Deep Impact (Jpn)

Over the last quarter-century, horses based in Japan have increasingly made their presence felt on the international stage, winning top races on the European continent, the Middle East, Hong Kong and places as far afield as Australia. Though clearly possessed of the horseflesh to make an impression--no matter the port of call--the Breeders' Cup had eluded the island nation, but history was made Saturday at Del Mar when the well-traveled Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) sliced her way between rivals in the dying strides to salute in the...

The G1 Shuka Sho had been billed as the stomping grounds of wildly popular white filly and G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas heroine Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}), but instead, 7-1 shot Akaitorino Musume (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) spoiled the party at Kyoto on Sunday. Following in the hoofsteps of her dam, 2010 Shuka Sho victress Apapane, the Makoto Kaneko Holdings-owned dark bay settled in a tracking sixth through the early going as A Shin Hiten (Jpn) (A Shin Hikari {Jpn}) cut out steady fractions while Sodashi sat in second several lengths...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a brother to five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).   14.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT Bob Scarborough's prolific mare Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has excelled in the paddocks with her nine foals headed by MG1SW sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit...

Another group 1, another wide-margin success for the rampant Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who emulated User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}), Ramruma (Diesis {GB}), Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in adding Thursday's Darley Yorkshire Oaks to her Epsom and Irish Oaks victories. Anchored with only Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) behind as her stable's La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) set an honest tempo, the 8-15 favourite tracked Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) into the straight but was left in front as her chief rival paid...

It was a mere 8 1/2-length margin on Saturday as Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) read the script to become the 15th filly to follow up her G1 Epsom Oaks success in The Curragh's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. Always travelling comfortably in fourth under Ryan Moore, the 2-7 favourite coasted to the lead two out and powered clear in now-customary fashion to put safe distance between her and stablemate Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah) half a length back in third. While there was no repeat of...

Danox Inc.'s Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) dethroned MG1SW Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in her bid to win back-to-back G1 Yasuda Kinens, with a narrow victory at Tokyo on Sunday. It was the 5-year-old entire's first win at the highest level after he had been placed in a pair of Classics in 2019 and the race is a "Win And You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile this fall. Sent off at 47-1, Danon Kingly perched three deep in midfield as Daiwa Cagney (Jpn) (King Kamehameha...

Aidan O'Brien saddled five in Friday's G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom, but ultimately there was only one that mattered as Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) ran away with the prize by a record-setting margin of 16 lengths under Frankie Dettori. Serving notice that she had turned around her fortunes from a largely disappointing juvenile campaign when making all in the G3 Musidora S. at York May 12, the 11-2 shot arrived from rear under a tight hold to brush aside Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) passing two out. Sprinting...

One of the prestige races missing from Aidan O'Brien's resume before Wednesday, York's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. is now in the bag for the Ballydoyle master after Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) proved a rare outsider to win for the stable as she made all in the extended 10-furlong Oaks trial. Last seen finishing eighth when the subject of the notorious mix-up with stablemate Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in Newmarket's G1 Fillies' Mile in October, the relative of Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was soon in front under Ryan Moore...

Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), undefeated in five previous appearances, relished the soft going in the 2000-metre G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin on Sunday, defeating several well-hyped Group 1 winners including 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The Carrot Farm colourbearer is just the third horse in JRA history to claim a Group 1 title for older horses unbeaten after Fine Motion (Ire) (Danehill) in 2002 and Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) in 2019. Sent off as the fourth choice at 11-1, the bay was...

Deep Impact (Jpn)'s Terzetto (Jpn) closed from off the pace to win the G3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy at Nakayama on Saturday. The 4-year-old filly brought her record to five-for-six with the score. Third choice at 5-1, Terzetto raced well off the pace set by My Style (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). The field was well strung out due to a demanding pace, with the first half-mile covered in :45.60. She began to edge closer nearing the far turn and swung out four deep to challenge with a quarter mile remaining....

The G2 Kinko Sho was supposed to be 2020 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown winner and heavy favourite Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn})'s coming out party, but she had to settle for second behind 226-1 Deep Impact (Jpn) horse Gibeon (Jpn). Able to set off on an uncontested lead, the 6-year-old entire was shadowed by Satono Flag (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) just off his right flank. He dawdled through a half-mile in :49.50 and six furlongs in 1:13.10. Still going easily with four furlongs to go, he caught the more fancied...

Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) conquered all her rivals in the G2 Kyoto Kinen on Valentine's Day at Hanshin. Wearing a full hood, the 4-5 crowd's pick found a good spot in a tracking fourth one off the fence as Happy Grin (Jpn) (Lohengrin {Jpn}) threw down splits of :23.10 for the quarter and :47.20 for the half-mile. The field was well strung out due to the demanding pace, but pilot Yuga Kawada was calm aboard the 2019 G1 Japanese Oaks winner. After seven panels in 1:23.20, Happy...