Our first foal of 2012 has arrived, albeit halfway around the world from Runnymede.
Hunter’s Mark, our mare who is a half sister to 2010 and 2011 leading Japanese sire King Kamehameha, delivered a filly by Harbinger on January 29 at Shadai Farm on the island of Hokkaido in Japan.
The filly is among the first foals by Harbinger to be born and will be one of a just a few owned by non-Japanese breeders. A son of top international sire Dansili, Harbinger was rated the best racehorse in the world for the 2010 season.
“I am delighted to hear the mare and foal are well following delivery, and I'm told the foal is a most attractive filly. I am looking forward to seeing her,” said Runnymede Vice President and General Manager Martin O’Dowd.
Runnymede has maintained a special relationship with Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm and with the Shadai Stallion Station, where Harbinger stands.
This year, Shadai will stand record-setting Epsom Derby (G1) winner Workforce, and Runnymede plans to send Hunter’s Mark to visit that son of King’s Best. Since Hunter’s Mark’s family has worked so well with that line—Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1) winner and now leading sire King Kamehameha is a son of Kingmambo, who also is the sire of King’s Best—the mating is an exciting one.
Hunter’s Mark, a 12-year-old by Titus Livius out of the Last Tycoon mare Manfath, has produced five foals in addition to the Harbinger filly for Runnymede and our partner, Peter Callahan.
Her son by Deep Impact, Target Machine, has won three races in Japan, including a 1 ¼-mile event on turf at Nakayama Racecourse on December 1, and has earned $466,050.