Champion British Idiom Sold to Japan's Northern Farm

British Idiom, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2019, has been retired and sold to Japan's Northern Farm, according to Liz Crow, a bloodstock agent and adviser for the owners that campaigned her in the United States. 

Perfect in three starts as a juvenile for trainer Brad Cox and owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and The Elkstone Group, British Idiom raced twice in 2020, finishing second in the Feb. 15 Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and 10th in the May 1 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

The chestnut daughter of Flashback exited the Fantasy with a chip in her right front ankle. The sale to Northern Farm was finalized in June and she left for her new home in September, according to Crow.

As a juvenile, she won a maiden special weight race at Saratoga Race Course before adding the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm is home to numerous top-class broodmares, including the recently retired Normcore, a multiple grade 1 winner in Japan. Azeri, the 2002 U.S. Horse of the Year, was recently pensioned from broodmare duties there.

Following British Idiom's spring physical setback, "it was in the best interest of the filly and owners to sell," Crow wrote in a text message. "It was a great deal for both parties."

She was purchased by X-Go Ranch for $40,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment at The October Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky fall yearling sale, in 2018. 

Bred in Kentucky by Hargus and Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, she is out of the Canadian stakes-winning Mr. Sekiguchi mare Rose and Shine. The dam has produced four winners, two of them stakes winners, the other being Parade of Roses (by New Year's Day), who captured the Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park in 2019.

British Idiom finished her career with a 3-for-5 record and earnings of more than $1.4 million.