Racehorse TALK

Margins- short neck, 2 lengths

Prix de Diane wniner Sarafina will be mated with Deep Impact

PICTURE: APRH

Deep Impact date for Yoshida buy Sarafina

STAR racemareSarafina is set for a dazzling mating with Deep Impact following her private purchase by Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm.

The sale was revealed in the Racing Post newspaper  when Pat Downes, the Aga Khan's stud manager in Ireland, said the owner/breeder had "received an offer he could not turn down".

One leading agent, unconnected with the deal, speculated yesterday that Sarafina would be valued in the region of  £5 million, although neither side involved in the deal would comment on the purchase price.

The sale of the triple Group 1 winner was handled on behalf of the Yoshida family by Florida-based agent Eugenio Columbo, who acted for the same buyers when buying Prix Marcel Boussac winner Elusive Kate shortly before a scheduled appearance at Fasig-Tipton last November.

Columbo has a long-established alliance with the Yoshidas, stretching back to the purchase of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Tony Bin, subsequently a leading sire in Japan. Other buys include Falbrav and White Muzzle.

The exodus of Sarafina only emphasises just how sought after European mares are in a rejuvenated Japanese bloodstock economy. There has also been a renewed demand for stallions with last year's King George winner Harbinger and Derby winner Workforce also secured by the Yoshidas.

The news that Sarafina is in line to be mated withDeep Impact will attract the interest of racefans around the world. A sensational racehorse himself - he won seven Grade 1 events in Japan and finished third in the 2006 Arc, disqualified from second - his progeny have been in intense demand since he retired to stud, especially as he is a son of the influential Sunday Silence. One of his yearlings sold last year for over £3 million. Deep Impact's  first crop included the winners of the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen and Japanese 1,000 Guineas.

Deep Impact: has made a brilliant start to his stud career at Shadai Farm

  PICTURE: Getty

Wildenstein use of Deep Impact rewarded again

Prix Allez France (Group 3, 4yo+ fillies and mares)
Chantilly, 1m2f

Winner: Aquamarine

4yo b f Deep Impact - Angelita (Alzao)

THE Wildenstein family's patronage of Deep Impact was rewarded again on Monday, when Aquamarine became the third European stakes winner they have bred from the exciting Japanese stallion.

Aquamarine, second to Maxios in a Longchamp conditions race last time out, relished testing underfoot conditions at Chantilly to win the Prix Allez France with Haya Landa(Lando) second and last season's Arc runner-up Shareta (Sinndar) in third.

Aquamarine, trained by Mikel Delzangles for the Wildenstein family, was picking up her first black type in the Group 3 race.

She carries the same Wildenstein silks that two other offspring of Deep Impact did when winning stakes contests: Beauty Parlour in this month's Group 3 Prix de la Grotte and Barocci in the Listed Prix Omnium in March last year.

Aquamarine, Barocci and Beauty Parlour were all bred in Japan by the Wildensteins' Dayton Investments operation.

Aquamarine is the first foal out of the unraced Alzao mare Angelita, a sister to Grade 1 Beverly D and Diana Stakes winner Angara.

She hails from the Wildensteins' illustrious 'A' dynasty of Breeders' Cup Classic hero Arcangues, Prix de Diane winner Aquarelliste and Grade 1 scorer Artiste Royale. It is also the family of 1,000 Guineas heroine Cape Verdi.

Deep Impact, a seven-time Grade 1-winning son of Sunday Silence, has made a brilliant start to his stud career with his first two crops conceived at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.

Aquamarine is Deep Impact's 22nd stakes winner and continues a fine run of success for the sire this year: the Prix Allez France was the ninth stakes race that has fallen to progeny of the sire in 2012.

Deep Impact has sired four Grade 1 winners - Gentildonna (Oka Sho 1,000 Guineas), Joie De Vivre (Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Stakes), Marcellina (Oka Sho) an Real Impact (Yasuda Kine, NHKMile Cup).