Deep Impact to be retired at year's end

Deep Impact will be retired from racing at the end of the year, his trainer, Yasuo Ikee, announced on Wednesday. Last year's Japanese Triple Crown winner, Deep Impact finished third as the 1-2 favorite in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 1. He will stand at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station, where he has been syndicated for $42.6 million.

Ikee was in the middle of making plans for Deep Impact's late-autumn campaign as well as laying down the foundations for a tilt at next year's Arc when he was informed by owner Makoto Kaneko of the decision.

"I realize that this day had to come, but I must admit I feel sad about this sudden decision," Ikee told the Japan Racing Association for its website. The trainer and jockey Yutaka Take will now prepare Deep Impact for one part or all of the Japanese Autumn Triple Crown for older horses, the 1 1/4-mile Autumn Tenno Sho at Tokyo on Oct. 29, the 1 1/2-mile Japan Cup at Tokyo on Nov. 26, and the 1 9/16-mile Arima Kinen at Nakayama on Dec. 24.

In 12 career starts to date, Deep Impact, a 4-year-old Japanese-bred son of Sunday Silence and the Alzao mare Wind in Her Hair, has won 10 times with a second and a third for earnings of $9,395,610.