2025 News

Leading Sires in Japan for 2024

By The Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association (JBBA)

Overall Leading Sires

In the 2024 leading sires ranking in Japan, Kizuna (by Deep Impact) reached the top for the first time. Lord Kanaloa (by King Kamehameha) retained 2nd place for the fifth consecutive year, and last year’s champion Duramente occupied 4th place.

Kizuna also became the first to mark three successive generations of sire champions on record, after his grandsire Sunday Silence held the title for 13 years from 1995 to 2007, and his sire Deep Impact for 11 years from 2012 to 2022. Although Kizuna has consistently produced successful runners from his first crop, one year after the sudden passing of his sire Deep Impact in 2019, he was even more recognized by breeders as a successor of his sire, and covered 242 mares in 2020. The foals he sired in 2020 enjoyed success as three-year-olds in 2024, with Justin Milano winning the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), while Sixpence securing two victories in G2 races, including the Mainichi Okan against older horses. His two-year-old crops also have been reliable - such as Eri King, who has notched three wins from his three outings including the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3) and is poised for success in the classics, and Magic Sands, who dominated in the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3). With this lineup, Kizuna seems to have competent progeny to top the ranking for the second consecutive year.

In 2nd place was Lord Kanaloa. His crops performed well both on turf and dirt, regardless of distance, such as Bellagio Opera, who won the Osaka Hai (G1) and delivered a strong 3rd in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1), Satono Reve, triumphed in the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3) and the Keeneland Cup (G3) and became the Summer Sprint Champion, and Emperor Wakea, who captured two dirt graded races, namely, the Negishi Stakes (G3) and the Musashino Stakes (G3).

In 3rd place was Epiphaneia (by Symboli Kris S), who produced four G1 winners: Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) winner Danon Decile, Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1) winner Stellenbosch, Takarazuka Kinen (G1) winner Blow the Horn, and Victoria Mile (G1) winner Ten Happy Rose. In 4th place was last year’s champion Duramente. Standouts among his crops were the Sprinters Stakes (G1) winner Lugal, and Durezza, who finished as runner-up in the Japan Cup (G1). In 5th place was Drefong, whose crops turned in many strong performances in both JRA and NAR dirt races, including Mikki Fight winning the Leopard Stakes (G3). Heart’s Cry, sire of 2024 JRA Horse of the Year Do Deuce, secured 6th place.

Leading Sires of Two-Year-Olds

Kizuna

The ranking for the two-year-old category saw Kizuna retain the champion title for the second consecutive year. He produced three graded stakes winners in this category, with Eri King, Magic Sands, and also a filly Brown Ratchet who topped in the Artemis Stakes (G3).

Epiphaneia held on to 2nd place for the fourth consecutive year. While none of his two-year-old crops won a graded race, they have still been consistent, including Giovanni who finished as runner-up in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3).

In 3rd place was Maurice (by Screen Hero). Among his crops, Admire Zoom won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1), while Arte Veloce secured the victory in the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (G3). Kitasan black occupied 5th place. His colt Croix du Nord won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and received the award of JRA Best Two-Year-Old Colt.

First Crop Sires

Nadal (USA) topped the first crop sires ranking in 2024. Although his crops did not secure victories in graded races, they notched a total of 37 wins in JRA and NAR races. Saturnalia came in 2nd with only a narrow difference in prize money with the champion, while Le Vent Se Leve, who produced two graded stakes winners occupied 3rd place, similarly separated from Saturnalia by only a small margin. In 4th place was Gold Dream, producing 46 winners in NAR races, including four victories in graded races. In 5th place was Mozu Ascot (USA), whose crops did well both in JRA and NAR races.

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

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