Image courtesy of Kirstin Ledington
Unbeaten after five starts before Saturday’s G1 Sistema S., Tokyo Tycoon counted the G3 Waikato Slipper S. and the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO on his CV and Tokyo Tycoon is the fifth foal from the Starcraft (NZ) mare All About The Coin, a three-time winner in her day.
Rich Hill Stud’s principle John Thompson told TDN AusNZ, “We bought All About The Coin from the 2016 Inglis Sydney Weanling and Broodmare Sale in foal for $55,000, she was in foal to Foxwedge and the market had gone off Foxwedge a bit.”
John Thompson
Exported to New Zealand, All About The Coin foaled her Foxwedge colt in October of 2016. The colt was subsequently sold at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale - Book 1, to Victorian trainer Ken Keys for NZ$40,000.
“Ken Keys bought the Foxwedge colt who would race as Materialism because he trained the half-brother Syd’s Coin by Denman and had an opinion of him.”
Sent to Rich Hill’s resident sire Shocking in 2017, Thompson admits, “the first foal we bred from her, I was a bit disappointed, to be honest.”
All About The Coin would visit Satono Aladdin in 2019, who was standing his second season in New Zealand that year.
“We chose to breed the dam to Satono Aladdin because she is only medium size and he (Satono Aladdin) is a tall horse, stands about 16.3hh, so on type and pedigree it looked a very good mating,” Thompson said.
The flashy bay was born in September 2020. Thompson described the then colt as the best foal the mare has produced physically.
“He was a very tidy, correct horse, but his temperament from day one was the key to him; he handled everything with aplomb.”
Tokyo Tycoon was first offered for sale at the 2021 New Zealand Bred National Weanling Sale, presented by Rich Hill Stud; Mr B Xantos purchased him for NZ$50,000.
He would return to the sale ring in the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale Book 1, again consigned by Rich Hill Stud, he was knocked down for NZ$125,000 to Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis.
Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Satono Aladdin is the son of the incredible Deep Impact (Jpn). The son of Sunday Silence (USA) was crowned Japan’s Horse of the Year in 2005/06. His dominance extended from the track to the breeding shed when he was awarded Japan’s Champion Sire on 10 consecutive occasions from 2012 to 2022; to date, he is the sire.
Satono Aladdin is out of the Storm Cat (USA) mare Magic Storm (USA), a winner of the G2 Monmouth Oaks and placed in the G1 Saratoga Spinaway S.
Royal bloodlines to New Zealand
So how did this colt with such incredible bloodlines come to stand at Rich Hill Stud?
“I have a long-term relationship with Shadai Stallion Station in Japan and, of course, the Yoshida family.
“We stood Pentire, our foundation sire and an outstanding stallion, for several years on Shadai and the Yoshida family’s behalf.”
Pentire (GB)
Pentire, a son of Be My Guest (USA), sired 49 individual stakes winners, including Group 1 winners King Mufhasa (NZ), Rangirangdoo (NZ), Xcellent (NZ), and the 2015 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance (NZ).
“Pentire passed away in 2017, they (Shadai/Yoshida family) contacted me and asked if I would be interested in standing another stallion, and I half-jokingly said as long as he’s a Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact!
“The horse’s (Satono Aladdin) pedigree came through on the email, and he just had instant appeal to me,” Thompson told TDN AusNZ.
Satono Aladdin won eight races during his career, including the highest-rated mile in Japan, the G1 Yasuda Kinen over 1600 metres running an incredible 1:31.5.
“Pentire passed away in 2017, they (Shadai/Yoshida family) contacted me and asked if I would be interested in standing another stallion, and I half-jokingly said as long as he’s a Group 1 winning son of Deep Impact!” - John Thompson
“He was a very tough and sound horse, who won a Group 1 at six years old. They had tried to get him to stay over a trip as a younger horse, but he wasn’t a stayer and once they brought him back to the sprinter/miler trips, we saw him show his brilliance.”
Although Tokyo Tycoon provided Satono Aladdin with his first Group 1 winner, the son of Deep Impact is no one-trick pony.
From 155 runners to date, the sire has had 63 individual winners. Alongside Tokyo Tycoon, Sacred Satono (NZ) has won the G3 Auckland TR Bonecrusher S., Grand Impact (NZ) scored the G3 Blue Sapphire S., and the promising Japanese Emperor (NZ) was placed in the G1 Australian Guineas.
Sacred Satono, Grand Impact and Japanese Emperor hail from a first crop of just 77 foals, producing 40 individual winners so far.
“It took New Zealand breeders a little while to get their head around how good the Japanese form is and to catch on to him, but we were pleased that he served 170 mares last season,” Thompson said.
“People have well and truly caught on to him now.”
Satono Aladdin isn’t the only stallion on the Rich Hill roster kicking goals.
His barn mates, the proven Proisir and Shocking and the young sires Vadamos (Fr) and Ace High continue to please.
“It took New Zealand breeders a little while to get their head around how good the Japanese form is and to catch on to him (Satono Aladdin), but we were pleased that he served 170 mares last season.” - John Thompson
Proisir has sired two Group 1 winners in the last fortnight, with Legarto (NZ) in the G1 Australian Guineas and Prowess (NZ) in the G1 New Zealand S. While Shocking’s star son I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) will fly the flag for Rich Hill Stud in The All-Star Mile next Saturday, March 18.
What does all the success mean for Rich Hill Stud?
“I have been asked that question a lot lately; the simple fact of the matter is all these horses were good, tough performers with good pedigrees.”
They were good prospects for stud, but that doesn’t guarantee success. But it is great how it has all come together,” Thompson said.
Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kirstin Ledington
“Moving forward, we are in a very strong position, and so is the New Zealand breeding industry.”
The last 12 months have been very fortunate for Rich Hill Stud, “Every Saturday you go in with the hope you walk away with a big race, and that has happened, it doesn’t often happen in this industry, so I feel fortunate.”
