KYOTO – October 23rd saw the birth of Japan’s sixth Triple Crown champion as Deep Impact rocked a record Kikuka Sho crowd at Kyoto Racecourse of nearly 137,000 with an emotional performance that had hearts in mouths till the very end.
In his shortest winning margin in the series’ three legs, Deep Impact caught and passed Admire Japan with some 80 meters to go to win the 3-year-old classic’s 66th running by 2 lengths. Rosenkreuz followed Admire Japan over the line four lengths later in third place, with Six Sense and Fusaichi Auster making the board for fourth and fifth.