Japanese Triple Crown winner Deep Impact topped Day 1 of the JRHA July Select Sale on Monday when his yearling colt from Isle de France made Y66 million (AUD 851,400).

Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) has been represented by two Japanese winners from his first crop this season and his session topper is a muscular son of Nureyev mare Isle de France who was a G3 winner of the 1998 Prix Minerve at Deauville.  

Second dam Stella Madrid (Alydar) was a North American G1 winner and she also foaled Japanese champion Diamond Biko (Sunday Silence).

Deep Impact’s owner Makoto Kaneko was the successful bidder for the colt who was offered by Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm.  He bought six yearlings on Monday including two others by the same sire.

JRHA officials reported 173 yearlings were sold at an 81% clearance rate.  The average of Y18.25 million (AUD 235,425) was down 17% from last year.

“I’m very satisfied with the results,” JRHA vice chairman Teruya Yoshida said.  “The quality of this catalogue is not quite as strong as in previous years but the range of buyers has grown.  That is good considering the current economic situation.

“The median was strong, and it was widely supported by new players at this market who made their first purchase here.  I believe this is encouraging sign for our industry.”

The second and final session of the JRHA July Sale comprises 215 foals on Tuesday.