Makahiki, a son of champion sire Deep Impact and runner-up in the Satsuki Sho, went one better to win the world’s richest classic race, the G1 Tokyo Yushun on Sunday.

The Tokyo Yushin (Japanese Derby was triumph for Deep Impact as the placegetters were also his sons.

Second home was the Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) winner Dee Majesty and third was Satono Diamond.

Makahiki travelled in midfield on the rail about 12 lengths off the lead as the field strung out down the backstretch.

Wearing the same silks as his sire Makahiki angled off the rail for running room in the straight and was produced late to hit the front 100m from the finish before a crowd of 140,000.

He held off late bursts from both Satono Diamond and Dee Majesty to win by a nose.

His owner Makoto Kaneko raced Deep Imapct, a seven time G1 winner and twoice Japanese Horse of the Year.

Deep Impact captured the Japanese 3YO Triple Crown and Kaneko, a computer software magnate, now races many of his progeny.

Makahiki is his third Tokyo Yushun winner, having also raced the 2004 winner and another subsequent leading sire King Kamehameha.

Makahiki won his only start as a 2YO over 1800m and resumed in January with a win over 2000m.

He then stepped up in grade to win the the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho over the same distance at Nakayama in March and put in an admirable performance when second in the Satuski Sho on April 17.

He had no issue with the added distance of the Derby on Sunday.

Jockey Yuga Kawada commented: “The colt broke smoothly and I was able to race him in good position as planned.

“I gradually advanced him while marking Satono Diamond and he stretched really well after threading through a small opening.

“The moment we crossed the wire I felt that we were a margin in front, but I was overwhelmed with joy when the photo finish result came out.”