and his six year old colt, Hokko Tarumae won two Dirt top-class races.  Thus, King Kamehameha made an impressive Sire’s record in its quality and wide range by achieving his highest annual money

A sire who achieved significantly great success was Screen Hero (sire: Grass Wonder (USA)), and in only three generations, he reached 18th place in the ranking. His colt, Maurice, who was JRA Award for Horse of the Year and also Best Sprinter or Miler, won the Yasuda Kinen (G1), Mile Championship (G1) and Hong Kong Mile (G1), and his colt, Gold Actor won the Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (G1).

General Two-Year-Old Sires Ranking

In the Two-Year-Old ranking, Daiwa Major (sire: Sunday Silence (USA)) became the first champion by beating Deep Impact who had been a champion for five consecutive years since his debut year as a sire.  His filly, Major Emblem won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) by a big margin, and his colt, Ball Lightning also won the Keio Hai Nisai Stakes (G2).

In second place was Deep Impact, who produced Hartley who won the Hopeful Stakes (G2) and Blanc Bonheur who won the Hakodate Nisai Stakes (G3), showing off his abilities.

King Kamehameha produced Leontes who won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) and Air Spinel who won the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2), and has other many promising offspring and achieved third place.

General First Crop Sires Ranking

Casino Drive (sire: Mineshaft (USA)), winner of the 2008 Peter Pan Stakes (USA, G2) became a champion when his foals won a total of 36 races including 1 principal race. 　Out of racehorses delivered from Casino Drive, the one earning the most money was Koei Temma who won the Phoenix Sho (open stakes race) and came in second place in the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix.  His offspring run well from the first race, and successively achieved 10th place in the Two-Year Old General Ranking. 

In second place was Victoire Pisa, a winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1) 2011, whose offspring won 16 races, and its head is George Cinq who placed fourth in the Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3).

Coming in third was Workforce, a winner of the 2010 England Derby (G1), Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe (G1), and his 15 offspring won 16 races.

Fourth was Danon Chantilly (sire: Fuji Kiseki) whose foal, Smart Odin won the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2).

The difference from the top to the fourth place sire was very small.

JRA = Japan Racing Association
NAR = National Association of Racing (Racing by Local Governments)

*For further details, please visit the following sites.