Deep Impact's owner and breeder reflect on his racing and stallion careers

While Deep Impact is perhaps still best known in Europe for his defeat in the 2006 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in his native Japan there are more vivid memories of his fantastic achievements on home soil.

He had already bagged five top-level victories before finishing third at Longchamp behind Rail Link - after which he was later disqualified for a positive test - and there were two more to come as he went out in a blaze of glory.

First there was his victory in the Japan Cup, a success that could be said to have cemented Deep Impact's talismanic place in his nation's racing industry, before his swansong Arima Kinen win on Christmas Eve.

Deep Impact was the Racing Post's world champion in 2006 thanks to his 133 RPR in the Arima Kinen - the highest rating in the world that year.

Official handicappers have a reputation for not grading Japanese racing that highly - and Hong Kong watchers would say the same, this year with Beauty Generation a case in point as he now lags behind Crystal Ocean - but the Racing Post for one certainly referenced Deep Impact as the 2006 world's best.

Had the riding tactics not been changed, and the horse had been at his peak in the Arc that year, Deep Impact would have made a deeper impression in Europe.

Cherished memories

His owner Masato Kaneko, speaking on Tuesday after news of his death, said: "I was very impressed when he easily won the triple crown (Satsuki Sho, Tokyo Yushun and Kikuka Sho) in 2005 and I want to thank him again for those victories.

"My favourite memory - and when I was most impressed by him - is of his Japan Cup and Arima Kinen wins following his defeat in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."

Kaneko added: "He was then retired as a four-year-old to start his stud career, which is earlier than usual, which was a great success. Derby winners Makahiki and Wagnerian were just two of his many stars.

"My tears won't stop after his sudden death, and I pray his soul may rest in peace."

Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida said: "He was the best horse among the Northern Farm's homebred horses, I am sure. He made a big success of his career as a stallion, so I am very sad. I pray for him."

Deep Impact's groom Akihiko Ichikawa added: "He led the Japanese horseracing scene, more recently as the great sire, and he changed it. It's a premature death and I am very sad."

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