First Almond Eye Foal in Training

The great Japanese race mare Almond Eye's first foal, Aaron's Rod, was transferred on July 11 from the Tenei branch of Northern Farm, where he was pre-trained, to trainer Sakae Kunieda's barn at the Miho Training Center. He has been training well since the move. The colt, sired by Epiphaneia, who has already produced four Grade 1 winners this year, including Japanese Derby (G1) winner Danon Decile, is showing promise. Almond Eye, by Lord Kanaloa out of Fusaichi Pandora (the winner of the 2006 Queen Elizabeth Commemorative Cup (G1)), had a stellar career with 15 starts and 11 wins for Silk Racing, who also own Aaron's Rod. Her nine Grade 1 victories are the most by any horse in Japan, earning her the title of Japanese Horse of the Year in 2018 and 2020 and induction into the Japanese Racing Hall of Fame in 2023. Almond Eye foaled Aaron's Rod on January 13, 2022, at Northern Farm. She also has a yearling colt by Maurice and a filly foal by Kitasan Black, and is currently in foal to Equinox, who began his stud duties at Shadai Stallion Station this spring. Trainer Kunieda, who also trained Almond Eye, anticipates that Aaron's Rod's first start will be in a 1,600-meter (about one mile) turf maiden race at Niigata Racecourse on August 11. Christophe Lemaire, Almond Eye's regular rider, is booked to ride her first foal.