Japan dominated proceedings at Saturday’s Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan.
Horses trained and bred in Japan captured all of the Gr1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, Gr2 UAE Derby, Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup, and Gr2 Godolphin Mile.
Panthalassa dead heats in the Gr1 Dubai Turf thriller on Saturday
Another Japanese galloper Panthalassa dead-heated for first in Saturday’s Gr1 Dubai Turf, while Japan’s Chuwa Wizard ran third in the Gr1 Dubai World Cup and the country’s Red Le Zele ran second in the Gr1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Atlantis Dubai.
Japan trained/bred horses ran 1-3-5 in the Sheema Classic -whose previous winners include Japanese champion Gentildonna and subsequent successful Japanese stallions Heart’s Cry and Stay Gold.
A notable feature of the Japanese success was the ongoing success enjoyed by their deceased star sire Deep Impact.
Not only is the late Japanese Triple Crown/Japan Cup winner sire of Saturday’s Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shahryar, Deep Impact’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winning son Kizuna is responsible for Bathrat Leon -the upset winner of Saturday’s Gr2 Godolphin Mile.
Saturday was not the first time that Deep Impact made his mark on World Cup night. Other progeny of Deep Impact to have won at previous Dubai World Cup meetings include Gentildonna (Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic), Vivlos (Gr1 Dubai Turf) and Real Steel (Gr1 Dubai Turf).
Deep Impact
The champion has also continued to enjoy massive international success following his death, with Deep Impact’s global standout performers last year headed by ill-fated, triple Oaks winning filly Snowfall, Gr1 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly& Mare Turf/ Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Cup victress Loves You Only, and Gr1 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes hero Profondo.
Champion sire for ten years running in Japan, Deep Impact’s current tally of stakes winners stands at 184, with the late champion’s progeny have earned more than $900 million thus far.
The son of Sunday Silence is also making his mark as a sire of sires. His aforementioned son Kizuna was Japan’s Leading First Season Sire in 2019 and Leading Second Season Sire the following year, with Kizuna’s runners including not only Bathrat Leon but also Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup heroine Akai Ito and Gr2 Prix Foy victor Deep Bond.
With a large number of sire sons standing in Japan, Deep Impact was responsible for two of the top ten Leading First Season Sires there for the past year. His son Silver State finished second on the First Season Sires List, with fellow Deep Impact horse Satono Aladdin ninth on the same list.
Silver State, a winner of four of just five starts and winner of the Tarumi Stakes, made a pleasing start with his first runners in 2021. His 22 2yo winners last year were headed by Gr3 winner Water Navillera -who ran third in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
Two other sons of Deep Impact who caught the eye with their first runners in 2021 included Vanquish Run (whose nine first crop runners included six winners) and Tosen Reve. The latter, winner of the G3 Epsom Cup and a direct descendant of the outstanding mare Schwarzgold , had just five 2yo runners in 2021, but three won.
Deep Impact enjoyed notable success in Australia, and his Gr1 George Ryder Stakes winning son Real Impact has already enjoyed success at the highest level. A Gr1 winner in both Australia and Japan, Real Impact’s progeny include G1 NHK Mile Cup winner Lauda Sion.
Another Deep Impact son whose offspring have made an impression, albeit in the sales ring not yet on the track, is the Coolmore based Saxon Warrior. The latter, winner of the Gr1 Racing Post Trophy at two and Gr1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at three, made a big impression with his first yearlings in 2021.
Saxon Warrior, who was produced by Galileo’s Gr1 winning daughter Maybe, had a colt fetch ¥190 million at the 2021 JRHA Select Yearling Sale, while another colt by the son of Deep Impact was knocked down for $400 000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Deep Impact’s son Danon Platina
Deep Impact’s sole son at stud in South Africa, Japanese champion and Gr1 winner, Danon Platina made his mark at the recent Cape Yearling Sale, where a colt from his first crop made R550 000.
