Deep Impact | Horse Racing Free Tips

Deep Impact: Gone But Certainly Not Forgotten

The death of Deep Impact (Jpn) in July 2019 may have robbed Japan, and the wider breeding industry, of a phenomenally successful stallion but his dominance persists for now, with a tenth Japanese sires' championship going his way in 2021.

The most prolific son of Sunday Silence, who was just 17 when he died a few months after covering a final book of 24 mares, has held the title consecutively since 2012, the year in which his eldest runners were 4-year-olds. He had hit the ground running as the champion first-season sire in 2010.

From that final crop, members of which have just turned two, seven foals are listed as having been born in Japan, and another seven in Europe. As would be expected, they belong to some high-end breeders, and include the Aga Khan's half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner and young stallion The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoutes's Choice {Aus}); Godolphin's half-sister to Prix Marcel Boussac and Breeders' Cup winner Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}); a full-brother to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), and a filly out of the seven-time Group 1 winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose first foal born the previous year was a colt by Deep Impact. Also among the Galileo mares sent to Deep Impact in his final year by the Coolmore partners were the multiple Group 1 winners Hydrangea (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire), both of whom foaled colts.

The Niarchos family, whose early patronage of Deep Impact resulted in his Classic-winning son Study Of Man (Ire), who is now his sole representative at stud in Britain, have a 2-year-old filly out of Malicieuse (Ire), a Galileo half-sister to Bago (Fr) and Maxios (GB).

With Snowfall (Jpn) having enhanced Deep Impact's record in the European Classics last year with her victories in the Oaks and Irish Oaks, it is not unreasonable, from this select clutch of youngsters, to imagine that his tally in this part of the world could be extended further still by his final two batches of 3-year-olds this year and next.

Deep Impact's progeny earnings for 2021 stood at ¥6,978,499,500 (approximately £44.5m/€53.3m) from 205 winners, led by Contrail (Jpn), who bowed out of his own magnificent racing career with victory in the Japan Cup the year after he completed the Triple Crown. Deep Impact was also represented by his seventh (and fourth consecutive) Japanese Derby winner in Shahryar (Jpn).

At a fee of ¥12 million (approximately £76,300/€91,500), Contrail is now one of six sons of Deep Impact at Shadai Stallion Station, where their sire stood his entire career and was routinely graced with big books of high-class mares. In all bar one of Deep Impact's full covering seasons he was sent in excess of 200 mares, reaching a high of 262 in 2013. Unsurprisingly, he is also an accomplished broodmare sire, a sphere in which his name will loom large for a good while to come, and was runner-up in that division in 2021.

For the second year running, fellow Shadai stallions Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and Heart's Cry (Jpn) filled the second and third places on the Japanese sires' list. The former, a 14-year-old son of the late King Kamehameha (Jpn), has five Group 1 winners to his credit, including the outstanding Almond Eye (Jpn), and his leading performer last year was the 6-year-old Danon Smash (Jpn), whose top-flight wins have come in both Japan and Hong Kong. Lord Kanaloa also had a smart juvenile in 2021, the Group 2 winner King Hermes (Jpn), among his 247 winners overall–the highest number recorded by any of the stallions on the list.

Heart's Cry, another son of Sunday Silence and racing contemporary of Deep Impact, had the champion back in second when winning the G1 Arima Kinen in his final season on the track, and he has compiled his own impressive record at stud, albeit always in Deep Impact's shadow. Now 21, Heart's Cry is the sire of the globetrotting Lys Gracieux (Jpn) and Japan Cup winner Suave Richard (Jpn) among his 11 Group I winners.

Recording his highest place on the sires' list to date was Deep Impact's 12-year-old son Kizuna (Jpn), who was the leading first-season sire of 2019 and is looking a proper force to be reckoned with after just three crops of racing age. Kizuna was the second of his sire's Derby winners in 2013 and he ventured to France that same year to win the G2 Prix Niel before finishing fourth behind Treve (Fr) in the Arc.

With 155 winners in 2021, Kizuna was also represented by his first top-level winner in Akai Ito (Jpn), victrix of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in November. His first-crop son Deep Bond (Jpn) won the G2 Hanshin Daishoten and G2 Prix Foy at Longchamp as well as finishing runner-up in both the G1 Tenno Sho and G1 Arima Kinen.

King Kamehameha (Jpn) died only a fortnight after a Deep Impact so his is another name who will gradually disappear from the stallion tables, if not from pedigrees. He was fifth overall in 2021, but he got the better of Deep Impact in one regard when finishing at the top of the broodmare sires' list.

