Deep Bond
| |
|---|---|
 Deep Bond after winning the 2022 Hanshin Daishoten | |
| Breed | Thoroughbred |
| Sire | Kizuna |
| Grandsire | Deep Impact |
| Dam | Zephyranthes |
| Damsire | King Halo |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 18 February 2017 |
| Country | Japan |
| Colour | Dark bay |
| Breeder | Murata Farm |
| Owner | Shinji Maeda |
| Racing colours |  |
| Trainer | Ryuji Okubo |
| Jockey | |
| Record | 31: 5-5-4 |
| Earnings | ¥767,815,800 |
| Major wins | |
| |
Deep Bond (Japanese: ディープボンド, Dīpu Bondo; foaled 18 February 2017) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He competed from 2019 to 2024, recording five wins from thirty-one starts, including the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (GII) in 2020, the Hanshin Daishoten (GII) in 2021 and 2022, and the Prix Foy (G2) in France in 2021.[1] He is notable for finishing second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (GI) for three consecutive years (2021–2023) and for holding the record for the most career prize money earned by a horse without a top-level (GI/G1) victory.[2]
Background
[edit]Deep Bond is a dark bay stallion bred in Niikappu, Hokkaido, by Murata Farm.[1] He was sired by Kizuna, a son of Deep Impact, and his dam was Zephyranthes (ゼフィランサス), a mare by King Halo.[3] Zephyranthes is a descendant of the Mogami Hime family, which also produced the dual GI winner Laurel Guerreiro.[4] Deep Bond was purchased for ¥17,820,000 at the 2018 Hokkaido Selection Sale by Shinji Maeda, owner of the North Hills syndicate.[4] He was trained by Ryuji Okubo at the JRA's Ritto Training Center.[1]
Racing career
[edit]2019: two-year-old season
[edit]Deep Bond debuted on 13 October 2019 in a maiden race at Kyoto Racecourse, finishing third.[5] He won his second start over 2000 metres at Kyoto on 3 November.[5]
2020: three-year-old season
[edit]After an unplaced run in an allowance race, Deep Bond finished second in the Azalea Sho and tenth in the Satsuki Shō (GI).[5] On 9 May, he won the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (GII), defeating Man of Spirit in a tight finish to secure his first graded stakes victory and complete a father-son double in the race with his sire Kizuna.[6] He subsequently finished fifth in the Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby), fifth in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, and fourth in the Kikuka Shō (GI) behind the undefeated Contrail.[5]
2021: four-year-old season
[edit]Deep Bond began his season with a fourteenth-place finish in the Nakayama Kimpai (GIII).[5] On 21 March, he won the Hanshin Daishoten (GII) by 0.9 seconds.[5] He was made the favourite for the Tenno Sho (Spring) (GI) on 2 May, where he finished second to World Premiere.[5]
In autumn, Deep Bond travelled to France. On 12 September, he won the Prix Foy (G2) at Longchamp Racecourse, becoming the first Japanese-trained horse to win the race since Orfevre in 2012 and 2013.[7] He finished fourteenth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) on heavy ground.[5] Returning to Japan, he finished second in the Arima Kinen (GI) on 26 December, narrowly missing out to Efforia.[5]
2022: five-year-old season
[edit]Deep Bond won his second consecutive Hanshin Daishoten (GII) on 20 March.[5] He finished second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) for the second year in a row, beaten by Title Holder.[5] After finishing fourth in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI), he travelled to France again but finished eighteenth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.[5] He ended the season with an eighth-place finish in the Arima Kinen.[5]
2023: six-year-old season
[edit]Deep Bond attempted to become the first horse since Gold Ship to win three consecutive Hanshin Daishotens but finished fifth.[5] On 30 April, he finished second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) for a historic third consecutive year, a rare feat in Japanese racing.[8] This result also made him the highest-earning horse in JRA history without a GI/G1 victory, surpassing the previous record held by Kyoto City and Nice Nature.[2] He later finished fifth in the Takarazuka Kinen, third in the Kyoto Daishoten (GII), tenth in the Japan Cup (GI), and fifteenth in the Arima Kinen.[5]
2024: seven-year-old season
[edit]Deep Bond finished seventh in the Hanshin Daishoten and third in the Tenno Sho (Spring).[5] On 6 October, he finished second in the Kyoto Daishoten (GII) to Chevalier Rose.[5] He contested his final race in the Arima Kinen on 22 December, finishing thirteenth.[5] He was officially retired on 25 December 2024.[9]
Statistics
[edit]The following table details all 31 starts of Deep Bond's racing career. Record current as of 22 December 2024.
