Deep Impact wins Japanese Triple Crown

Deep Impact made history at Kyoto Racecourse on Sunday as his two-length victory in the 1 7/8-mile Grade 1 Kikuka Sho, or Japanese St. Leger, made him the first winner of the Japanese Triple Crown since Symboli Rudolf in 1984.

As ususal, the 3-year-old son of Sunday Silence came from well out of it under Yutaka Take in recording his seventh victory without a loss. In recording a time of 3:04.60 on firm ground he was beating Admire Japan into second place with Rosenkreuz four lengths further back in third and Six Sense fourth. Bred in Japan by Northern Farm, Deep Impact is out of the Alzao mare Wind In Her Hair, and is trained by Yasuo Ikee for Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd.

Deep Impact had taken the first two jewels of the Japanese Triple Corwn when winning the 1 1/4-mile Satsuki Sho, or Japanese 2000 Guineas, by 2-1/2 lengths lengths from Six Sense at Nakayama on April 17. He followed that with a 5-length victory at Tokyo over Inti Raimi in the Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby, on May 29 when he equaled the 1 1/2-mile course record of 2:23.30.

Deep Impact's seven victories have garnered him $5,761,064 in lifetime earnings. His next race could be either the 1 1/2-mile Japan Cup at Tokyo on Nov. 26 or the 1 9/16-mile Arima Kinen at Nakayama on Dec. 25.