# Deep Impact (horse)

Deep Impact (Japanese : ディープインパクト, 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.

## Background

Deep Impact was born in Northern Farm, Abira, Hokkaido on 25 May 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.
He was sold for $70 million by Makoto Kaneko. 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," and named him "Deep Impact" in the hope that he would become a horse that would have a strong impact on many people.

## Racing career
### 2005: Three-year-old season

After Deep Impact won the Yayoi Sho, he was in 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 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.
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 then won the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen before being retired for stud.

## Wins
### 2004

* 19 Dec Make Debut, Hanshin Turf 2000m

### 2005

* 22 Jan Wakagoma Stakes (open race), Kyoto Turf 2000m
* 6 Mar Hōchi Hai Yayoi Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas Trial) (Domestic G2), Nakayama Turf 2000m
* 17 Apr Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (Domestic G1), Nakayama Turf 2000m
* 29 May Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Domestic G1), Tokyo Turf 2400m
* 25 Sep Kobe Shimbun Hai (Domestic G2), Hanshin Turf 2000m
* 23 Oct Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (Domestic G1), Kyoto Turf 3000m

### 2006

* 19 Mar Hanshin Daishoten (G2), Hanshin Turf 3000m
* 30 Apr Tenno Sho (Spring) (Domestic G1), Kyoto Turf 3200m
* 25 jun Takarazuka Kinen (G1), Kyoto Turf 2200m
* 26 Nov Japan Cup (G1), Tokyo Turf 2400m
* 24 Dec Arima Kinen (Domestic G1), Nakayama Turf 2500m

## 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 nine consecutive years from 2012 to 2020, and sired stars including 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).

### Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
| 2008 | Danon Shark | c | Mile Championship |
| 2008 | Marcellina | f | Oka Sho |
| 2008 | Real Impact | c | Yasuda Kinen, George Ryder Stakes |
| 2008 | Tosen Ra | c | Mile Championship |
| 2009 | Beauty Parlour | f | Poule d'Essai des Pouliches |
| 2009 | Deep Brillante | c | Tokyo Yushun (Derby) |
| 2009 | Gentildonna | f | Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, Shuka Sho, Japan Cup (twice), Sheema Classic, Arima Kinen |
| 2009 | Joie de Vivre | f | Hanshin Juvenile Fillies |
| 2009 | Spielberg | c | Tenno Sho (Autumn) |
| 2009 | Verxina | c | Victoria Mile (twice) |
| 2010 | Ayusan | f | Oka Sho |
| 2010 | Kizuna | c | Tōkyō Yūshun |
| 2010 | Lachesis | f | Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup |
| 2011 | A Shin Hikari | c | Hong Kong Cup, Prix d'Ispahan |
| 2011 | Harp Star | f | Oka Sho |
| 2011 | Marialite | f | Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Takarazuka Kinen |
| 2011 | Mikki Isle | c | NHK Mile Cup, Mile Championship |
| 2011 | Satono Aladdin | c | Yasuda Kinen |
| 2011 | Shonan Pandora | f | Shuka Sho, Japan Cup |
| 2011 | Tosen Stardom | c | Toorak Handicap, Mackinnon Stakes |
| 2012 | Real Steel | c | Dubai Turf |
| 2012 | Danon Platina | c | Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes |
| 2012 | Mikki Queen | f | Yushun Himba, Shuka Sho |
| 2012 | Shonan Adela | f | Hanshin Juvenile Fillies |
| 2013 | Dee Majesty | c | Satsuki Shō |
| 2013 | Makahiki | c | Tokyo Yushun |
| 2013 | Sinhalite | f | Yushun Himba |
| 2013 | Vivlos | f | Shuka Sho, Dubai Turf |
| 2013 | Satono Diamond | c | Kikuka Sho, Arima Kinen |
| 2013 | Jour Polaire | f | Victoria Mile |
| 2014 | Satono Ares | c | Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes |
| 2014 | Al Ain | c | Satsuki Shō, Ōsaka Hai |
| 2014 | Fierce Impact | c | Toorak Handicap, Cantala Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes |
| 2015 | Glory Vase | c | Hong Kong Vase (twice) |
| 2015 | Saxon Warrior | c | Racing Post Trophy, 2000 Guineas |
| 2015 | Danon Premium | c | Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes |
| 2015 | Keiai Nautique | c | NHK Mile Cup |
| 2015 | Wagnerian | c | Tokyo Yushun |
| 2015 | Study of Man (FRA) | c | Prix du Jockey Club |
| 2015 | Fierement | c | Kikuka Sho, Tenno Sho (spring) (twice) |
| 2016 | Danon Fantasy | f | Hanshin Juvenile Fillies |
| 2016 | Danon Kingly | c | Yasuda Kinen |
| 2016 | Gran Alegria | f | Oka Sho, Yasuda Kinen, Sprinters Stakes, Mile Championship (twice), Victoria Mile |
| 2016 | Loves Only You | f | Yushun Himba, Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Hong Kong Cup |
| 2016 | Roger Barows | c | Tokyo Yūshun |
| 2016 | World Premiere | c | Kikuka-shō, Tenno Sho (spring) |
| 2017 | Fancy Blue (IRE) | f | Prix de Diane, Nassau Stakes |
| 2017 | Contrail | c | Hopeful Stakes, Satsuki Sho, Tokyo Yushun, Kikuka Sho, Japan Cup |
| 2017 | Lei Papale | f | Ōsaka Hai |
| 2017 | Potager | c | Ōsaka Hai |
| 2018 | Akaitorino Musume | f | Shuka Sho |
| 2018 | Glint Of Hope (AUS) | f | Australasian Oaks |
| 2018 | Profondo (AUS) | c | Spring Champion Stakes |
| 2018 | Shahryar | c | Tokyo Yushun, Dubai Sheema Classic |
| 2018 | Snowfall | f | Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks |
| 2019 | Justin Palace | c | Tenno Sho |
| 2019 | Killer Ability | c | Hopeful Stakes |
| 2019 | Ask Victor More | c | Kikuka Sho |
| 2020 | Auguste Rodin | c | Vertem Futurity Trophy, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf, Prince of Wales's Stakes |

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Deep Impact (JPN), bay stallion 2002 :
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Hail To Reason | Turn-To |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Hail To Reason | Nothirdchance |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Cosmah | Cosmic Bomb |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Halo (USA) 1969 | Cosmah | Almahmoud |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Understanding | Promised Land |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Understanding | Pretty Ways |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Mountain Flower | Montparnasse |
| Sire Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 | Wishing Well (USA) 1975 | Mountain Flower | Edel Weiss |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Alzao (USA) 1980 | Lyphard | Northern Dancer |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Alzao (USA) 1980 | Lyphard | Goofed |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Alzao (USA) 1980 | Lady Rebecca | Sir Ivor |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Alzao (USA) 1980 | Lady Rebecca | Pocahontas |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Burghclere (GB) 1977 | Busted | Crepello |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Burghclere (GB) 1977 | Busted | Sans Le Sou |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Burghclere (GB) 1977 | Highclere | Queen's Hussar |
| Dam Wind in Her Hair (IRE) 1991 | Burghclere (GB) 1977 | Highclere | Highlight (Family 2-f) |

## Death

On 30 July 2019, Deep Impact was euthanized after suffering a cervical fracture. The 2019 Japan Cup was named the Deep Impact Memorial. The news of his death was also reported in France. The day after receiving the news of his death, the newspaper Paris-Tullef 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 Jourd'e Gallo reported his death with the headline "Sayonara, Deep Impact," saying he was "a special presence in Japan that transcended the boundaries of a racehorse".