Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
As the first foals of the year hit the ground throughout Australasia, the excitement continues to build in the lead up to the new breeding season. Much of that enthusiasm centres around the stallions that will make their maiden appearance in the breeding shed; and with such a talented crop - one that includes Hitotsu, State Of Rest (Ire), In The Congo, Jacquinot, Profondo and Daumier - the expectations are understandably high.
It was six weeks ago that Arrowfield Stud announced Hitotsu would be joining its roster at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST). Since that time, the triple Group 1 winner’s book has been filling up.
Jon Freyer - Arrowfield Stud’s bloodstock manager - explained to TTR AusNZ why he believes the son of Maurice (Jpn) has been so popular.
Jon Freyer | Image courtesy of Inglis
“The type of horse that Hitotsu is… he fits that bill of the horse that’s really doing well in this country at the present time, like Dundeel, So You Think and Savabeel. They’re horses that are very capable across a range of distances, they’re not just the pure speed horses that the market tends to concentrate on these days,” Freyer said.
“I think he is an important horse in the current ecosystem because, as with a lot of the Maurices, he was a very capable horse at a range of distances.
“The market has really liked him, he’s very popular.
“We’re really excited about him.”
“I think he (Hitotsu) is an important horse in the current ecosystem because, as with a lot of the Maurices, he was a very capable horse at a range of distances.” - Jon Freyer
Freyer said Arrowfield has given Hitotsu great support for his debut season, confirming 31 of its mares will be served by the 4-year-old, while a host of prominent breeders have also booked nominations.
“We’ve got behind him with a good bunch of our mares, there’s 31 going to him at this point in time. There may be more than that, but there’s 31 committed at the moment,” Freyer commented.
Some of Arrowfield’s mares that will be covered by Hitotsu this spring include Fortiche (Any Given Saturday {USA}) - the dam of the Group 3 winner Kibou (Maurice {Jpn}), the G1 VRC Oaks heroine Brazilian Pulse (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}), the stakes performer Bacarella (Beneteau), and the Group 3 winner I Am Serious (Choisir).
Hitotsu winning the G1 AJC Australian Derby | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Kirovskaya (French Deputy {USA}) is another set for a date with Hitotsu. She is a half to the Group 1 victress Cesario (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}) - the dam of the elite-level scorers Epiphaneia (Jpn), Leontes (Jpn) and Saturnalia (Jpn). Kirovskaya herself has thrown the dual Group 3 scorer Irithea (Snitzel).
Kneeling (Encosta De Lago) - a Listed victor who has produced the Listed winners Bend The Knee (Snitzel) and Dashing Legend (Snitzel) - will go to Hitotsu, so too will the two-time Group winner Saavoya (NZ) (Savabeel).
The Group 1-placed Star Fashion (Street Cry {Ire}) - a daughter of the 2003 G1 Hong Kong Derby heroine Elegant Fashion (Danewin), plus Star Pupil (Starcraft {NZ}) - the dam of the Group 1 winner-turned sire Stronger, and Wild Spirit (Fr) - a half to the brilliant Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) - will be served by Hitotsu as well.
Freyer said Hitotsu will cover mares by top-class stallions such as Pierro, Fastnet Rock, Zoustar, Savabeel, Deep Impact (Jpn), More Than Ready (USA) and I Am Invincible.
“The syndicate that raced him has kept a considerable share in him and they’re all supporting him really well,” said Freyer.
“His largest shareholder, Kevin Payne, is sending a whole bunch of his mares to him and the outside breeders are being really supportive.
“His (Hitotsu’s) largest shareholder, Kevin Payne, is sending a whole bunch of his mares to him and the outside breeders are being really supportive.” - Jon Freyer
“He will get a really good book in the first year, and we’re very excited about his prospects.”
A big pedigree, an exceptional racehorse
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral, Belford Productions and Hayden Chambers, Hitotsu made $100,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Offered by Arrowfield Stud, he was knocked down to trainer Wendy Kelly.
Hitotsu is from the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Love Is Fickle and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes winners Love Conquers All, She’s Meaner (Falvelon) - the dam of Lean Mean Machine, as well as the stakes performer She’s Bella (Sebring). Hitotsu’s grandam is the Group 1 heroine She’s A Meanie (NZ) (Prince Salieri).