Another of King Kamehameha's sons, the 15-year-old Rulership (Jpn), was just below him on the table, while with five crops of racing age under his belt, the former Japanese Triple Crown winner and dual Arc runner-up Orfevre (Jpn) was seventh.

The handsome Epiphaneia (Jpn), a son of Symboli Kris S and a contemporary of Kizuna, is doing well from his first three crops to be eighth overall. He is ahead of his young rival in one regard, however, as Epiphaneia is already the sire of three Grade I winners, including last year's Arima Kinen winner Efforia (Jpn) and this season's Classic prospect Circle Of Life (Jpn).

Drefong Leads The Japanese Freshman

Gio Ponti's multiple Grade I-winning son Drefong took up residence at the Shadai Stallion Station in 2018 and the Breeders' Cup Sprint hero is already making a mark on his adopted country, having claimed the first-season sires' championship in 2021.

He covered 207 mares in his first book, and of his 92 starters last year, he notched 31 winners, six clear of his nearest rival in that regard, Copano Rickey (Jpn), by Sunday Silence's son Gold Allure (Jpn), who was sixth overall. Drefong's leading runner was Northern Farm's Geoglyph (Jpn), whose two wins included the G3 Sapporo Nisai S.

Deep Impact's son Silver State (Jpn), who stands at the Yushun Stallion Station, was runner-up in the table with 22 winners, including the Group 3 winner Water Navillera (Jpn). The Japanese 2000 Guineas winner Isla Bonita (Jpn), by Fuji Kiseki (Jpn), also recorded 22 winners to be third.

The hugely talented Kitasan Black (Jpn), the leading son of Deep Impact's full-brother Black Tide (Jpn), was a seven-time Group 1 winner on the track and he is off to a decent start at stud, finishing fourth in the table with 13 winners from 44 starters.

Darley Japan's Grade 1-winning son of War Front, American Patriot, was fifth, represented by 18 winners, including the Group 3 runner-up Be Astonished (Jpn).

The post Deep Impact: Gone But Certainly Not Forgotten appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Japan: Deep Impact Colts Go 1-2 In Year-End Hopeful Stakes

Second favorite Killer Ability romped to a convincing victory in record breaking time to capture this year's Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes on Tuesday at Nakayama, stamping his name on the list of most prominent candidates for next season's Triple Crown classics. Both the winner and the runner-up, Justin Palace, are sired by Deep Impact (Sunday Silence).

The race got underway with Grand Line setting the pace, Born This Way sitting a few lengths behind in second, and Killer Ability on the rails another length behind that in third. As the field made their bids entering the straight, Killer Ability had switched to an outer path avoiding the frontrunners turning the last corner. As the pacesetter weakening near the rails, the brown colt stole the lead from Born This Way after the furlong marker with a second gear and crossed the line a 1-1/2-length winner.

“Sitting in the saddle in his workouts two weeks in a row convinced me that he was going to run and run fast,” commented jockey Takeshi Yokoyama. “We sat in a good position and when the colt was able to relax in the backstretch, I had all the confidence I needed that he was going to win. I'm sure he will go on to improve further and become stronger. Personally, my goal for this season was to capture a G1 title and land 100 seasonal wins—winning five G1 titles is just unbelievable and I cannot thank all the connections and the horses enough for such a wonderful season.”

After turning in a fifth in his debut start (1,800m, or nine furlongs) in June, Killer Ability displayed a strong seven-length win in his following start (2,000m, or 1 1/4 miles) in August. In his latest Hagi Stakes (Listed, 1,800m) start, Killer Ability was a neck short in second to subsequent Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes third-place finisher Danon Scorpion.

Following his latest G1 win with Chrono Genesis in the Takarazuka Kinen in June, trainer Takashi Saito has now six overall JRA-G1 titles under his belt while jockey Takeshi Yokoyama collected his fifth JRA-G1 title, his most recent being in the Arima Kinen with Efforia just two days before.

Fourth pick Justin Palace was settled in around fifth, three to four lengths behind the eventual winner. After making steady headway after the third corner, the colt picked off the runners in front one by one up to the last half furlong but proved no match to the winner while holding off the rest of the field by 1-1/4 lengths.

Eighth choice Lagulf sat behind the winner along the rails in fourth and after struggling for room in early stretch, made an inside bid alongside the runner-up but was unable to keep up while snatching third place from Born This Way in the final strides.

Race favorite and this year's Saudi Arabia Royal Cup winner Command Line was reserved on the rails in lower mid-pack and switched to an outer path entering the straight but failed to fire, never reaching contention to finish 12th.

