The fastest son of Japan’s globally significant supersire Deep Impact, Real Impact made exactly that, a real impact, at his first Australian appearance. It was no soft introduction either, because he lined up after a 12-week break and fresh out of quarantine in the 2015 ATC George Ryder S. G1, rated one of the world’s very best Group 1 races, and won by Champions such as Winx, Pierro, Weekend Hussler, Lonhro, Emancipation and Manikato.
Real Impact’s victory was worthy of such an illustrious history. He won the start from gate 12, set a strong pace in front and dug very deep indeed to hold out a strong challenge from Criterion, with Kermadec third and Royal Descent, Shooting To Win and Sacred Falls behind them.
It was a performance that surprised no-one familiar with Real Impact’s form in Japan, where he was the rated inferior only to champion Grand Prix Boss at two and became the only 3YO ever to win the 1600-metre Yasuda Kinen G1, at his sixth start. That earned Real Impact top ranking in Japan’s 3YO category up to 1600 metres.
Real Impact’s Doncaster Mile G1 second at his second and final Australian start, splitting Kermadec and Royal Descent, and giving the winner 4kg, was enough to confirm his Timeform rating of 124 and jockey James McDonald’s assessment, “He’s an awesome horse.”
Real Impact has 9 colts and 9 fillies catalogued for MMGC 2019 to be offered by Arrowfield Stud, Baramul Stud, Edinglassie Stud, Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Musk Creek Farm & Westbury Stud. They include a half-sister to Group 1 winner Reaan, half-brothers to G1-placed SW Sebring Sun & Group-placed 3YO Dealmaker, daughters of Group winners Aliyana Tilde and Cat By The Tale and relatives of Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler, Champion Epiphaneia, Group 1 winners Soqrat, Road To Rock, Snowland, She’s A Meanie & Better Lucky and leading sire Not A Single Doubt.
