Deep Impact filly Sinhalite justified favouritism to land the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at Tokyo on Sunday.

Trained by Sei Ishizaka and ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe, Sinhalite settled back in the field and despite a moderate tempo was able to finish strongly to win by a neck.

Her withering late run denied Cecchino, taking her record to four wins from five starts.

Sinhalite was sent off favourite following her sole career defeat in last month’s G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas).

Jumping from stall three, Sinhalite was guided to the rail by Ikezoe and was shuffled to the rear of the 18-runner field in the early stages.

However a fast pace played into the hands of those coming from the back and despite encountering some traffic problems in the straight, Sinhalite was able to weave through tiring opponents to launch her challenge in tandem with the eventual runner-up.

“We missed a beat coming out of the gate and had to race further back than intended in the early stages, but we were able to recover some ground along the way,” said Ikezoe.

“I was instructed by the trainer to save as much ground as possible since we had a good chance in the race from a good inside draw, so I didn’t attempt to go wide.

“Once escaping the crowd, she responded really well and switched into gear.”

Following in the footsteps of Deep Impact’s former Horse of the Year Gentildonna, Sinhalite is another successful classic mating of an imported British mare with Japan’s leading sire.

Her dam Singhalese, by Singspiel, was bred in England and won over a mile at Doncaster before being exported to race with credit in America where she was third in the G1 American Oaks before winning the G1 Del Mar Oaks.

Bought by Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm for $1.9 million out of the 2007 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in foal to Rahy, Singhalese has subsequently produced G3 winner Adam’s Peak (Deep Impact) and Listed winner Adam’s Bridge (Zenno Rob Roy) among her five winning offspring.

She also has a 2YO filly in training by Daiwa Major and a yearling colt by Orfevre.

Sinhalite is the third winner of the Yushun Himba for her illustrious sire following Gentildonna in 2012 and Mikki Queen last year.

Deep Impact is the sire of 82 stakes winners worldwide.