His sire Maurice - a son of Screen Hero (Jpn) - was an absolute superstar on the track, winning six Group 1s, including the Hong Kong Mile, the Yasuda Kinen and the Tenno Sho (Autumn). He was also named Japan’s Horse of the Year in 2015.
Maurice has done a tremendous job at stud, both in Japan and Australia, with five individual elite-level winners and 16 stakes winners.
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
John Messara - the Arrowfield Stud supremo - has long been a fan of Japanese racing and its bloodlines and he has formed a successful relationship with the Yoshida family’s Shadai breeding empire.
Arrowfield Stud has shuttled Japanese stallions including Real Impact (Jpn), Real Steel (Jpn), Mikki Isle (Jpn) and Admire Mars (Jpn).
“The Japanese bloodlines have proven themselves over the last decade, I guess, around the world as being super successful; they match anywhere in the world, wherever they go,” Freyer explained.
“We’re happy to hitch our wagon to that star because it’s just proven to be so successful.
“They select basically on race performance, it’s not something that everybody does, but they do. When you’re selecting, over a number of generations, based on that, you tend to breed a lot of good horses and that’s what they’ve done. Maurice is a good case in point and now you see these other good horses like Equinox, and ones that have come to Australia like Lys Gracieux.
“Hitotsu is a nice blend of Maurice and Redoute’s Choice, but you wouldn’t say he was more of one than the other.”
So, with a wonderful pedigree behind him, it’s hardly a surprise that Hitotsu was one out of the box. He started just eight times, winning on four occasions. Hitotsu had three starts at two, and although he didn’t finish in the top three, he was only beaten 3.2l in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) when on debut, before finishing 5.15l off Artorius in the G1 Blue Diamond S. at his second start.
It was as a 3-year-old that Hitotsu swept all before him. After being bought by Ozzie Kheir and partners, he was transferred from Wendy Kelly to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. Hitotsu broke the ice with an easy win at Donald, before turning in a blinder in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, placing fifth, just 2.85l off Anamoe. That would be the last time he tasted defeat.
Hitotsu winning the G1 Australian Guineas | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
On October 30, 2021, Hitotsu became the first horse since Monte Carlo (NZ) (Lucky Bag {GB}) in 1956 to triumph in the G1 Victoria Derby straight out of the Caulfield Guineas. He was sent to the paddock following his Derby heroics and returned in the autumn. Hitotsu became the first horse to win the G1 Australian Guineas first-up and he joined King’s High and Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}) as 3-year-olds to win both of Flemington’s Classics. The star colt made more history at his next start, becoming the first horse to complete the Victoria Derby-Australian Derby double since Mahogany (1993/94) and the first Australian Guineas champion to win the ATC Derby next-up without a subsequent run.
“As (co-trainer) Ciaron Maher said, whilst he was a horse that could stay the Classic distance, he was one of the fastest horses they had in training - their data from all the systems they use indicated that,” Freyer remarked.
Sadly, the Australian Derby would be the last time we got to see Hitotsu on the track. A suspensory ligament injury ruled him out of the 2022 spring carnival and he later experienced a series of setbacks in his attempt to return to the track, including a leg infection.
“As (co-trainer) Ciaron Maher said, whilst he (Hitotsu) was a horse that could stay the Classic distance, he was one of the fastest horses they had in training...” - Jon Freyer
A duck to water
Hitotsu has been at Arrowfield Stud for a short while, but According to Freyer, he has let down beautifully and looks a picture of health.
Freyer said: “He has let down amazingly well. He obviously had a couple of soundness issues, which is why he was retired. He’s only been at the farm about a month and he’s just letting down so quickly. It’s actually a really good sign, I love those horses that develop physically very quickly and he’s looking amazing.”
“He’s (Hitotsu) only been at the farm about a month and he’s just letting down so quickly.” - Jon Freyer
Freyer said Arrowfield Stud can’t wait to show him off at its stallions parades at the end of August.
“I think when people see him everyone’s going to be really impressed, they’re going to say, ‘Wow, there’s a really nice horse’. We will be very happy to show him to the breeding public when they all turn up in a few weeks.”
