Japan To Stand At Gestüt Etzean

Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who will make his final start in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, will stand next season in Germany at Gestüt Etzean.

The 5-year-old has been being purchased by a partnership of Gestüt Etzean, Mr. and Mrs. Matusche and Gestüt Fährhof, with Coolmore retaining part-ownership.

“In Germany there is no son of Galileo and to get one of his quality is great,” said Etzean's Ralf Kredel. “We are thankful to Coolmore for this opportunity and looking forward to his first foals.”

A Group 2 winner as a juvenile, Japan went on to win the G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Grand Prix de Paris, as well as finishing third in the Derby and fourth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as a 3-year-old. In his fourth season of racing this year, he has added the G3 Ormonde S and G3 Meld S to his list of seven wins from 21 starts.

Bred by Newsells Park Stud and sold for 1.3 million gns as a yearling, Japan is a son of the celebrated Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), whose multiple matings with the late champion sire Galileo have also resulted in the dual Group 1 winner Mogul (GB) and G2 Middleton S. winner Secret Gesture (GB) among her five black-type earners.

Gestüt Etzean is also home to the veteran Areion (Ger) and Amaron (GB), and the stud lost its flagship stallion Lord Of England (Ger) to a heart problem in October. A covering fee for Japan will be announced shortly.