Tim Easterby colt provides dual Group 1 hero and Gestut Etzean sire Japan with first winner

Gestut Etzean resident and Juddmonte International winner Japan sired his first winner at Thirsk on Monday courtesy of Stoneacre Donny's last-gasp victory. 

The Tim Easterby-trained two-year-old had shaped with some promise in two runs last month and showed he learnt from those efforts with a fast-finishing success under Duran Fentiman.

Stoneacre Donny was bred by Newsells Park - also the breeder of Japan - out of the stakes-winning Dansili mare Iromea, a half-sister to Kodiac's Group 3 Prix de Lieurey scorer Cloudy Dawn. The pair are out of the winning Pivotal mare In The Mist, a half-sister to Prix du Moulin heroine Grey Lilas. That mare in turn is the dam of dual French Classic heroine Golden Lilac. 

A 4,000gns Tattersalls December Foal Sale purchase, Stoneacre Donny is a half-brother to multiple winner and Listed-placed Penzance, by Wootton Bassett. Iromea has a yearling colt by Nathaniel. 

Japan beats Crystal Ocean in the 2019 Juddmonte International at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

Japan himself is by Galileo and out of Newsells Park's blue hen Shastye, making him a brother to Grand Prix de Paris and Hong Kong Vase hero Mogul. The pair, who sold to MV Magnier for 1.3 million and 3.4 million guineas at Tattersalls Book 1 in 2017 and 2018, are also siblings to Group 2 Middleton Stakes scorer and dual Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture and Curragh Group 3 winner Sir Isaac Newton.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, Japan was a Group 2 winner as a juvenile when landing the Beresford Stakes, while his two Group 1 victories came the following year in the Grand Prix de Paris and Juddmonte International. 

The son of Galileo also won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, as well as the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester and Leopardstown's Group 3 Meld Stakes.

Japan retired to stand at Gestut Etzean for an opening fee of €11,000 in 2022. He has had nine runners to date from 51 registered juveniles and stood this year for €9,500.

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