Deep Impact (horse)


Deep Impact was a champion Japanese bred Thoroughbred racehorse that won seven Japanese Domestic Grade 1 races, including all races of Japanese Triple Crown.

Background

Deep Impact's sire Sunday Silence took over from perennial Japanese leading sire Northern Taste and was leading sire in Japan 12 times. His dam, Wind In Her Hair, a Group One winner, finished second in The Oaks to super-filly Balanchine and was out of Burghclere, a daughter of dual-Classic winner Highclere, who was owned and bred by Queen Elizabeth II. Burghclere in turn was a three-quarters sister to top filly Height Of Fashion, sold by the Queen to Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and subsequently the dam of Epsom Derby winner Nashwan, leading sire Unfuwain and multiple Group One winner Nayef.

Racing career

Deep Impact won over Admire Japan by two lengths in Kikuka Sho on 23 October 2005, thereby becoming the first horse since Narita Brian 11 years earlier to complete the Japanese Triple crown. He also became the first unbeaten Japanese Triple crown winner since Symboli Rudolf 21 years earlier, but in his next race, Arima Kinen, Deep Impact was defeated by Heart's Cry to suffer his first loss in his racing career.
In 2006 Deep Impact returned to the turf with an easy victory in the Hanshin Daishōten. Then he won the Tenno Sho, beating the world record for a 3200-meter race in the time of, following this with a victory in the Takarazuka Kinen. In October, he raced in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but finished third. He was heavy favourite for the race, and 1,587,263 € was bet on him in France. Two weeks later, news from France Galop revealed Deep Impact was positive tested to Ipratropium. Connections announced the colt would retire to stud after that season in a syndication deal worth 5.1 billion yen. Deep Impact retired after he won the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen races in 2006.
;Wins:
;Second:
; Finished Third: Later disqualified due to a positive drug test for a prohibited substance.

Stud record

Deep Impact stood at the Shadai Stallion Station in Abira, Hokkaido, where he became one of the world's most dominant stallions. He was crowned Japanese Champion Sire for seven consecutive years from 2012 to 2018 and sired stars including Gentildonna, Real Steel and A Shin Hikari.

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly

Pedigree

Death

On 30 July 2019, Deep Impact was euthanised after suffering a cervical fracture. The 2019 Japan Cup was named the Deep Impact Memorial.