Mosheen makes an Impact in Japan

Deep Impact has continued his dazzling start to the new year in Japan since it was announced he will cover champion filly Mosheen when she retires from racing.

Mosheen (3f Fastnet Rock – Sumehra by Stravinsky) claimed her third Group 1 in the Randwick Guineas on Saturday. She had already won at the elite level in the VRC Oaks and Australian Guineas at Flemington and will start a short-priced favourite next time out in the G1 Vinery Stakes at Rosehill on Easter Saturday.

Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida bought a half-share in the filly before she returned to racing in January. She was initially purchased for $250,000 at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale by managing part-owner Phil Sly.

The Yoshida family own Japan’s industry leader Shadai Stallion Station which stands Deep Impact. The 2005 Triple Crown winner is a son of Sunday Silence and is destined to assume the mantle of champion sire which the Shadai legend held for 13 years.

Deep Impact has sired a quartet of classic candidates already this year headed by three year-old colts Best Deal (ex Commercante by Marchand de Sable) and World Ace (ex Mandela by Acatenango) and three year-old fillies Gentildonna (ex Donna Blini by Bertolini) and Verxina (ex Halwa Sweet by Machiavellian).

Deep Impact, whose oldest crop are four, has already sired the G1 winners Joie De Vivre (Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Stakes), Marcellina (Oka Sho) and Real Impact (Yasuda Kinen).

He retired to Shadai in 2007 for a fee of 9 million yen (AUD 81,835) but his services are now arranged by private treaty. As befitting his star status, Deep Impact has his own uniformed security guard and his legion of fans remains devotedly loyal. During the summer months, hundreds of them visit the stud every day on the northern island of Hokkaido just to see him.