(Deep Impact-Star Isle, by Rock of Gibraltar)
Stands 2017 at Arrowfield Stud, NSW, for $13,750
Mikki Isle, Japan's Champion Sprinter & Miler of 2016, brings a generous dose of high-octane Japanese speed at an attractive price to Arrowfield’s roster.
The handsome son of Japanese supersire Deep Impact won eight races and more than $A6 million prizemoney, including the Mile Championship and NHK Mile Cup, both Group 1 metric miles.
The promise of Mikki Isle’s two-win juvenile season was quickly fulfilled at three when he established himself among the best of his generation. Three successive 1600-metre Group victories that season culminated with the Tokyo NHK Mile Cup G1 for three-year-olds, achieved in his trademark front-running style in a time of 1:33.2.
Mikki Isle’s subsequent performances confirmed the quality of his speed. He was placed in consecutive renewals of the Chukyo Takamatsunomiya Kinen G1, and was second in the Nakayama Sprinters S. G1 - all at 1200 metres.
A pair of successes in 1400-metre Group contests rounded out his sprinting credentials before he sealed his award claims with a defiant, all the-way victory in the Kyoto Mile Championship G1, rated among the world’s top 100 Group 1 races of 2016.
Mikki Isle’s sire Deep Impact was Japanese Horse of the Year in 2006, and since entering stud in 2007 he has won a staggering 11 Japanese stallion premierships: five General Sire premierships and six Champion 2YO Sire titles.
Deep Impact’s progeny have won more than $450 million and almost 200 stakes races, including Group 1 races in Australia, France, Dubai & Hong Kong, and his 10 per cent stakeswinners/runners ranks him among the world’s best sires. Deep Impact’s omnipotence in Japan is illustrated by his progeny’s five 2016 JRA Awards: Champion 2YO Colt (Satono Ares), Champion 3YO Colt (Satono Diamond), Champion 3YO Filly (Sinhalite), Champion Mare (Marialite) and Champion Sprinter-Miler (Mikki Isle).
Mikki Isle was bred by Katsumi Yoshida’s world-renowned Northern Farm from the Rock of Gibraltar mare Star Isle, a grand-daughter of three-time US Grade 1 juvenile winner Stella Madrid, who defeated champion filly Go For Wand in the Belmont Frizette S. G1. Other family members are US Grade 1 winner Lilacs And Lace, French Group 1 winner Isle de France, Champion Japanese Mare Diamond Biko and the 2017 NHK Mile Cup G1 winner, Aerolithe (by French Deputy’s son Kurofune).
Mikki Isle stands in Japan at Shadai Stallion Station and shuttles to Australia for the first time in 2017.
*All data courtesy Arion Pedigrees
