Darley Japan Announces Thunder Snow, Hawkbill Fees

Thunder Snow will stand his first season on the Darley roster in Japan at a fee of ¥2.5 million (US$23,000).

A Darley homebred, he became the first horse to win back-to-back editions of the Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) this year and was a group 1 winner from 2 to 5 on both turf and dirt.

Thunder Snow, the highest-rated colt from the family of the brilliant Balanchine, is a half brother to four stakes winners, including Barrett Steel May Hill Stakes (G1) scorer Ihtimal. His 2-year-old sibling Eastern World was a promising second in his Dec. 11 debut in a strong-looking novice event at Kempton.

Darley announced fees for 10 stallions at its Japanese branch in 2020 and will also add another multiple group 1 winner in Hawkbill, who will stand at a fee of ¥1 million ($9,200).

Hawkbill's victory in the Coral-Eclipse (G1), where he finished ahead of The Gurkha, was rated equal to Roaring Lion's win in the same race. Hawkbill, from the family of the great Dubai Millennium, went on to land the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), beating Poet's Word by three lengths.

Pyro, who will also stand for ¥2.5 million in 2020, has enjoyed another fantastic year in Japan, siring 29 2-year-old winners on the dirt. He boasts an impressive 77% winners-to-runners strike rate.

Another standing at ¥2.5 million is champion sprinter Fine Needle, winner of last year's Sprinters Stakes (G1) and Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1). His first foals will arrive in the new year, and the Japanese-bred son of Admire Moon will continue to stand alongside his sire, who will be available to breeders at a fee of ¥1 million. 

Talismanic's first foals will be born in 2020. The Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner and son of Medaglia d'Oro  hails from the family of Deep Impact. He will stand at a fee of ¥1.8 million ($16,560).

Completing the roster are Discreet Cat—at ¥1.5 million ($13,800)—whose first Japanese runners hit the track next year; American Patriot (¥1.5 million); Furioso (¥1 million); and Monterosso (¥500,000).

"We're delighted to offer Japanese breeders a wonderful lineup of stallions with two very exciting new horses: Thunder Snow, who won group 1 races on both turf and dirt, plus the precious Hawkbill—a potential successor to Kitten's Joy ," said Shotaro Kajiya, nominations manager for Darley Japan. "We're very grateful for the support of our breeders and look forward to seeing you at the stallion complex in the new year."