A study in greatness: Deep Impact gets another European Classic winner

In a stark illustration of how the commerce of bloodlines between the breeding superpowers has gone global, the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen in Japan on Sunday was won by Mozu Ascot, a son of British-based stallion Frankel, while a few hours later the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in France was annexed by Study Of Man, a colt by Japan's leading sire Deep Impact.

Study Of Man, trained by Pascal Bary for owner-breeders the Niarchos family, becomes the second European Classic winner of 2018 by the Shadai Stallion Station phenomenon after 2,000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior, who could finish only fourth in the Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

He is the third European Classic winner by Deep Impact overall, with Beauty Parlour having taken the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for the Wildenstein family in 2012.

Moreover, Study Of Man is the second Derby winner worldwide by Deep Impact in the space of a week after son Wagnerian took the Japanese equivalent, the Tokyo Yushun, last Sunday.

Deep Impact, a son of Japan's game-changing import Sunday Silence, has now sired 37 top-level winners. They include superstars at home such as the earlier Tokyo Yushun scorers Deep Brillante, Kizuna and Makahiki, and many others who also shone on the world stage including A Shin Hikari, Gentildonna, Real Impact, Real Steel, Tosen Stardom and Vivlos.

Study Of Man's pedigree is also teeming with relevance on the bottom half, as he is the second Classic winner descended from the Niarchos family's legendary mare Miesque in the space of the week after another homebred for the owners, Alpha Centauri, scored in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last Sunday.

He is out of Second Happiness, a placed daughter of Storm Cat and Miesque, making him a brother to Tale Of Life, who looked a star in the making when he won on debut at Saint-Cloud by seven lengths and was only a length second to subsequent Prix du Jockey Club winner New Bay on his three-year-old bow, but failed to show that form again in his career, although he won twice more after being exported to race for Graham Motion in the US.

Second Happiness has a two-year-old colt by Galileo named Tiki and a filly foal by the perennial champion sire.

Study Of Man is the fifth European Classic winner descended from Miesque in the maternal line, after her son Kingmambo and daughter East Of The Moon and great-grandchildren Alpha Centauri and Karakontie, and the ninth Group/Grade 1 winner of any kind, bringing in Amanee, Real Steel (also by Deep Impact), and the mother-daughter team of Rumplestiltskin and Tapestry.

Study Of Man (10) beats his rivals to the clock in the Qipco Prix du Jockey ClubCredit: Getty Images

Miesque features in the pedigrees of many more Classic and Group/Grade 1 winners with Kingmambo having excelled at stud, siring the likes of King Kamehameha, King's Best, Dubai Destination, Russian Rhythm and Light Shift and featuring as damsire of such as Camelot, Cloth Of Stars, Duke Of Marmalade, Midday, Ruler Of The World and Ulysses (out of Light Shift).

Indeed, Wagnerian is out of a mare by King Kamehameha, so the blend of Deep Impact with Miesque blood was already proven at Classic level before Study Of Man stormed to success at Chantilly.

Miesque has been prevalent in top-class action recently, as her Group 1-placed son Miesque's Son - a brother to Kingmambo - supplied Whipper, who in turn is the sire of last Sunday's Prix d'Ispahan winner Recoletos.

The Prix du Jockey Club also delivered good news for Haras d'Etreham sire Wootton Bassett as, two years after his first crop yielded the race winner and later European champion Almanzor, he was responsible for runner-up Patascoy.

The debut crop of 2013 Prix du Jockey Club winner Intello meanwhile delivered the third and fourth home behind Study Of Man – Louis D'Or and Intellogent.

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