| Date | Distance (Condition) | Race | Class | Course | Odds (Favourite) |
Field | Finish | Time | Jockey | Winning (Losing) Margin |
Winner (2nd Place) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Oct 13 | Turf 2000 m (Heavy) | 2-Y-O Newcomer | Maiden | Kyoto | 9.6 (4th) | 15 | 3rd | 2:03.5 | Ryuji Wada | 0.4 | Kim Ken Dream | [5] |
| Nov 3 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | 2-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Kyoto | 3.6 (2nd) | 10 | 1st | 2:01.1 | Ryuji Wada | –0.5 | (Iron Barows) | [5] |
| 2020 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 5 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | Fukujuso Tokubetsu | Allowance | Kyoto | 5.1 (4th) | 7 | 6th | 2:04.9 | Ryuji Wada | 1.4 | Lexelence | [5] |
| Apr 4 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Azalea Sho | Allowance | Hanshin | 12.7 (4th) | 8 | 2nd | 2:27.5 | Ryuji Wada | 0.1 | Fly Like Bird | [5] |
| Apr 19 | Turf 2000 m (Yielding) | Satsuki Shō | GI | Nakayama | 360.9 (18th) | 18 | 10th | 2:02.1 | Norihiro Yokoyama | 1.4 | Contrail | [5] |
| May 9 | Turf 2200 m (Good) | Kyoto Shimbun Hai | GII | Kyoto | 10.7 (4th) | 13 | 1st | 2:11.7 | Ryuji Wada | 0.0 | (Man of Spirit) | [6] |
| May 31 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Tōkyō Yūshun | GI | Tokyo | 61.6 (8th) | 18 | 5th | 2:25.0 | Ryuji Wada | 0.9 | Contrail | [5] |
| Sep 27 | Turf 2200 m (Good) | Kobe Shimbun Hai | GII | Chukyo | 23.5 (4th) | 18 | 5th | 2:13.0 | Ryuji Wada | 0.5 | Contrail | [5] |
| Oct 25 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Kikuka Shō | GI | Kyoto | 51.6 (7th) | 18 | 4th | 3:06.2 | Ryuji Wada | 0.7 | Contrail | [5] |
| 2021 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 5 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | Nakayama Kimpai | GIII | Nakayama | 4.3 (2nd) | 17 | 14th | 2:02.0 | Ryuji Wada | 1.1 | Hishi Iguazu | [5] |
| Mar 21 | Turf 3000 m (Heavy) | Hanshin Daishoten | GII | Hanshin | 10.3 (3rd) | 13 | 1st | 3:07.3 | Ryuji Wada | –0.9 | (You Can Smile) | [5] |
| May 2 | Turf 3200 m (Good) | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | Hanshin | 3.6 (1st) | 17 | 2nd | 3:14.8 | Ryuji Wada | 0.1 | World Premiere | [5] |
| Sep 12 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Prix Foy | G2 | Longchamp | 12.0 (5th) | 6 | 1st | 2:31.82 | Cristian Demuro | –0.24 | (Broome) | [7] |
| Oct 3 | Turf 2400 m (Heavy) | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | G1 | Longchamp | 18.0 (6th) | 14 | 14th | 2:44.83 | Mickael Barzalona | 7.21 | Torquator Tasso | [5] |
| Dec 26 | Turf 2500 m (Good) | Arima Kinen | GI | Nakayama | 20.9 (5th) | 16 | 2nd | 2:32.1 | Ryuji Wada | 0.1 | Efforia | [5] |
| 2022 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 20 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Hanshin Daishoten | GII | Hanshin | 1.2 (1st) | 13 | 1st | 3:05.0 | Ryuji Wada | –0.1 | (Iron Barows) | [5] |
| May 1 | Turf 3200 m (Yielding) | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | Hanshin | 2.1 (1st) | 18 | 2nd | 3:17.3 | Ryuji Wada | 1.1 | Titleholder | [5] |
| Jun 26 | Turf 2200 m (Good) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Hanshin | 5.6 (3rd) | 17 | 4th | 2:10.3 | Ryuji Wada | 0.6 | Titleholder | [5] |
| Oct 2 | Turf 2400 m (Soft) | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | G1 | Longchamp | 46.0 (14th) | 20 | 18th | 2:42.88 | Yuga Kawada | 7.17 | Alpinista | [5] |
| Dec 25 | Turf 2500 m (Good) | Arima Kinen | GI | Nakayama | 37.3 (8th) | 16 | 8th | 2:33.6 | Yuga Kawada | 1.2 | Equinox | [5] |
| 2023 – six-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 19 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Hanshin Daishoten | GII | Hanshin | 5.1 (3rd) | 14 | 5th | 3:06.6 | Ryuji Wada | 0.5 | Justin Palace | [5] |
| Apr 30 | Turf 3200 m (Yielding) | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | Kyoto | 22.5 (5th) | 17 | 2nd | 3:16.5 | Ryuji Wada | 0.4 | Justin Palace | [8] |
