Darley Japan Co., Ltd. will offer a total of 12 stallions for the 2026 season.
Lemon Pop, who has an overwhelming track record including a complete domination of the JRA dirt and an undefeated record of six wins in domestic Group 1 races, was named the JRA Dirt Horse of the Year for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. His fee is set at 5 million yen (US$32,143).
Pyro, who has consistently produced outstanding horses such as Meisho Hario, who made his presence known by winning this year's Kawasaki Kinen, and is an immovable favorite in the dirt racing world, has been set at 4 million yen (US$25,714).
Palace Malice, which has been generating buzz thanks to the success of its Japanese offspring, including Jantar Mantar, who won this year's Mile Championship and achieved the unprecedented feat of sweeping all G1 mile races on turf open to males, has attracted the most attention in Japan with 237 mares this season, his second year in operation, and he will continue to attract many visitors with a price of 3.5 million yen (US$22,500).
Tower of London's first crop of horses includes Panja Tower, who achieved a long-awaited G1 victory in the NHK Mile Cup, further strengthening his reputation as a stud. He will also remain at 2 million yen (US$12,858) this year.
Furthermore, Thunder Snow, who is poised to join the ranks of top stallions thanks to the rise of Narukami, who reigned as the king of 3-year-old dirt races after winning this year's Japan Dirt Classic, will be priced at 2 million yen.
In addition to these popular stallions, the impressive roster this year include Adyar, winner of the Epsom Derby and King George; Fine Needle, known for his impressive speed and producing three Group 1 winners this season alone; Yoshida, who has attracted attention for producing 10 black type horses, including three G1 winners, from his American offspring; Fukum, one of Europe's top middle-distance horses, belonging to the same family as "world treasure" Deep Impact; and Will Take Charge, whose first Japanese offspring proved extremely popular at the sales and whose debut next year is expected to be highly anticipated.
All of these stallions maintained their prices this year. Additionally, American Patriot, who has consistently produced notable 2-year-olds and achieved consistent stud performance, is priced at ¥1 million (US$6,429).
Finally, Talismanic, whose offspring have performed well across a wide range of distances, both turf and dirt, and who achieved the highest winning rate among Japanese stallions with over 100 offspring last year, is priced at ¥800,000 (US$5,143).
"This year, Palace Malice and Lemon Pop ranked first and second in terms of the number of stud mares in Japan," said Darley Japan nomination manager Shotaro Kajiya. "We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported us, and to ensure that you will continue to use our services, we have set the same prices for both horses as this year. In addition to these horses, we have the same lineup as this year, including Tower of London, Thunder Snow, and Pyro, who have all produced G1 winners this year, as well as Fine Needle, which has produced three major stakes winners.
"However, all of these horses have received even more recognition from stakeholders than ever before, and we are proud to have created an even more comprehensive lineup," Kajiya continued. "We would also like to express our gratitude for the large number of applications we have received even before the stud fee announcement. We will strive to provide attractive services next season so that we can continue to receive the same support from stakeholders. We look forward to your continued use and your visit."
Stallion – Price (USD)
Lemon Pop – 5 million yen ($32,143)
Pyro – 4 million yen ($25,714)
Palace Malice – 3.5 million yen ($22,500)
Thunder Snow – 2 million yen ($12,858)
Tower of London – 2 million yen ($12,858)
Adayar – 1.8 million yen ($11,577)
Fine Needle – 1.5 million yen ($9,647)
Yoshida – 1.5 million yen ($9,647)
Hukum – 1.2 million yen ($7,718)
Will Take Charge – 1.2 million yen ($7,718)
American Patriot – 1 million yen ($6,429)
Talismanic – 800,000 yen ($5,413)
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Dec 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
