JAPAN: Emotional Derby Win For Iwata

Monday, 28 May 2012: Deep Brillante emulated his sire Deep Impact by winning the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) by a nose at Fuchu in Tokyo on Sunday.

Yasunari Iwata Photo by Racing and Sports

Deep Brillante claimed the 79th running of the Grade One contest, the world's richest 3YO classic race , getting the better of Fenomeno by a nose with Tosen Homareboshi t three quarters of a length back in third.

He completed a notable double for his sire Deep Impact, the 2005 Triple Crown winner who seven days earlier produced the Japanese Oaks winner Gentildonna.

Third in the Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) at his previous start, Deep Brillante he relished the step up in trip to claim his first Grade One win and become the seventh Derby winner sired by a previous winner.

His emotional jockey Yasunari Iwata was in tears after winning his Derby to complete wins in all three legs of the Japanese Triple Crown.

"Praise him not me," said an emotional Iwata. "It was his guts that won it as he was completely empty at the finish.

"I have always thought he was the best horse in this generation so we trained him very hard to get a big success.

"We thought he was the best one and I am proud that we could prove it."

Iwata won the Kikuka Sho (St. Leger) in 2004 on Delta Blues and the Satsuki Sho in 2009 and 2010 with Unrivaled and Victoire Pisa. He was to win the Melbourne Cup on Delta Blues in 2006.

He is currently second in the jockey's standing with three G1 titles this year and 15 overall.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi also celebrated his first Derby and classic title and only the third G1 victory of his career.

From barrier 10 Deep Brillante settled on the rail in fourth, behind the front-running Zelos.

With the field spreading wide on the last turn, Tosen Homareboshi inherited the lead while Iwata unleashed Deep Brillante for a late charge.

Deep Brillante overtook Tosen Homareboshi at the furlong and accelerated powerfully but only just managed to fend off the strong late challenge by Fenomeno who closed in with a tenacious charge.

The favourites World Ace and Satuski Sho winner Gold Ship finished well from further back but too late to reach the top three horses, finishing fourth and fifth.