Other Horses:
4th: (13) Fidele—traveled in 12th, improved position with 2nd fastest late speed, belatedly
5th: (9) Born This Way—tracked leader in 2nd, inherited lead at early stretch, weakened in last 200m
6th: (10) Matenro Leo—settled around 10th, angled out, passed tired rivals
7th: (2) Achernar Star—sat 2nd from rear, showed fastest late charge, failed to threaten
8th: (1) Shelby's Eye—hugged rails around 9th, even paced
9th: (4) Grand Line—set pace, surrendered lead at early stretch, showed tenacity until 100m out
10th: (15) Ask Wild More—unhurried in 13th, unable to reach contention
11th: (12) Onyankopon—ran outside winner around 4th, outrun after final corner
13th: (7) Satono Helios—raced around 8th, driven after 3rd corner, circled wide, showed little
14th: (11) Crowned Magic—trailed in far rear, no factor
15th: (14) Tyler Tesoro—traveled 3-wide around 5th, faded after 3rd corner

The post Japan: Deep Impact Colts Go 1-2 In Year-End Hopeful Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Japan: Six Undefeated Colts Among 18 Contenders For Asahi Hai Futurity

It's the turn of the colts this coming Sunday, when Hanshin Racecourse once again stages a Grade 1, with the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes run over a mile on the outer turf course at the Kansai track. It'll be the 73rd running of the race for 2-year-olds, with the exclusion of geldings, and the colts carry an allotted weight of 55kg.

This year sees 19 nominations for a maximum 18 runner field, and just to show the competition involved, six of the nominated horses are unbeaten in their short careers so far.

The winner's purse this year is JPY 70 million (about US$610,000). The race is timed to start at 15:40 Japan time, and will be Race 11 on the Sunday card at Hanshin.

Here's a look at some of the horses bidding for a win in the race:

Serifos: Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida won the race last year with Grenadier Guards, and while leading the trainers' table this year, he sends out this unbeaten colt by Daiwa Major here, who has won both the Grade 3 Niigata Nisai Stakes and the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes, as well as one other race in the three times he's been to the races. Visiting jockey Cristian Demuro has been booked for the ride, and the horse looks sure to be one of the favorites, as he tries to keep his unbeaten record intact. Serifos runs in the colors of the G1 Racing Co. Ltd.

Geoglyph: There's no doubting the potential of the chestnut colt by Drefong, who came home a four-length winner in the Grade 3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes over 1,800 meters (1 1/8 miles) at Sapporo in September. He won his only other race on his debut at Tokyo in June, also winning over 1,800 meters.

Assistant trainer Yu Ota said: “He ran well in the Sapporo Nisai Stakes, even though he was a bit too relaxed. Returning from the farm recently, he looks sharp, and the jockey reports the horse to be in good shape in training. With two wins over 1,800 meters, there shouldn't be any problem over a mile.”

Geoglyph looks set to be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who has ridden the colt in both his starts to date.

Danon Scorpion: Another unbeaten colt, the son of Lord Kanaloa is coming off a win in the Hagi Stakes over 1,800 meters at Hanshin in October, and won his other race on his debut in June, also at Hanshin, over the course and distance of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes. Step by step, he looks good for a shot at a Grade 1, and in a recent piece of work at Ritto on the woodchip course under race jockey Kohei Matsuyama, he posted a six furlong time of 81.9 seconds, with a final furlong time of 11.7 seconds, his third time to clock under 12 seconds in recent trackwork. The horse was bred at K.I. Farm and is trained by Takayuki Yasuda.

Dobune: The colt by Deep Impact was purchased for quite a sum at the 2021 Chiba Thoroughbred Sale, and has got his career off to a good start, winning both his races since September, the latest being the Kikyo Stakes over 1,400 meters at Chukyo in October, after winning a 1,500-meter race on his debut at Sapporo. He's trained by Koshiro Take, and the trainer recently said: “He's an intelligent horse and knows a lot already, as well as being quite relaxed. He can certainly take on a Grade 1 with the ability he shows, although he will need to run to his best.” Jockey Hayato Yoshida looks set for the ride on Dobune.

Do Deuce: Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi and jockey Yutaka Take team up here with the Heart's Cry colt, who is out of the American bred mare Dust and Diamonds, who in turn is from a strong line of other American bred horses. Do Deuce won on his debut at Kokura in September, and since then has won his only other race, the Listed Ivy Stakes over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in October. He's developing the right way, and has been working well, if only lightly, on the woodchip course at Ritto, as he also aims to stay unbeaten in the big race on Sunday.

“He's a horse with a lot of power and has good racing sense. He showed what a good finish he has when winning the Ivy Stakes last time,” said the trainer recently.

