Deep Impact (horse)

Deep Impact (ディープインパクト, Dīpu Inpakuto, March 25, 2002 – July 30, 2019) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2005 and the Japan Cup in 2006, as well as three other Grade One races in Japan. As a stallion, he was the leading sire in Japan for 11 consecutive years from 2012 to 2022, and produced Derby horses in four countries: Japan, England, France, and Ireland. In 2020, his son Contrail became the third horse in Japanese horse racing history to win the Classic Triple Crown without losing any races, becoming the first event in the world where a father and son both won the Triple Crown undefeated.^[1]

Background

Deep Impact was born in Northern Farm, Abira, Hokkaido on 25 March 2002. His sire Sunday Silence took over from perennial Japanese leading sire Northern Taste (10 time leading sire in Japan) and was the 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.^[2]

He was sold for ¥70 million by Makoto Kaneko.^[3] He was the ninth highest bidder out of the 14 Sunday Silence foals listed because of his slender stature. Kaneko was so impressed by the sparkle in his eyes that he said, "I felt like I was being sucked into his eyes,"^[3] and named him "Deep Impact" in the hope that he would become a horse that would have a strong impact on many people.^[3]

Racing career

2005: Three-year-old season

After Deep Impact won the Yayoi Sho, he was entered in the Satsuki Shō. Shortly after the start, his jockey, Yutaka Take, suddenly stumbled and almost fell off Deep Impact. However, in the straight line, he won by 2 1/2 lengths over the runner-up, Six Sense. After winning the Satsuki Sho, he went on to win the Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby) in a race record time of (2:23.3), tying King Kamehameha's record from a year earlier and becoming the sixth undefeated double champion in history and the first since Mihono Bourbon in 1992. Finally, he won the Kikuka Sho on October 23rd, 2005, becoming the first horse since Narita Brian 11 years earlier to complete the Japanese Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He also became the first undefeated Japanese Triple Crown winner since Symboli Rudolf 21 years earlier, but in his next race, the Arima Kinen, Deep Impact was beaten by Heart's Cry for the first defeat of his racing career. He was given Best Horse of the Year and Best 3-Year-Old Stallion at the JRA Awards for his success in 2005.

2006: Four-year-old season

At last year's JRA awards ceremony on January 23, Deep Impact's owner Kaneko stated that he would like to race Deep Impact if there is a good race in Europe in the summer. Thus, he expressed his intention to make an overseas expedition. His first race in 2006 was the Grade 2 race, Hanshin Daishōten. He finished 3 1/2 lengths over the runner-up.

Then he won the Tenno Sho (Spring), setting a new world record for a 3200-meter race in the time of (3'13"4)

He followed up with a victory in the Takarazuka Kinen, the Grade 1 race, over 2200m.

In October, he raced in France's most prestigious race, the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400m. He was the heavy favourite for the race, and 1,587,263 € (about $1,238,000) was bet on him in France (especially by many of the Japanese fans that traveled to the racecourse). However he only finished third due to having breathing problems.

Two weeks later, news from France Galop revealed Deep Impact was positive tested to Ipratropium, resulting in his disqualification.^[4] Connections announced the colt would retire to stud after that season in a syndication deal worth 5.1 billion yen.

Deep Impact then won the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen before being retired for stud duties.

Racing form

Deep Impact won 12 races and placed in second once out of 14 starts. The data available is based on JBIS and netkeiba.^[5][6]

• R indicated that it was a record time finish.

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 11 consecutive years, from 2012 until 2022. He fathered a total of 59 Group 1 winners, including stars such as Gentildonna, Real Steel, and A Shin Hikari. In 2020, his son Contrail completed the Japanese Triple Crown undefeated just like his sire. His last crop of runners include Auguste Rodin, who is having great success in Europe and North America. In addition, Deep Impact is the damsire of Kiseki (2017 Kikuka Sho), Blowout (2021 First Lady Stakes), Geraldina (2022 QE II Cup), and Dolce More (2022 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes). Deep Impact's Grandson, Forever Young became the first Japanese born and trained horse to win the USA Breeders' Cup Classic race in 2025.^[22]

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly

Death

On 30 July 2019, Deep Impact was euthanized after suffering a cervical fracture.^[23] The 2019 Japan Cup was named the Deep Impact Memorial.^[24] The news of his death was also reported in France. The day after receiving the news of his death, the newspaper Paris-Turf published a front page article with a photo of him at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and reported that he was "a true idol". The newspaper Jour de Galop reported his death with the headline "Sayonara, Deep Impact," saying he was "a special presence in Japan that transcended the boundaries of a racehorse".

References

1. ^ "ja:【菊花賞】コントレイル 父ディープインパクト 親子2代での牡馬三冠 空前絶後の大記録は達成されるのか｜テレ東スポーツ：テレ東"
2. ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Hyacinthus Mare – Family 2-f". www.bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
3. ^ "ja:OpenURL検索 | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館"
4. ^ "Deep Impact disqualified from Arc". BBC Sport. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
5. ^ "Race Records | Deep Impact(JPN) | JBIS-Search". www.jbis.jp. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
6. ^ "Deep Impact | Horse Profile, Pedigree, Form, Race Record". netkeiba. NET DREAMERS, Co., Ltd. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
7. ^ "5R サラ系2歳新馬 | 2004年12月19日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
8. ^ "10R 若駒S オープン | 2005年1月22日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
9. ^ "11R 弥生賞 | 2005年3月6日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 6 March 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
10. ^ "11R 皐月賞 | 2005年4月17日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 17 April 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
11. ^ "10R 日本ダービー | 2005年5月29日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 29 May 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
12. ^ "11R 神戸新聞杯 | 2005年9月25日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 25 September 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
13. ^ "11R 菊花賞 | 2005年10月23日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 23 October 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
14. ^ "9R 有馬記念 | 2005年12月25日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 25 December 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
15. ^ "11R 阪神大賞典 | 2006年3月19日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 19 March 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
16. ^ "11R 天皇賞(春) | 2006年4月30日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
17. ^ "11R 宝塚記念 | 2006年6月25日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 25 June 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
18. ^ "Deep Impact JPN" (in French). France Galop. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
19. ^ "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Group 1)". Racing Post. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
20. ^ "10R ジャパンC | 2006年11月26日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
21. ^ "9R 有馬記念 | 2006年12月24日" (in Japanese). JBIS. 24 December 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
22. ^ Barnard, Oliver (2025-11-01). "History for Japan as Forever Young fends off fast-finishing Sierra Leone to claim Breeders' Cup Classic". www.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
23. ^ "Japanese stallion Deep Impact dies". www.justhorseracing.com.au
24. ^ "ja:今年のジャパンC当日に「ディープインパクトメモリアルデー」を実施" (in Japanese). 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2023-11-12.