Katsumi Yoshida Purchases Frankel Filly East
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
East has been sold to Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm
East, the daughter of Frankel who topped the 2018 Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale, has been purchased privately by leading Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm. The 3-year-old will sport the colors of her new owner for the first time July 28, when she lines up in the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville.
"She's in good form," said trainer Kevin Ryan, "and the plan is to go to France on Sunday. We've been very happy with her at home, so we're looking forward to running her."
East will be looking to get her career back on track after finishing last in the Tattersalls Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) on her most recent outing, when she ran for East Partners. Prior to that, she finished a closing third to Castle Lady in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1).
East also boasts high-class juvenile form. She landed a group 3 at Saint-Cloud before she ran a gallant second to Newspaperofrecord in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf (G1T).
The filly was first sold as a 2-year-old when Stephen Hillen parted with €315,000 (US$369,243) for her at Goresbridge, where she was consigned by Katie Walsh's Greenhills Farm.
Bred in Great Britain by Mitaab Abdullah, East is the sixth foal out of the listed-winning Vital Statistics, a daughter of Indian Ridge who in turn is out of another listed winner in the shape of Emerald Peace.
The purchase of East is the latest in a string of high-profile European acquisitions made by Yoshida, whose broodmare band includes Darley Irish Oaks (G1) winner Covert Love, Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1) victress Lily's Candle, Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) scorer Donna Blini, and The Mackem Bullet, who switched from Brian Ellison to Wesley Ward and was last seen winning the Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) at Keeneland.
East is not the first Frankel filly purchased by Yoshida. He also acquired the sire's first-crop daughter Toulifaut for €1.9 million ($2,135,600) when the group 3 winner was offered at the Arqana Arc Sale in 2016.