Otaru Ever: A confirmed frontrunner in what he's shown so far, the striking dark bay colt by Leontes cuts quite a dash when he's out in front, racing in the green and white checked colors of owner Ikuko Sumitani. He finished third in the Grade 3 Niigata Nisai Stakes, behind Serifos, over 1,600 meters in August, and he led all the way to win the Shumeigiku Sho over 1,400 meters last time at Hanshin in November. He's already repaying some of the JPY 45 million he cost at the 2020 Select Sale, and he's an interesting entry here.

The post Japan: Six Undefeated Colts Among 18 Contenders For Asahi Hai Futurity appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Loves Only You Finishes Career With Hong Kong Cup Victory

Loves Only You set the perfect seal on one of international racing's most colorful careers with a spellbinding success in the HK$30 million Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Yoshito Yahagi's globetrotting mare has flown the Hinomaru flag from Dubai to Hong Kong and on to the USA then back to Sha Tin again in 2021, leading home a Japanese 1-2-3-4 in the G1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) in April and then creating history by becoming the first horse from her nation to score at the Breeders' Cup.

Hong Kong's richest race had been nominated as the final race of the Deep Impact mare's career soon after she crossed the line in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on November 6.

Her fifth long flight of the year took her annual distance covered to over 20,000 miles but Loves Only You was produced in perfect condition and completed the final leg of her global odyssey with a last-gasp success under the coolest of rides from Yuga Kawada.

The 36-year-old rider, who was extremely fortunate not to be brought down when previous winner Danon Smash was badly hampered in a dramatic G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) earlier in the day, was understandably thrilled to record his first HKIR success. “Thank you very much, I'm very proud,” he said.

“She jumped well. The pace was a bit slow but then she relaxed and I was able to find a good position. She's given me two big presents and is the best female horse I've ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother.”

Sent off the 2.6 market leader, Loves Only You jumped alertly from stall four and was soon traveling keenly just behind a steady early pace set by Mac Swiney, Ka Ying Star, and the wide-running Bolshoi Ballet.

Russian Emperor made a bold move to hit the front as a packing field jostled for position early in the home straight but last season's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up edged right with his tongue lolling out as he did so, placing Loves Only You in a pocket on the inner at a crucial point.

Hishi Iguazu produced a storming run from the rear on the outside soon after under Joao Moreira to draw level briefly well inside the final furlong.

However, Kawada had Loves Only You in full stride by this stage and the five-year-old repeated her Del Mar heroics, quickening valiantly between horses under pressure to lead close home and beat her fellow Japanese raider by a short head.

Russian Emperor ran the race of his life for Douglas Whyte and Blake Shinn to finish a length away in third, while British raider Dubai Honour never looked like becoming the first European runner to win the Cup since Snow Fairy in 2010 but stayed on powerfully for fourth once in the clear for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

Three years on from seeing his star filly Lys Gracieux beaten narrowly by Exultant in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi was completing an incredible end to 2021 which has also produced a 50-1 Breeders' Cup Distaff success for Marche Lorraine and a commanding Japan Cup success for his superstar colt Contrail.

The colorful 60-year-old was unable to accompany Loves Only You on the final leg of her journey but his stable representative Yusaku Oka was on hand to savor a perfect finale.

“I'm so glad to win this race for our trainer, who is watching on in Japan,” he said.

“She won the Breeders' Cup very well and in the spring she came over here and had a good result, so we were always confident she would run well.

“She's got a good pedigree – so we are looking forward to the next stage of her career – and as we have quite a lot of good horses in the stable we hope we will be back in Hong Kong with them in the future.”

Dusk was gathering over Sha Tin as an elated Kawada left the racecourse on a day that illustrated every aspect of the joy and pain that defines racing at the highest level.

The sun is also setting on Loves Only You's racing career but, if the 2021 edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races confirmed one thing, it is that the Land of the Rising Sun is now a true powerhouse on the global racing stage.

Following in the footsteps of A Shin Hikari, Maurice, Win Bright, and Normcore, this success for Loves Only You means Japan has now won five of the last seven Hong Kong Cups and four of the eight HKIR races run in the last two years.

HKJC racecaller Mark McNamara summed up the latest thrilling finish to Hong Kong's most cherished prize by saying: “It's Japan 1-2, Loves Only You says sayonara with the Cup!”

Leave them wanting more is never a bad motto. But, who knows, maybe Japan's latest Cup queen will have a son or daughter to represent her on the LONGINES HKIR stage in years to come.

The post Loves Only You Finishes Career With Hong Kong Cup Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post