Half to Animal Kingdom Wins Debut in Japan
Description:
A Deep Impact half brother to 2011 U.S. champion 3-year-old male and Central Kentucky stallion Animal Kingdom won his Dec. 27 debut at Nayakama Racecourse in Japan in the day's fourth race.
Named Satono Kingdom, the 2-year-old colt won the one-mile event for "newcomers"—first-time starters—by 1 1/4 lengths and covered the distance in 1:36.08 under Keita Tosaki, who was riding for trainer Sakae Kunieda.
The colt is owned by Hajime Satomi and is one of five winners out of Acatenango's daughter Dalicia, a German group III winner who also produced Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux), the winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and 2013 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) who shuttles for stallion duty between Arrowfield Stud in Australia and Kentucky.
Animal Kingdom will stand the Northern Hemisphere season at Darley's Jonabell Farm near Lexington for a $35,000 fee. His first North American crop are weanlings this year.
Shadai Farm bought Dalicia in foal to Mr. Greeley for 230,000 guineas (US$397,316) at the 2009 Tattersalls December breeding stock sale. The resulting colt, Thursby, was unplaced in four starts.