(born May 11, 2005) is a Japanese

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

which won the 2008 Tokyo Yūshun and

NHK Mile Cup The is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately one mile) on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse in May. The NHK Mile Cup is sponsored by the Japanese p ...

Race career

2007

In 2007, Deep Sky was two years old, and was left in the care of the trainer . Deep Sky made his debut in October 2007; however he was unable to win in the four races he raced as a two year old.

2008

Deep Sky raced six times and finally won for the first time at the end of January 2008. Deep Sky also bested the horse Katsutoshi two races afterwards, but neither was able to win. However, Deep Sky won in Mainichi Hai at the end of March 2008, allowing entry in the

which is one of the big races for a three-year-old horse. Deep Sky entered the NHK Mile Cup on schedule. Deep Sky ran through the inside, and by the last straight overtook Black Shell. Deep Sky was then entered in Tokyo Yūshun and subsequently won the race. After winning the Tokyo Tokyo Yūshun, Deep Sky took a prolonged break with either the Kikka Sho or

Tenno Sho The is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade 1 races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Gr ...

in mind as his next race. He won the Kobe Shimbun Hai in September 28, which was a trail race for the Kikka Sho, but ultimately opted to run in the Tenno Sho. At the Tenno Sho, Deep Sky finished third behind the more favored

Vodka Vodka ( ; is a clear distilled beverage, distilled alcoholic beverage. Its varieties originated in Poland and Russia. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is ...

and

Daiwa Scarlet (May 13, 2004 - ) is a retired Japanese racehorse which won the 2007 Oka Sho, Shūka Sho, Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup and the 2008 Arima Kinen. Breeding Daiwa Scarlet was foaled on 13 May 2004 at Shadai Farm, She was a chestnut mare ...

. The following month Deep Sky ran in the

Japan Cup The is one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan. It is contested on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters (about miles) run under weight for age conditions with ...

, where he raced with Vodka once again. Deep Sky was able to best Vodka this time, but both lost to

Screen Hero Screen Hero (, foaled 18 April 2004) is a Japanese retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire (horse), sire best known for winning the 2008 Japan Cup. In his first two seasons he showed above-average racing ability, winning two races and bein ...

2009

At the awards ceremony for the JRA Awards, Kon announced that he intended to race Deep Sky at the

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...

if the horse won that year's

Yasuda Kinen The Yasuda Kinen (English: Yasuda Memorial, Japanese and Chinese language: 安田記念) is a Japanese Graded stakes race, International Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at the Tokyo Racecourse in Tokyo. Raced annually each June, the Yasuda Ki ...

and

Takarazuka Kinen The Takarazuka Kinen (宝塚記念) is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan for Thoroughbreds aged three and over a distance of 2,200 metres (approximately miles) at Hanshin Racecourse (阪神競馬場) in late June. It is one of the two "All-Sta ...

. However, Deep Sky was not able to win either races, with the horse losing once again to Vodka at Yasuda, and to

Dream Journey Dream Journey（Japanese:、February 24, 2004 - ）is a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse. The horse won the 2006 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes as well as the 2009 Takarazuka Kinen, Takarazuka and Arima Kinen. Dream Journey's full brother is Orfevre, t ...

at Takarazuka. The horse was put to pasture at the Fantast Club in Hidaka with the intention to race in the autumn season again. It was there, however, that the horse's left forearm was found to be suffering from

tendonitis Tendinopathy is a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder ( rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow ( tenn ...

, and the decision was made to retire him to stud soon after. A retirement ceremony was held at

Sapporo Racecourse is a racecourse run by the Japan Racing Association located in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Built in 1907, it has a seating capacity of 12,000, and can accommodate 30,000 spectators in total. Sapporo Racecourse hosts one GII (Grade 2) h ...

on August 30 and his JRA registration was taken down.

Stud career

Deep Sky stood stud at the Darley Japan Stallion Complex but was moved to the East Stud in 2015. Before retiring from stud in 2021, he sired two Grade 1 race winners; Sound Sky ( Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun) and Kyoei Gere (

Japan Dirt Derby The is a Domestic Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a distance of 2,000 meters (approximately 1 mile 2 furlongs) at the Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa, Tokyo in early October. It is the thir ...

). He retired from stud in 2021 and is pensioned at the Hidaka Horse Friends after being taken in by the Retired Horse Association.

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist 2005 racehorse births Thoroughbred family 23-b Racehorses bred in Japan Racehorses trained in Japan Tokyo Yūshun winners