Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida captured the day’s second seven-figure juvenile April 20 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training when he went to $1.3 million for a chestnut colt by Ashford Stud’s freshman sire Mendelssohn . The colt was consigned as Hip 490 by Scanlon Training and Sales, agent.
Nakauchida, who worked for Bobby Scanlon for 19 years before turning to training full-time in Japan, secured two horses for an undisclosed client Wednesday.
On the Mendelssohn colt, he commented: “He breezed very nicely; his action was massive and dynamic during the breeze show. Physically he is strong and a beautiful horse.”
Bred in Kentucky by Marcus Stables, the colt is out of the Malibu Moon daughter Grace Is Gone, who is out of grade 1-placed winner and stakes producer Grace Anatomy by Aldebaran . The colt’s tail-female line includes grade 1 winner Plenty of Grace a half sister to US champion grass mare and millionaire Soaring Softly .
David Scanlon plucked the leggy colt out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale for $235,000 from Northview Stallion Station.
“He was a bit immature when we brought him in,” Scanlon said. “We took our time with him, and he started developing for us. He did everything right; he’s just a dream. The colt is the entire package.”
Scanlon was quick to share the accolades, saying: “I have to credit my partners on the horse, Gabriel ‘Spider’ Duignan and Bruno DeBerdt. I called them when I found the horse (as a yearling), and they supported me. We It was a lot for us to spend on him, but he had a beautiful frame and a great walk He has a beautiful demeanor about him, and I love the sire I think Mendelssohn is going to be a hit. “
Nakauchida also secured Hip 466, a son of Spendthrift’s sought-after sire Into Mischief for $825,000. The colt consigned by de Meric Sales sped an eighth in a rapid :10 flat during the under tack preview.
The Into Mischief colt consigned as Hip 466 at the OBS Spring Sale
“I liked his breeze,” said Nakauchida. “I think he has plenty of speed. He is very athletic and he’s light, and I think he will go better in Japan.”
The colt is produced from the stakes-placed and stakes-producing More Than Ready mare Game for More, making him a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner Isotherm and grade 1-placed runners Game and Giant Game .
“These horses (Hip 490 and 466) will ship to Japan and be under my care and hopefully will win a few races, and hopefully, if we get lucky, you will see them on the international stage.”
The son of Into Mischief was bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter and purchased by Golden Star Farm last year for $385,000 out of the Wynnstay Sales consignment at the Keeneland September Sale.
“We only had him on the farm for 60 days,” shared Tristan de Meric. “He’s been very straightforward. He is an unbelievable horse, and he’s gotten better and better every day. He was nice to start with. Horses like him don’t come around very often.”
