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 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.
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," 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.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; width: 100%"
!Date
!Course
!Race
!Class
!Distance (Condition)
!Field
!Odds<br>(Favored)
!Finish
!Time
!Winning<br>(Losing)<br>Margin
!Jockey
!Winner<br>(2nd Place)
!Ref
|-style="background-color:white"
| colspan="13" align="left" |2004 – two-year-old season
|-
|Dec 19
|Hanshin
|Two Year Old Debut
|
|Turf 2,000 m (Firm)
|9
|1.1 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|2:03.8
|4 lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Kongo Rikishio)
|
|-
|-style="background-color:white"
| colspan="13" align="left" |2005 – three-year-old season
|-
|Jan 22
|Kyoto
|Wakagoma Stakes
|OP
|Turf 2,000 m (Firm)
|7
|1.1 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|2:00.8
|5 lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Keiai Hennessy)
|
|-
|Mar 6
|Nakayama
|Yayoi Sho
|GII
|Turf 2,000 m (Firm)
|10
|1.2 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|2:02.2
|neck
|Yutaka Take
|(Admire Japan)
|
|-
|Apr 17
|Nakayama
|Satsuki Sho
|GI
|Turf 2,000 m (Firm)
|18
|1.3 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|1:59.2
| lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Six Sense)
|
|-
|May 29
|Tokyo
|Tokyo Yushun
|GI
|Turf 2,400 m (Firm)
|18
|1.1 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|2:23.3
|5 lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Inti Raimi)
|
|-
|Sep 25
|Hanshin
|Kobe Shimbun Hai
|GII
|Turf 2,000 m (Firm)
|13
|1.1 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|1:58.4
| lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Six Sense)
|
|-
|Oct 23
|Kyoto
|Kikuka Sho
|GI
|Turf 3,000 m (Firm)
|16
|1.0 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|3:04.6
|2 lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Admire Japan)
|
|-
|Dec 25
|Nakayama
|Arima Kinen
|GI
|Turf 2,500 m (Firm)
|16
|1.3 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkblue">2nd</span>
|2:32.0
|( length)
|Yutaka Take
|Heart's Cry
|
|-
|-style="background-color:white"
| colspan="13" align="left" |2006 – four-year-old season
|-
|Mar 19
|Hanshin
|Hanshin Daishoten
|GII
|Turf 3,000 m (Good)
|9
|1.1 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|3:08.8
| lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Tokai Trick)
|
|-
|Apr 30
|Kyoto
|Tenno Sho (Spring)
|GI
|Turf 3,200 m (Firm)
|17
|1.1 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|
| lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Lincoln)
|
|-
|Jun 25
|Kyoto
|Takarazuka Kinen
|GI
|Turf 2,200 m (Good)
|13
|1.1 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|2:13.0
|4 lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Narita Century)
|
|-
|Oct 1
|Longchamp
|Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
|GI
|Turf 2,400 m (Good)
|8
|3.25 (1st)
|colspan = 3 | DSQ
|Yutaka Take
|Rail Link
|
|-
|Nov 26
|Tokyo
|Japan Cup
|GI
|Turf 2,400 m (Firm)
|11
|1.3 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|2:25.1
|2 lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Dream Passport)
|
|-
|Dec 24
|Nakayama
|Arima Kinen
|GI
|Turf 2,500 m (Firm)
|14
|1.2 (1st)
|<span style="color:darkred">1st</span>
|2:31.9
|3 lengths
|Yutaka Take
|(Pop Rock)
|
|}
- indicated that it was a record time finish.
Stud record
thumb|Deep Impact at the Shadai Stallion Station in 2009
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.
Notable progeny
c = colt, f = filly
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! width="35px" | Foaled
! width="120px" | Name
! width="35px" | Sex
! width="540px" | 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
| Japanese Triple Tiara (Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, Shuka Sho), Japan Cup (twice), Dubai Sheema Classic, Arima Kinen
|-
| 2009
| Joie de Vivre
| f
| Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
|-
| 2009
| Spielberg
| c
| Tenno Sho (Autumn)
|-
| 2009
| Verxina
| f
| 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 Commemorative 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 (Hong Kong), 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, Japanese Triple Crown (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 (spring)
|-
| 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
|-
|}