The Chiba Sale of 2-Year-Olds Returns to Live Action

The Chiba Thoroughbred Sale of 2-Year-olds in Training, conducted online for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return to live action May 12 at Funabashi Racecourse.

The under tack show begins at 8 a.m. (local time) May 12, and all juveniles will breeze on the dirt track at Funabashi Racecourse. The single-day sales session will begin after the under tack show.

Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm offers the largest consignment for this year, per usual, with 53 ready-to-run 2-year-olds for consideration.

One of the remarkable offerings in the catalog is Hip 61, a colt by Bricks and Mortar , United States Horse of the Year and Champion Turf Male of 2019, whose first crop are 2-year-olds this year. The colt is out of Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Ashland Stakes (G1) victress of 2015 Lovely Maria .

Mind Your Biscuits , whose son from his first crop, Derma Sotogake , won the UAE Derby (G2) last month and is an intended runner for the Kentucky Derby (G1), is represented by six juveniles in the sale, including Hip 59, a colt out of Ask Deputy (JPN). The colt is a half brother to Musee Sultan, winner of the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3) and third runner-up in the NHK Mile Cup (G1).

Bellagio Opera by Lord Kanaloa , a winner in three races in as many starts, including the Spring Stakes (G2) and one of the leading contenders for the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas-G1) at Nakayama April 16, was purchased at the Chiba Sale in 2022 by Shorai Hayashida's Be Project for ¥48,510,000 (US$366,952).