The decision to target the Spring Carnival in Melbourne with the Deep Impact entire Fierce Impact (JPN) has proven a multi-million dollar windfall for connections after he added Saturday’s $2 million Kennedy Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington to his last start win in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.
In addition to the first prize of $1.2 million for the Cantala, Fierce Impact's connections pocket a further $500,000 bonus for competing in the Toorak.
The 6yo Japanese-bred gelding was strong to the line to under Craig Williams to defeat the gallant Fifty Stars (IRE) (Sea The Stars) by a short-head with Cascadian (GB) (New Approach) a half-neck back in third.
“It’s been a bit of a long journey with him, it’s taken us a while to get to get him where he is today, it’s taken a couple of preps to get him here and he is now at his best and we’re getting the rewards,” winning trainer Matthew Smith said.
“I was pretty happy at the 100m but I was a little bit concerned at the 50m, I thought he might get run down.
After seven starts in England, Fierce Impact (JPN) was consigned to the 2017 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale where he was purchased by Matthew Smith for 120,000 guineas.
His second win at the elite level advances his record to 5 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $1,819,230.
The pedigree received a huge update in May this year when Fierce Impact's year younger brother Keiai Nautique won the Group 1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo.
Their dam Keiai Gerbera won a pair of Group III races in Japan. The daughter of Kentucky Derby hero Smarty Jones was imported in utero when her dam Anna Sterz (Danzig) was purchased by Japanese interests for US$300,000 at the 2005 Keeneland November Sale.