| Jun 25 | Turf 2200 m (Good) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Hanshin | 16.6 (5th) | 17 | 5th | 2:11.6 | Ryuji Wada | 0.4 | Equinox | [5] |
| Oct 9 | Turf 2400 m (Heavy) | Kyōto Daishōten | GII | Kyoto | 4.0 (1st) | 14 | 3rd | 2:25.4 | Ryuji Wada | 0.1 | Pradaria | [5] |
| Nov 26 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Japan Cup | GI | Tokyo | 83.8 (8th) | 18 | 10th | 2:23.6 | Ryuji Wada | 1.8 | Equinox | [5] |
| Dec 24 | Turf 2500 m (Good) | Arima Kinen | GI | Nakayama | 47.4 (9th) | 16 | 15th | 2:32.4 | Tom Marquand | 1.5 | Do Deuce | [5] |
| 2024 – seven-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 17 | Turf 3000 m (Yielding) | Hanshin Daishoten | GII | Hanshin | 9.0 (5th) | 15 | 7th | 3:08.1 | Mirai Iwata | 1.3 | T O Royal | [5] |
| Apr 28 | Turf 3200 m (Good) | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | Kyoto | 27.5 (6th) | 17 | 3rd | 3:14.6 | Hideaki Miyuki | 0.4 | T O Royal | [5] |
| Jun 23 | Turf 2200 m (Heavy) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Kyoto | 25.4 (8th) | 13 | 7th | 2:12.9 | Hideaki Miyuki | 0.9 | Blow the Horn | [5] |
| Oct 6 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Kyoto Daishoten | GII | Kyoto | 9.9 (4th) | 11 | 2nd | 2:22.9 | Hideaki Miyuki | 0.0 | Chevalier Rose | [5] |
| Dec 22 | Turf 2500 m (Good) | Arima Kinen | GI | Nakayama | 49.7 (12th) | 15 | 13th | 2:33.3 | Hideaki Miyuki | 1.5 | Regaleira | [5] |
Post-retirement
[edit]Following his retirement on 25 December 2024, Deep Bond was retrained as a lead pony (ouma) at Kyoto Racecourse.[9] He made his debut as a lead pony on 3 May 2025 and led the field for the Tenno Sho (Spring) the following day.[10] On 26 April 2026, he carried his former jockey Ryuji Wada during Wada's official retirement ceremony prior to the Yomiuri Milers Cup.[11]
Pedigree
[edit]| Sire Kizuna (JPN) 2010 |
Deep Impact (JPN) 2002 |
Sunday Silence | Halo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wishing Well | |||
| Wind in Her Hair | Alzao | ||
| Burghclere | |||
| Catequil (CAN) 1990 |
Storm Cat | Storm Bird | |
| Terlingua | |||
| Pacific Princess | Damascus | ||
| Fiji | |||
| Dam Zephyranthes (JPN) 2008 |
King Halo (JPN) 1995 |
Dancing Brave | Lyphard |
| Navajo Princess | |||
| Goodbye Halo | Halo | ||
| Pound Foolish | |||
| Mogami Hime (JPN) 1992 |
Cacoethes | Alydar | |
| Careless Notion | |||
| Mogami Point | Maruzensky | ||
| Point Maker |
- Deep Bond is inbred 4 × 4 to Halo and 5 × 4 to Lyphard.[3]
- His sire Kizuna won the 2013 Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby).[3]
- His dam Zephyranthes is a half-sister to the dam of Laurel Guerreiro, winner of the 2009 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and Sprinters Stakes.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "ディープボンド". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "天皇賞(春)2着ディープボンド GI級未勝利馬の歴代獲得賞金ランキングで1位に". netkeiba (in Japanese). 1 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "ディープボンド - 5代血統表". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "重賞制覇レポート『ディープボンド』村田牧場 編". Pacalla (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 "ディープボンド 競走成績". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "ディープボンドが重賞初V 京都新聞杯". Nikkei (in Japanese). 10 May 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "【フォワ賞】ディープボンドV 鮮やか逃げ切り、日本馬3頭目の偉業". Sponichi (in Japanese). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "【天皇賞・春】ディープボンドまたまた2着で三度目の正直ならず". netkeiba (in Japanese). 30 April 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "ディープボンドは有馬記念で引退 京都で誘導馬に". Toshpo Keiba (in Japanese). 22 December 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "前日に誘導馬デビューのディープボンドが天皇賞・春に登場". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 4 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "和田竜二 晴れやかに次章へ 誘導馬ディープボンドに騎乗". Daily Sports (in Japanese). 27 April 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.