Son of King Kamehameha strikes gold but no escaping Impact

Rey De Oro's success in the Japanese Derby on Sunday made him only the third winner in the last ten years not belonging to the Sunday Silence sire line - and, of those three, the second by King Kamehameha. Even so, there was no escaping the inevitable Deep Impact: Rey De Oro's second dam is a half-sister to the superstar sire.

Rey De Oro, who had lost his unbeaten record when fifth in the Japanese 2,000 Guineas, was completing a famous Classic double for his jockey Christophe Lemaire and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, who saddled Frankel's daughter Soul Stirring to win the Japanese Oaks the previous weekend.

Bred by Northern Farm, Rey De Oro is the second stakes winner from two runners out of the winning Symboli Kris S mare La Dorada. Her dam Lady Blond, by Seeking The Gold, is a multiple winner out of Deep Impact's dam Wind In Her Hair - famously purchased for the Yoshida family by John McCormack.

In winning the Tokyo Yushun, Rey De Oro emulated his sire, King Kamehameha, the son of Kingmambo who beat Heart's Cry half a length in the 2004 running. As it happens Suave Richard, the runner-up on Sunday, is a son of Heart's Cry. The favourite, Deep Impact's son Admirable, finished third from the widest draw in a field of 18.

King Kamehameha's best performers to date include Duramente, who landed both the domestic Guineas and Derby, and champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa.