Admire Mars the latest Japanese star to be powered by European blood

The relentless and long-held determination of Japanese breeders to gather the best stock available to them has resulted in Japan gaining a deserved reputation as one of the healthiest bloodstock industries worldwide.

Of course, the ongoing success of Sunday Silence and his sons, notably Deep Impact, has been a true gamechanger, but then so has the consistent influx of high-profile mares.

Such imports are invariably expensive acquisitions out of public auction - only last month in Kentucky, Katsumi Yoshida dropped $5,050,000 on five mares at Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale, among them Grade 1 winners Finley’sluckycharm and Fourstar Crook.