Shortly after Coolmore's Deep Impact (JPN) colt Saxon Warrior (JPN) stretched his unbeaten record to four in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, China Horse Club, WinStar Farm and partners were celebrating the success of the Heart's Cry (IRE) colt Yoshida (JPN) in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.
Carrying the purple silks of Derrick Smith, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Saxon Warrior (JPN) credited O'Brien's 19-year-old son Donnacha with his first Classic and for the trainer an almost unbelievable 300th win at the elite level.
The winner of his three starts at two including the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy and Group II Beresford Stakes, Saxon Warrior (JPN) was untroubled to defeat Tip Two Win (Dark Angel) by one and a half-lengths with Masar (New Approach) a head back in third
"He travelled beautifully today and I thought I was the winner the whole way. I probably got a bit excited at the two pole, gave him a squeeze and got there too early," O'Brien told Racing Post
"He is an absolute monster of a horse, so, you never know, he could improve again. I was very impressed."
Following the path that was trailblazed by John Messara, Coolmore is reaping the rewards of sending some of their best mares to Japan's sire sensation Deep Impact.
Saxon Warrior is the second foal out of the Galileo's European Champion 2yo Filly Maybe, whose five wins included the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stud Stakes and was third in the 1000 Guineas.
Maybe's first foal, the stakes-placed Pavlenko (Jpn) is also by Deep Impact.
From the family of Epsom Derby winner Dr Devious and the successful stallions Archway and Shinko King, Maybe has a yearling colt by American Pharoah and was covered by War Front.
Aidan O'Brien was at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby where the undercard featured the victory of Heart's Cry (IRE) colt Yoshida (JPN) in the Grade 1 Turf Classic.
Purchased by John McCormack for 94 million yen as a yearling in Japan, the Northern Farm-bred Yoshida is the second foal of the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes winner Hilda's Passion (Canadian Frontier) who was sold for $1,225,000 at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Winner of four races and second three times from eight starts, Yoshida is a son of the Sunday Silence stallion Heart's Cry (JPN) who is most notable in this part of the world as the sire of Caulfield Cup hero Admire Rakti as well Grand Cheval who was famously guided by Hugh Bowman to victory in the 2017 Japan Cup.
