Another Deep Impact Classic Winner In Japan

Another Japanese classic has fallen to a three-year-old by champion sire Deep Impact with the colt Satono Diamond winning the G1 Kikuka Sho (St Leger) at Kyoto on Sunday.

The Yasutoshi Ikee-trained Satono Diamond ran out a decisive winner, becoming the 27th Group One winner sired by the incomparable Deep Impact.

The colt sat behind the leaders under Christophe Lemaire before racing clear to beat Rainbow Line by two and a half lengths with Air Spinel just a nose behind in third

Katono Diamond was making amends for a narrow defeat in the G1 Japanese Derby and was a well supported favourite to win the final classic of the year.

Lemaire had plenty of horse under him at the half mile and when he gave Satono Diamond a squeeze he quickened to put three lengths on the field.

From there home he just needed a hand ride to maintain a margin over the fast finishing Rainbow Line and claim his first G1 win in the $US2.5 million classic.

Satono Diamond made a bright start to his campaign winning the G3 Kisaragi Sho at Kyoto in February before a third behind Dee Majesty when favorite for the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama in April.

A nose defeat to Makahiki in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Derby) on May 29 was followed by a win over Mikki Rocket in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Hanshin on September 25.

Sunday’s result marked the 15th JRA G1 win for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee and a first Japanese classic for French jockey Christophe Lemaire.

“I’m excited and happy to be able to win a classic race for the first time in Japan,” Lemaire said.

“The colt was in his best condition and the only concern was the distance. He responded really well in the stretch so I was quite confident that we would win.

“He’s top class and will definitely be able to win other G1 races.”